Bethel Mom "Runs Like a Mother"
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- Category: Health and Wellness
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 08:00
- Written by Wendy Mitchell
Erin Gaita at the Mother's Day race in Ridgefield, with husband Dan and daughters Sophia (left) and Isabella (right).
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While most moms were being pampered, sitting in church or enjoying breakfast in bed this Mother's Day, one Bethel mom, Erin Gaita was running like a mother, literally. Gaita competed in Ridgefield's annual Mother's Day 5K called, "Run Like a Mother." Gaita decided to run in the race when a friend posted on Facebook that she would be running in the Ridgefield race.
"I thought it would be fun to run it with her. I am always looking for various races to run, and this one will be fun to do with other mothers, especially on Mother’s Day. I get to do what I love most, run!" Gaita said.
Run Like A Mother was started by Megan Searfoss, a Ridgefield mother and California native. The race began in 2008 when Searfoss had the idea to do a Mother’s Day race "to celebrate and empower women." According to the website, the mission of Run Like a Mother is "to fuel a woman’s journey toward health and wellness." Gaita began her own journey back in 2004, with encouragement and coaching from her husband Dan Gaita, owner of Private Studio FItness.
"I built up to 5K’s. I loved them and we regularly participated in various races of this distance throughout Fairfield County," Gaita said.
After she had her daughter Sophia in 2006, Gaita said she got “the running bug”.
"I wanted to push my limits, see how far I could go. So in addition to 5K’s, I signed up for some 10K’s. Loved those as well," Gaita said.
Her love of running distance kept growing, along with her family.
"After I had our daughter Isabella in 2008, I ran my first half marathon. As soon as I crossed the finish line, I said to Dan, 'I NEED to run a marathon.'”
This led her to begin training for the New York City Marathon, which she ran and completed November 7, 2010. Gaita is currently training for her second New York City marathon this November 6, 2011.
Run Like A Mother's motto is "It isn’t just a race, it’s our way of life." For Gaita that motto rings true.
"I love running, and I have really come to love pushing the distance… so much so that I have slotted a 50 miler for 2013."
