By MARNI AYERS BRADY Special to the Daily Press
Exercise, expo, eating and Elmo — what more does one look for in a morning out with the kids? At the Second Annual Anniversary Celebration for Stroller Strides of West Los Angeles, families got just that and more last month.
Stroller Strides, a 60-minute outdoor exercise class that allows parents and caregivers to workout with kids in tow, normally meets at Ocean Park, Santa Monica Bluffs, Pacific Palisades and Culver City. For the anniversary celebration on June 24 however, they moved class to Clover Park and turned it into a party for the whole family. For a $30 donation to The National Breast Cancer Foundation — $20 if you preregistered — participants were greeted with balloons, energy bars and Stroller Strides sippy cups.
At 10 a.m., all four West Los Angeles Stroller Stride instructors got the group of 70 moms and dads moving and soon a stream of strollers was seen crossing the length of the park. Several toddlers popped out of their carriages to join their parents on the jogging path and held their feet when it was time to do some crunches. The workout, which includes power walking and intervals of body toning using exercise bands and the stroller, is taught by nationally certified instructors, and is suitable for all exercise levels.
“This is why I come to Stroller Strides,” said Susie Parks, mother of two toddlers, wheeling a double-decker stroller. “To get a complete workout without having to hire a baby-sitter. Plus you just can’t beat the social networking.”
While many women join Stroller Strides to lose those remaining pregnancy pounds, or just to get the chance to take in an ocean view while exercising, others really are in it mostly for the “mommy networking” appeal. With regularly scheduled after-class play dates and once-a-month “mom’s night out,” the organization functions as a virtual mommy sorority.
“We feel Stroller Strides’ success stems from our dedication to helping moms get fit while also giving them an outlet to socialize and have fun,” says franchise owner Tracy Brown, who regularly breaks into song to entertain a restless toddler, or pops a pacifier into a crying baby’s mouth so mom can keep exercising.
The event’s proceeds allowed Stroller Strides of West Los Angeles to donate almost $2,000 to The National Breast Cancer Foundation. To find out more about Stroller Strides, go to www.strollerstrides.net/losangeles.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 4, 2006. Read the original PDF.