Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Flynn.
Erin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The idea for Fit Mamas was born in the Spring of 2014. My son was a few months old, I had just resigned from my career in corporate sales and was trying to make sense of my newfound reality. The stay-at-home mom experience was so radically different from the life I had known for 34 years; I literally didn’t know what to make of it. It was like a magnificent marriage of explosive bliss and complete identity crisis.
I looked online, found some playgroups, classes and other things to do outside the house but just didn’t feel like I fit in. I was struggling to find an environment that would allow me to connect with other moms, give my son opportunities to play with other kids, and help me process the complete lifestyle overhaul that comes with having your first child.
A lifelong runner, at many points competitive and at other points just wanting to fit into my jeans, I felt that an environment that provided quality running workouts, women who could relate to my new life as a mom, and a lot of fun would be the vibe for me. There didn’t appear to be anything that fit the bill in Newton, so I decided to change that. Soon after, Fit Mamas became a reality.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. The biggest challenge has remained the same for years – how do I eliminate the intimidation factor that people often associate with running? So often, I meet people who run for exercise but who are also quick to say, “but I’m not a runner”. To many people, the categorization of “being a runner” is very intense and hardcore and a lot of people are either intimidated by that or don’t identify themselves that way.
My goal with Fit Mamas is to show people that running is for everyone, whether you’re a competitive marathoner or you’re running your very first mile. No matter what pace you run, if you join our workouts, you will be amazed with the results. And you’ll meet a community of women who will make it a lot of fun in the process!
Please tell us about Fit Mamas.
Our core competency is very simple – we deliver superior results, amazing community and a lot of fun. Our program is designed specifically for moms, and that covers everything from physical to logistical needs.
We hold weekly running workouts at a local track. Workouts are done in a group environment but are tailored to the individual needs of each person. We group people according to fitness level and everyone cheers for one another during the workouts. It’s a very supportive and inclusive environment.
Every workout includes targeted core strength exercises that help rebuild the muscles that commonly weaken during pregnancy and delivery. We do drills to ensure proper running form, with a special focus on the hips/pelvis and other areas that are often thrown out of alignment after the delivery of a child.
We also have babysitters that come to the track during our workouts so moms never have to miss a workout due to lack of childcare.
And perhaps most importantly, we tell jokes, laugh a lot and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. It’s a really special community of women who inspire each other to be the best version of ourselves.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Wow, that’s a hard question to answer. I’m fortunate to have a laundry list of happy memories from childhood. Perhaps appropriate for the topic of this interview, one of my favorites is beating the boys during the mile time trial in middle school gym class. 😉
Pricing:
- Seasonal Program (weekly track workout) = $95 per 3 month season
- Personal Coaching/Online Training (comprehensive weekly running plans) – $90/month
- Drop-in – $15/workout
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fitmamasnewton.com
- Email: info@fitmamasnewton.com
- Instagram: @fitmamasnewton
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/fitmamasnewton
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