The Motherload - 'Moms Rule!'

Every Saturday morning, 30 women from across the Conejo Valley meet for their weekly practice. Last week, it was a street run from Future Track Running Center. Today, it is a jog around the Oak Park High School outdoor track. And once their feat is finished for the day, the women shout their motto in unison, "Moms Rule!"

Team leaders Holly Russ and Anne Odell started the local chapter of Moms in Motion in September 2005 after participating in the Santa Barbara Triathlon Team. A group of 15 women in Santa Barbara created the original Moms in Motion chapter in 1999 . The women wanted to compete in their first triathlon and asked longtime triathlete Jamie Allison to train them. 

"The following year, the group doubled in size from 15 to 30 members," Russ said. "The year after, there were over 100 ladies wanting to compete in triathlons with the Moms in Motion team."

In 2004, the concept went national with the first out-of-state team popping up in Virginia. Today, there are more than 8,000 members in 48 cities and five international teams participating in a variety of sports.

"You do not need to be a triathlete," Russ explained. "There are several types of Moms in Motion teams, like running, hiking, yoga, snow shoeing, and surfing." 

Ranging in age from 27 to 63, women join the team for several reasons: to train for an event, lose weight or "to enjoy meeting new friends and the common spirit of working together towards a goal," Russ said. No matter the reason or skill level, all woman is encouraged to join.

"Many gals might be intimidated and think that they may not measure up," said Russ. "However, we are about taking a gal from where she is at that moment and, with the proper training, establishing reasonable, attainable goals."

The women are not on their own with their training. With the help of Westlake High School girls track coach Gloria Rios, they have been able to tailor regimens  to meet the needs of each individual woman. They also have speakers attend practices to discuss such topics as proper shoe fit and injury prevention.

Although the vast majority of Moms in Motion teams are composed of mothers, the organization is open to anyone. The group's mission, according to Russ, is to give women the opportunity to form friendships and attain goals together. 

"We feel that when a woman has dedicated this physical time to herself, there tends to be more healthy role-modeling for the children, husbands, co-workers and others in the community," said Russ. "Being a part of this organization has changed entire families."