SUPERMOM TO THE RESCUE

Have you ever wondered how you keep going in the midst of trials and tribulations? How you are still able to stand tall when everything around you is crumbling to pieces? Is it grace? Is it favor? Are you better than the mom who has fallen apart? Are you better than the mom who has given up? I think NOT!

SOLIDARITY, MY SISTER!

As we look toward a new year that is swiftly approaching we are calling on each sister to unite and lift one another up. No woman is strong on an island. No one hears her cry, but there is strength in numbers. There is force when we bind together and come against the enemy. The enemy may be your job, your bills, your health regimen that continues to beat you over the head (uuughhh!), it may be the mom who seems to have it altogether. (you know that is not your enemy, right?)

What enemy will you DECLARE TO DEFEAT IN 2017? VICTORY IS YOURS! PULL OUT THAT SUPER HEROINE CAPE, PUT ON YOUR BIG GIRL PANTIES AND LET'S GET TO WORK! Turn on your favorite girl power anthem song (because you know we can't do it without our power music) and let's KILL IT! We got this! There is strength in NUMBERS! WHO IS WITH ME!?!?!


Don't Leave Me Alone Out Here On this ISLAND! Where my GIRLS at?

International Borders

Never Let the Mind tell the Body What It Cannot Do! Some of us had to apply for passports. Some of us had never completed a half-marathon before. Some of us wanted to give up at the START LINE. Accountability is so important. We started the Journey together and that meant that there was no letting the other GIVE UP! We were in it until THE END. It rained. There was PAIN. There was TEARS. There were ACHES. There were JOYS. More importantly, there was COMPLETION!

WE DID IT! YOU CAN TOO! BELIEVE IN THE DREAM!

Giving Tuesday!

It is Giving Tuesday. S.T.A.R.S. is reminding you of its non-profit efforts. If your company does matching please consider donating to S.T.A.R.S. at http://sisterstars.wixsite.com/stars/donate. In 2016 S.T.A.R.S. contributions paid for 6 race entries for women to participate in health and wellness activities with associated costs. It gave away prizes at the 2015 annual banquet to celebrate the achievement of women who completed their first 5k, half-marathon, and full marathon and those who helped others to achieve their goal by training them to get to the finish line. We help women reach their goals by removing obstacles!

My First Full-Marathon

A Race Recap Written by Valissa A.

 (26.2 miles -completed 3/6/16 in Arkansas)

SO I have been asked by many, how long did I train. I took my training very seriously. I can remember saying I would never do a full. Then one day I saw Toni and Aliya crossing the finish line for the Grand Rapids Full Marathon and I saw photos of Deonia completing the Flying Pig Full Marathon. I started thinking to myself, I feel a little marathon motivationcoming on!

Every year I set a running goal for myself. In 2015, that goal was to complete 200 miles with the Ragnar Relay. After that, I said okay a Full Marathon in 2016 it is!

I set my eyes on finding a Full Marathon. With suggestions from other full marathoners and research, I found the Little Rock Marathon!! And then the training began!

But then it happen. I ran the Detroit Free Press Marathon Relay. It was a cold, yet a beautiful day and I was the last leg on the relay team, bringing up the rear with only about 4 miles to do.

At just over 2 miles into my run, something pinched in my right leg and I was down for the count!! Oh the pain I felt!! I couldn't even finish the race without walking it all the way to the finish line. Tears in my eyes, not just from the pain but also because I felt I let my team down. Like I had just dropped the baton as I headed to the finish line. Man! Then I thought, my marathon dream is gone for 2016. Double Man!

I needed physical therapy for my recovery. This was now October and I was already into my training. I told the therapist and my doctor that I was in training for my first Full Marathon, paid for already but now I was concerned that I would not be able to continue. I was prayed up but I couldn't even run for one second without my knees buckling.

