Our AMR Anniversary: A Dozen Years of Many Happy Miles

Even though, time has been a bit of a blur for the past two —or is it five?—years, we do know that March 2010 marks the anniversary of the launch of Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity, the book that got this party started.

And what a party it has been—and continues to be. You, our community, continually bring the energy, the support, the love, the encouragement, and the vibe in which we are all able to celebrate both our own strengths and those of everybody else whose paths we cross either virtually or IRL.

While we wish we were all standing in a starting corral and celebrating by lifting our bottles of Nuun,  we’ll also happily settle for these memories and moments that you shared with us. We are so grateful to be part of your lives, and look forward to many more happy miles—and years—to come.

Oh the eyes on both of these beautiful ladies!

One of my favorite memories will always be hearing Dimity and Sarah interviewed on the Runner’s World podcast in 2015, while I rocked my infant daughter to sleep! That is how I discovered AMR, and the rest is history! —Laurel Short

Wonder Women indeed: Erin (rignt) and her BRF Sarah (left) celebrating their 40th birthdays on the trail.

For me it was the three-part series Dimity did on hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim.  It was so good to know that there are other women out there who think big adventures are fun!

There are a number of people who just sort of blink and shake their head when they ask ‘What did you do this weekend?’ And you say ‘Went for a 10 mile run.’ So for me, it was a great introduction to a larger and more varied running community.  There are many running communities here in San Diego, but I have basically been running on the road since I was 14 and so by now I am ready for new and different things.

A girlfriend and I were discussing life over dinner a few years back and she gave me this saying/quote which really resonated with me: “Life choices are: Work, Friends, Family, or Exercise.  But you can only pick 3.”

This is 100% true in my own life, but a few years ago I decided to turn the tables by COMBINING Friends + Exercise. It was great to see that here was this community of like-minded women who were able to prioritize their own self-care in the form of exercise and turn those into ‘girls trips’ and ‘Sunday-rundays.’  This was the catalyst for me to start looking for my own #brf.

Please note I have not yet done the Rim-to-Rim (thanks Covid, for canceling my trip) but it’s on the list! —Erin Pavon

Michelle and Sarah, after Sarah changed out of her valet uniform.

I think my favorite moment was from the early days, literally the first time I met both Dimty and Sarah, at a house party in I think Andover MA in 2012 – a pre-Cape Cod Zooma party. I remember being floored when I rang the doorbell and it was Sarah who answered, and I was honestly a little starstruck meeting both of you.

If you had told me then that I’d end up working for AMR (going on 9 years!!) and counting so many women from the team and the community among my close friends, I never would have believed you. The feeling of that little online group suddenly come to life in person was just one of the coolest things I’d ever experienced. AMR has been such a force in my life, and I can’t imagine where I’d be without it. —Michelle San Antonio

Yep, we all know that elated post-race feeling: produce the best selfies ever.

In 2014, I met Sarah and Dimity at a runDisney expo and when I saw the name Another Mother Runner, my brain danced! Something aimed at moms who run – what!? I just couldn’t believe there was a company that was just for mother runners. I was immediately obsessed. And now it’s such a huge part of my life! —April Hopkins

Because if you’re not flexing, really, what are you doing?

Meeting Dimity and SBS at the 2012 Zooma Annapolis, then getting Dimity  to run my second half in 13 days with me. Dimity and SBS magically turned that race weekend into what I thought AMR was about… you guys building a community to lift all women runners up and meet them *wherever* they are. (D: “How fast do you run?” C: “As fast as I need to.”) I got to experience firsthand the realness, kindness, and support this community is built on. My fav AMR memory EVER. —Cynthia Vissers

Kristen in the kitchen!

I was in Portland for a conference several years ago. I connected with SBS and she suggested a running route that ended at her house. She treated me to a glass of Nuun on the patio. This is while she was laid up with a broken ankle, so clearly we couldn’t run together. While I was there, her husband called to say he would be late getting home from work. Their younger daughter, Daphne, needed to get to soccer practice and SBS couldn’t drive with a broken ankle. So, I drove her car while she navigated me to the soccer practice drop-off.

