Rachel Pustilnik has been a Stroller Strides franchisee since October 2004. She worked as a project manager in the private sector and for the federal and state government for 7 years until her daughter was born in August 2004. She is a Nationally Certified Personal Trainer as well as being Stroller Strides certified. Her territory in Richmond, VA consists of 8-10 outdoor and 4 indoor locations. She has 6 instructors and teaches 3-5 times per week. In her free time, she enjoys running, participating in triathlons and hanging out family and friends. Rachel has created an unbelievably successful program in a very short time. She has had to secure indoor venues and overcome the back east weather. Rachel takes advantage of all aspects of the Stroller Strides business. She sells ad space on her web page, she offers the L.E.A.N. program and she just went through the Fit To Deliver training. Check out the marketing video that Rachel created for her program http://www.highlight-reel.com/marketing_ss_chesterfield.htm.

Dear Lisa,
If words could only describe how Stroller Strides has impacted my life! I started taking classes in March of this year and my second daughter(Trista)was only 5 weeks old, my oldest daughter(Cami) was 2 1/2 years. At that time I was going through some mild post partum, feeling out of control, exhausted, questioning why I had another child, isolated even though my family all lives within 30 miles from me, and even wondering if I loved this new little girl. Now I am normally(I guess, before children) very organized, level headed, and on top of things, you know the type A personality, so these feelings were making me crazy and very sad. I knew then that I had to do something for myself, first I desperately wanted to meet other moms going through the same thing, second something to do that was fun for Cami that got us out of the house, and third exercise if possible! That's when I remembered Stroller Strides was in my neighborhood and I started attending. I was hooked after the first class and started going 4 times a week. I have formed some awesome friendships and so has Cami. Almost immediately I started feeling less overwhelmed, that I wasn't loosing my mind, and that yes I did love this precious little girl! I was intending on returning to my career as a Physical Therapist in the summer only working two days a week, but was having difficulty working out the child care with my family and that is when I decided I had to open my own Franchise; so that I could share Stroller Strides with other moms, that were going through the same thing. What I love the most about Stroller Strides is how supportive of every aspect of Motherhood it is, I also love that it gives me a chance to educate moms about their bodies and how important our health is(which is how I ended up in Physical Therapy). I also think the modeling to our children the importance of health and exercise is so awesome! I am so grateful to you for starting such a phenomenal business and for supporting all of us moms out there!

In Health,
Danielle Rowan
Stroller Strides Franchisee of Corona/Norco

Eight months ago, I thought to myself "this might just work."
Stroller Strides seemed the answer to my dilema entitled, "how to stay home with my kids and use my sports management degree!" After coming to San Diego, I knew it would work---with people like yourself steering the ship this would be an awesome journey.
NO DOUBT! I remember saying to myself "Just 10 members will make this worth it!" ... today, I pinch myself. I wake up every morning thankful for you all, thankful for the instruction, and most of all thankful for you, Lisa. Without your dreams and foundation this wouldn't have happened. Anyone could have started a similar business -- but it is you that makes it successful and it is you that breathes your life into it.
Today, my business operates with 40+ members. Tomorrow -- it will be so much more.
I have been working locally to start a grassroots event and I thought Sign & Stride would be the perfect one. Tomorrow, we expect more than 90 mothers (all of which have RSVP'd)  to attend our first annual Sign and Stride and of those only 22 are current members. I am so excited that with local businesses would could create an event to celebrate motherhood!
I love my job and I feel this way every morning! On top of growing Stroller Strides -- I have started offering women the next step. As a coach, I am training more than 15 mamas on the Go Mama Go Team to finish their first duathlon/triathlon/run race in 2007. Thank you for empowering me to take my dreams to the next level!
My mentor Kathrine Switzer (the first official female to run the Boston Marathon) wrote me with accolades and her words remind me that running (like so many things in life) starts with walking -- one foot in front of the other. But I would say this, having the wind at your back surely makes you finish stronger and fresher! Thank you for the gail winds!!

Yours,
Megan

Megan Kearney
Stroller Strides® Bel Air
Owner and Instructor