Laura: Runner Momma & Stinky Cheese Addict

Technically, I'm the CEO of Run Momma Run, but all of us running moms created it. Your passion feeds it and it feeds me. It's a place we can come together to celebrate and support each other - women who run, especially busy moms. Whether you put one foot in front of the other to get to the end of a marathon or the end of the day, we're cheering you on! ~Laura

I've been running regularly since 1998. The reasons are many; cardio fitness, mood enhancement, leg enhancement, waist enhancement. You get the picture. Running for fitness and mental well-being are high on the list. But mostly, I run because it gets me closer to myself; closer to my inner thoughts, my fears and my joy. It also helps me shut off that crazy-self-talker-chick who can't stop thinking about all the things she has to do everyday. When I'm running, I'm just running.

Distance running came into the picture in 2005. I wanted to do something challenging for my 40th birthday, so I decided to run the Newport, Oregon Marathon. I've run 4 others since, including a grueling trail marathon, a bunch of shorter races, half marathons and now trail running and racing. In July of 2010, I finished my first 50K, the Siskiyou Outback in Southern Oregon and I'm training for The McKenzie River Trail Race 50K.  The races are fun, but it's the training I really love. Hooking up with running buddies, doing the long runs, seeing how my body can get stronger with each increase in distance is what motivates me.

The Mom
I've got two amazing kids, Jack Woo, 8 and May Se-Jin, 6. They were both adopted from Korea when they were 4 months old. We have always told them we picked the best ones and we were right!

Oh, and let's not forget amazing hubby! Bill is a child and family therapist. He's funny, hot, well-read, a super-daddy and not afraid of teenagers, which is great, because I'm freaked out about those years to come.

Among other things (see resume below) I was owner of Dive In Designs, a website development company, for over ten years. It's taught me tons about business, marketing, social media and how to help companies be their best on the web. I just sold the business in 2010 to spend more time with the kiddos and expand Run Momma Run.

The Resume

• Ice skater extraordinaire (age 14)
• Gas station attendant (love short-term customers)
• Air Force Staff Sergeant (8 years in the service, definitely a previous life)
• Ski bum (in Europe and Oregon, over 100 days a year)
• Retail Manager (they called me the up-sell queen)
• Homebrewer (IPA. Period)
• Woman in transition (BA in Comparative Literature, Women's Studies, U of O, Summa Cum Laude, Oregon Six)
• Website developer and business owner (1999 to 2010)
• Mom (18 to life - yahoo!)