Although I had met Sarah and Dimity in person at an event once prior to that, this was truly a memorable “BAMRs got each other’s backs” moment! —Kristen Genet

Hillary has the finish line pic we should all have: celebrating the people who put on the races.

I met SBS and Dimity at the AMR booth at the Princess Half Expo in Disney after using the Train Like A Mother Book to train for the inaugural Princess 10K. I told them how much the book had helped me and how I was trying to get a handle on my health and started crying while talking to them.

The AMR podcast was my BRF on my long runs during half marathon training every year since then. Eight years later, I’m still so happy to be a part of the AMR community. —Hillary Rosenberg

Breaking the bell. We ARE stronger than we think.

One of my high points was attending my first retreat in 2019 in Eau Claire. Never in a million years did I think this introvert would fly to meet a group of other women who she only knew virtually. Best decision I ever made. One of the absolute highlights was running the relay and our team accidentally breaking the PR Bell! —Stephanie Spindler

Leah (left) and April sport matching hats, tanks, and smiles. Doesn’t get much better.

The Hilton Head Island Retreat is probably my favorite. I connected in real life with so many women who had helped me get through the pandemic virtually! And getting to run by a virtual (now real life) Bestie April Boyce Hopkins and cheering on all the women during that race.

I felt like it was the first thing I had done for myself in 2 years. Since that day/race/retreat I am a happier person as I now know how to take better care of myself and what MY “self care” is. —Leah Weisner

Is there a better running shot? We think not, Sara.

Running on the treadmill on the gym a few years ago, listening to the latest AMR podcast episode as Dimity shared about her injuries and her doctor’s visit, talking about the possibility of no more running.

I could hear her choking up, just saying the words, and all of a sudden I was balling my eyes out and had to stop. I wiped my eyes. Why am I crying?, I thought. Because I love this community. It was like a friend sharing her heart. My heart hurt for her. And I loved her vulnerability.

So I restarted the treadmill and kept going because that’s all I could do. I had to run. Dimity would want me to. Thank you Dimity & Sarah, this community has meant so much to me. —Sara Martinez

Jenna celebrating in so many ways.

I’ve loved AMR for years but it wasn’t until summer 2020 AMR became my BRF. Love the Run You’re With 2.0 got me back into running after an inactive pregnancy and series of miscarriages.

This community of women helped me find myself again. I wasn’t just a new mom; I was and am a runner. Running is the only thing I do just for me and AMR has given me the gift of community and understanding of women with similar goals and struggles. I’m so grateful for the many times AMR and MHM members have built up my confidence and reminded me of the joy of movement.

Thanks for the humor, humanity, and coaching, Sarah and Dimity, and for getting me across the finish line of my first marathon. —Jenna Molster

Lara and her teammates building a bridge during the pandemic.

Wow, hard to pick just one…so many long runs listening to the podcast, a plan that got me across the finish line of my first marathon, Many Happy Miles helping me stay active through cancer treatments, connecting with Team International for MHM challenges, secret Santa exchanges!

If I have to pick just one memory it would be the virtual relay event for Love the Run You’re With 2.0 I had never done a relay event before, let alone a virtual one! It was great fun to connect with other runners, have a theme and cheer each other on even though I am in Canada and my teammates were spread across the US.

Happy anniversary AMR, and here is to many more! —Lara Johnston

Ok, maybe this is the best feeling ever: a post-race picture where you nailed a PR, as Kimberly demonstrates.

The Train Like a Mother 13.1: Race program got me my sub 2 hour 13.1. Listening to the podcast on my runs gave me the confidence that I could achieve this lofty goal in my 40’s.

I should further explain that as I was chasing this goal my then high school son was also chasing a big goal. He was aiming for a sub 20 minute 5k. We were challenging each other to aim BIG and be relentless.

We both achieved our goals. It was an incredible way to bond with my son and to get his support too. —Kimberly Mann

Lorinda celebrating the Twin Cities–and all her teammates along the way.

The 2019 Race Like a Mother -Twin Cities Program is where all of the on-line BAMR friends and podcast voices of SBS and Dimity became in person friends . It was a fantastic program that prepped dozens of us to run the Twin Cities Marathon. —Lorinda Donaldson

What is one of your favorite AMR memories or moments?