MEET TUTT McCRACKEN
I should start off by saying that I am a nerd. Comic books, Comic movies, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Star Trek. I love them all. But most of all, I’m a huge Wonder Woman fan.
Since this is for Stroller Strong Moms and fitness we’ll get back on track. 😉 I was always active in sports growing up. I played soccer, softball and basketball. They offered a weight lifting class in high school and I thought it would be fun. It was, I enjoyed lifting weights and working out. However, I only did cardio when it was part of a sport. I tried to keep up with exercising and lifting weights in college but it was inconsistent. However, I had always considered myself athletic and in shape.
After college I married Courtney and our life in the Army began. Wherever the Army has sent us I’ve been active and gone to the gym. In Fort Lewis I played intramural soccer and lifted weights, in Fort Knox I lifted weights and attempted to get into running. But it was Fort Bliss that my fitness really took off. Not only did I left weights but I took classes too; Step, Yoga, TRX, Spinning and Intro to Running. Intro to Running was taught by my friend Melissa who was in fantastic shape. Because of her I got into running and ran 3 miles for the first time in my life. I still consider that moment to be one of my greatest accomplishments. I ran religiously 3 times a week and it was my top priority. I trained and ran in the El Paso Marathon in 2010. A few weeks later I was sidelined by chronic shin splints and once I started to recover from them I was pregnant with terrible morning sickness.
We moved to Fort Benning in the summer of 2011 when I was just over halfway through my pregnancy. I wanted to get back into working out but being pregnant gave me severe back pain. Once I had Connor some friends told me about this class where you take your kids in the stroller and workout. They swore that I would like it. I was hesitant and felt disconnected from the military community. (This is our first time living off post.) Instead I worked out with a friend even through my next pregnancy. Once I had Colin in February 2013 I had a harder time losing the baby weight. My friend that I had worked out with for over a year moved to England and I thought what did I have to lose? In July I looked up and decided to go to this “Stroller Class” that my friends had been telling me about for 2 years. I was late to the first class and instead of getting out and showing up late, I sat in my car and cried. Then I got out and walked Britt David swearing that I’ll be early tomorrow. I was and Brooke was my first instructor. She was so welcoming and nice. I showed up regularly after that, late or not. Connor and I both made friends. While I didn’t see any results in the first several months by February I could fit into clothes that I had worn between my pregnancies and some workout clothes from before I was pregnant.
Since joining Stroller Strong Moms I’ve run 8 5ks, ran the relay in the Soldier’s Marathon and Ran Across Georgia. I’ve made memories that will last a lifetime. Stroller Strong Moms became not only part of my routine but it was something that I looked forward to each day.
We’re preparing to leave for Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. I’m sad to leave all of my Stroller Strong Mom friends here in Columbus and in Savannah. I can only hope that the Army will bring us together again.