Motivational Mom of the Month - Cara Hartle

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Motivational Mom of the Month - Cara Hartle

Helloooooo October! Fall is in full swing and with that so is our fall Run Club. This month we're celebrating and getting to know of one of our Run Club moms. Meet Cara Hartle - this month's Motivational Mom of the Month!

How did you find FIT4MOM Richmond and how long have you been a part of our village?

I found FIT4MOM about 3 years ago after my youngest was born. I wanted to get back into running because it has always been something that I loved, but just didn't have the motivation to do it on my own. I was looking for a smaller group in which I could actually get to know some other people who wanted exercise AND socialization! And the FIT4MOM running club was just what I needed!

What do you love most about being part of this community?

Being part of the FIT4MOM community has allowed me to branch out and meet other women who are going through the same walks of life as me. Being a grown up and trying to make friends is really hard!

Who are you a mom to?

I am a mom to Evan who just turned 10 (!!), Nora who is 7, and Jade who is 3.5.

What is your favorite thing about being a mom?

I love being able to see the world through my children’s eyes. They have such a different perspective of life and it constantly resets me. They also challenge me every single day. There is always something new to learn!

What two items would you take with you if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island where all your food and water needs were taken care of?

An endless supply of books and my chapstick!

If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or back to the past?

I would definitely travel back in time. Who wouldn’t want to live in the roaring 20s? I’m an old soul.

How do you practice self-care?

I love to read and always try to go to bed early! Even on vacation, my cut off is 10pm.

Where did you grow up and how did you end up in Richmond?

I grew up in a small town in western PA. I ended up all over for school and training and ultimately landed here in RVA because my sister lives here!

How did becoming a mother change you?

I no longer sweat the small stuff. My priorities have changed drastically.

Are you a stay at home mom or do you work outside of the home?

I work outside of the home. I’m an OB/GYN at VPFW and primarily work at St. Mary’s.

What is the last great book or television series you've read/watched?

I LOVED the Throne of Glass series but for an individual book, The Women by Kristin Hannah was incredible.

How did you meet your partner?

Matt and I met when we were both in training at Vanderbilt in Nashville.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Honestly, an architect. I’ve always loved drawing and design. Maybe in my second (or third) career!

If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what song would you choose and why?

Call me maybe by Carly Rae Jepson, because why not?!

If we wanted to say hi, which classes can we find you attending?

Run Club!! It’s the best!

Cara, we heard that you're running the NYC marathon this November! First of all, huge congrats and good luck! Tell us more about why you're running and who for?

So on November 2nd, I will be running the NYC marathon for the team Every Mother Counts. Last year after training for the Richmond half with the FIT4MOM run club, I was looking through all of my medals from previous races with my 7 year old. I figured out that this year would be 20 years after running my very first marathon. So I thought, maybe this could be my comeback year. But I didn’t just want to do it for me, I wanted to do it for something bigger than me. So I decided to go big or go home! I applied to the top 3 charities of my choice for NY and the Every Mother Counts team chose me! I thought what better way to combine my love for running with my passion for taking care of women. Every Mother Counts is an organization started by Christy Turlington that raises awareness of maternal health during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum times. Their goal is to help ensure that all women have access to safe, respectful, and equitable health care throughout their journey into motherhood. I’m so excited for not only the race but to meet the people who are part of this amazing team! __________________________________________________________________

Cara, you are such an inspiration and we're so grateful that you're part of Our Village! We'll be cheering for you on November 2nd. Thank you for supporting such a great cause and for all you do in the Richmond community.

I loved learning more about you and I'm right there with you with the endless supply of chapstick! ;)

To our readers - if you have mom that you think should be nominated as our next Mom of the Month be sure to let us know!

- Natalie