They said the marathon is out if I planned to run it straight through but if I had a different plan that I could show them and we could work together, then maybe at least they could get me to the finish line. So here comes the change in my plan and the introduction to the Jeff Galloway Method.

With hard work, dedication, MONTHS of training, proper nutrition, and a dedicated team of women supporting me through this journey, my goal was just to finish and finish injury free!! But I am going to toot my on horn right now!!

With 8 hours available to finish the race, I still had 1 hour and 15 minutes remaining, plus walked away with a huge medal, a smile on my face, and with NO injuries!! WON'T HE DO IT!!

While the journey wasn't easy, I stuck to my training. I was constantly told, "Just Trust Your Training, You Got This"! When my mind wanted to think differently, I would say that to myself. Now continuing with my training, today was my first day of recovery and it called for a 60 minute slow walk. I'll TAKE THAT!!

Be Blessed! S.T.A.R.S., THANK YOU again for all of your support!! I couldn't have made it through without you!!

From a Thankful Recipient...

After having a baby, I lost the interest/energy in my fitness journey but still desired the results. My son wanted to run a race and I was unable to pay for both of our registrations. S.T.A.R.S. blessed me with a Race entry Scholarship and my son and I ran our 1st 5K together. I pray that one day I'll be able to pay it forward. With one week of training, we went out and both landed (what we felt like were) good times. I met my primary goal (time) but not my secondary one. Since running this race, my inner fitness junkie has been re-ignited and I'm back on my fitness journey, with a new goal to finish in under 40 minutes...which I will do. :-) Thank you to S.T.A.R.S.! I now feel like I have STAR power, and I'm ready to drag a few girlfriends/family members out there with me! 

-Anonymous Scholarship Winner

Grand Rapids Brings Awareness to Infant Mortality

What: Infant Mortality Awareness/Infant Safe Sleep Awareness BABY BUGGY WALK IN THE PARK

When: 11 AM - 1 PM Saturday, 12/September

Where: Garfield Park

Sponsored by: Healthy Kent Safe Sleep Coalition
THE MICAH CENTER
Garfield Park Neighborhood Association

The United States Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health and
the National Healthy Start Association annually promote a BABY BUGGY WALK IN THE PARK
to be held at local locations around the country to raise awareness of Infant Mortality.
We are happy to announce we'll be having our First Annual BABY BUGGY WALK IN THE PARK
in Grand Rapids! Our theme is FITNESS! FAMILY! FUN!

Be Proactive And Not Reactive!

I have always been athletic but one day, I started losing focus of my eating habits and was not really working out. It was not until I went to the doctor one day and he told me that I had high cholesterol. Then he hit me with the big bug! That it was hereditary and that I would be on medication for the rest of my life! The crazy part is how he looked at me. He said that my cholesterol levels were so high and so low that he was surprised I had not already had a heart attack!

I immediately went into panic mode. I have a husband and kids. What will they do without me if something happens? I begin to pray and then heard God say, did you hear what the doctor said! He was surprised that you have not already had a heart attack! Did you not realized how I have kept you! I will continue to keep you but you have to put in work too!

It was then that I decided not to accept the doctor’s report! This is not hereditary!

I Am Not Perfect!

I am not perfect, but I try daily to start over and get it right. There are days where I give my all and days where I don’t give enough, but the key is that I don’t give up. No many how many times I fall short, I get back up and keep trying to get it right. This life of health is necessary and serious because I want to live a long, healthy, and prosperous life. This can only be if I take care of me in the midst of taking care of everyone else (meaning my husband and two boys). They’re a handful, but I am learning that I must take care of me in order to take care of them. We are all moms, spouses, sisters, aunties, godmothers, and daughters to someone but it is necessary for us to be selfish at some point in the day and give to ourselves. For me, that is setting the clock to get up and do some form of physical exercise while everyone is sleeping. If I don’t do it then, it won’t get done. Most days I don’t want to roll out of bed (like today), but I get up and get it done.