Stroller Strides in Green Lake
via Bridget Dwyer
It’s not uncommon to see strollers at Green Lake, but what about the circle of strollers with mom and kiddos jumping, running, lunging and singing? Two words. Stroller Strides. It’s a mom and baby group that meets in Green Lake and works out throughout the week. We asked Bridget Dwyer a Stroller Strides instructor and owner of FIT4MOM to explain more about the group.
SG: Tell me a bit more about what you and the stroller moms are doing around Green Lake
BD: We’re a Stroller Strides class! Stroller Strides is a stroller based fitness program designed for moms to do with their little ones. Our classes combine power walking/running and strength intervals, and what makes them special is that not only are they a great workout, but they’re also geared towards keeping the little ones happy and engaged. We incorporate songs and activities into the workout so that it’s a great hour for both mom and baby.
SG: How often do you meet?
BD: We meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:35am and Saturdays at 9:00am, in front of the Bathhouse Theater; we meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:15am at University Village.
SG: How long have you been doing this?
BD: I’ve been the owner of FIT4MOM Seattle for 2.5 years, though I actually started as a participant almost 6 years ago (apparently it stuck!).
SG: Do you do that year round?
BD: Yes! We do however move our classes indoors in October for the winter.
SG: How long are the classes?
BD: Classes are 1 hour and are comprised of a warm-up, several different strength stations, and abs/stretching to finish. We’re a “travelling” format, meaning that while we meet in the same place for every class, we move to different spots for each station. One of my favorites is the wading pool! It’s great to keep the classes fresh and fun, and of course it helps keep the littles content to keep moving and see different things. Moms can choose whether to power walk or run between stations and we offer different variations on exercises to make them more intense or less intense as needed – after all, since we’re a class geared towards moms, we get a wide variety of fitness levels.
SG: Why do you like working out at Green Lake?
BD: Green Lake is hands down my favorite part of Seatte! It feels like the center of activity in the city – it’s the perfect combination of natural, scenic surroundings and accessibility. The kind folks with the City of Seattle Parks & Rec Department do an incredible job maintaining the park, and it’s always beautiful and clean. Plus, as a runner, Green Lake just feels like the running capital of the city.
SG: Anything else you’d like to add?
BD: Come check us out! Your first class is always free, and we have a pretty awesome group of moms. I started out with Stroller Strides classes 6 years ago because I was desperate to get active and get back into shape, but what kept me there was the amazing women I’ve met. It can be hard to meet and get to know other moms!
Thanks Bridget!
