Returning to Strollerfit

Hello Strollerfriends,

My name is Cheryl Russell. Some of you know me, some of you may have heard about me from my bunion surgery or my pet sitting company, and some of you don't know me at all.  I've been in Strollerfit since September of 2009, I think, but I haven't been to class since March.  Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I love to run and have always been running since I was a child. I was also born with bunions on my feet that have caused me pain since I was about six years old. I just assumed this was life and I had to deal with the pain but after having my second child, JB, a year ago my bunions started to hurt even more so I asked around and everyone I spoke to told me to see Dr. Runyon in St. Petersburg. He started me with some arch inserts that would take the pressure of the bunion area but it wasn't working so we began talking about surgery. I knew I was going to be off my feet for a while so I signed up for the Gasparilla Half Marathon (Feb. 28th, 2010). Two days after the race I had my first surgery (March 2, 2010). My mom stayed with me to help with JB and my other son, Hunter, who is 11 years old now. I had each foot done separately (the second surgery on April 27th, 2010) so I've been off my feet for about 4 months but I've been walking for about an hour a day since July 1st, 2010. 

I decided it's time to start Strollerfit again. I wasn't feeling the best Monday morning (July 26th, 2010). My throat was dry and scratchy and I was tired but I was also thinking this is just an excuse to not go workout.  I've been tired and lazy for way too long while waiting for my feet to heal so I decided to do as I had planned and go to my first full class of Strollerfit since February. It was great to feel warm welcomes from everyone I knew before I had my surgeries and even the new ladies introduced themselves to me before class started. Christie, the instructor, decided to welcome me back (or torture me) with an hour of “chardio blast” which is basically doing each exercise for a minute and to keep moving inbetween exercises. It really felt great to be back and feeling my muscles working again.

That evening I tried alternating walking with running for an hour and once I started running it took all my effort to slow down and walk again because it felt so good to be running again. I didn't want to hurt myself the first day of running. My feet feel fabulous. I would recommend bunion surgery and Dr. Runyon to anyone that has foot pain. It's a long recovery but I never knew I could have pain free feet. :o)


I'm happy to hear that many of you have started a running group and that there are new and exciting things happening as Strollerfit and Baby Boot Camp merge together.  It will be great to be a full time runner again and get to know some more of my new strollerfriends.  I'm so glad I went to Strollerfit class Monday because I woke up the next morning feeling that good sore in all my muscles from a great workout and I don't feel like I'm getting a cold anymore. I feel much better. Thanks for such a great welcome back to class. :o)

Cheryl Russell
St. Petersburg, FL