Moms Prove Motherhood the Ultimate Marathon During Nationwide Event

PARKER, Colo. - On Saturday, May 19, moms across America will unite, attempting to set a world record during the first “Mom, the Everyday Athlete” nationwide run/walk, conceived by the Wheat Foods Council with support from seeMOMMYrun – two non-profit organizations. The event’s mission is to elevate the importance of healthy eating and fitness throughout motherhood.

“This free event is for moms everywhere and it celebrates their inner athletes, no matter what their fitness level,” says Marcia Scheideman M.S., R.D., president of the Wheat Foods Council. “The online tools we’ve created in conjunction with this event educate moms about applying good nutrition and exercise to their daily lives so they may improve their overall health.”

SeeMOMMYrun, an organization that enables moms to join or begin walking or running groups in their hometown, has made this event possible on a national scale. “In addition to running and walking groups, we want these moms to form support networks that provide encouragement and motivation as they set out to achieve a healthier lifestyle,” says Andrea Vincent, founder of seeMOMMYrun and mother of two. “My organization is committed to bringing moms together to get fit, so we are proud to partner with the Wheat Foods Council on their ‘Mom, the Everyday Athlete’ program.”

Following is a step-by-step overview of how the event works:

Moms register for the event at the Wheat Foods Council site, www.wheatfoods.org, where they can access nutrition and fitness training materials.
The site works in tandem with seeMOMMYrun where moms locate or begin a running/walking group in their area.
Participants use seeMOMMYrun to communicate and schedule their run/walk at a place and time convenient for them on the day of the event.
Moms use a pedometer, provided to them following registration, to track their steps during the event.
They then enter their total into a step counter, located at www.wheatfoods.org, by midnight on the day of the run/walk.
The total number of all steps taken on that day is submitted for world record consideration in the new category of “most steps taken by moms in one day.”
“Mom, the Everyday Athlete” nutrition and fitness materials, created by registered dietitians and certified athletic trainers, enable moms to prepare for the event and maximize their overall health and stamina. Following is an overview of the available resources located at www.wheatfoods.org:

Nutrition

Healthy diet – customized nutrition information for moms at three different life stages (pregnant mom, mom with young children and empty nester mom) includes a sample dietary plan, grocery list and recipes.
Pre-workout fuel – tips for fueling up with carbohydrate-rich snacks and water to physically and mentally prepare the body for an exercise session. Whole and enriched grain foods are a premier source of carbohydrates, the body’s preferred source of energy, and contain B vitamins, which help the body convert food to energy.
Pasta party – pasta party planning ideas and recipes enable moms to get together with their group the night before and maximize their performance during the run/walk.
Fitness

Activity level – moms can determine their current level of daily activity with a simple quiz and a daily steps formula as well as set goals to reach their ideal level.
Step tracker – a downloadable step tracker enables moms to track progress and set goals on an ongoing basis.