A Porch Dog to Big Dog Training Testimonial by guest, Molly Wright

“Get the miles on your legs, and the rest will come”

To say the Porch Dog to Big Dog Training Program changed the trajectory of my life may sound dramatic but I don’t know that I have ever spoken truer words. I first attended PDBD in 2012. I was a retired collegiate cheerleader who, two years after graduation, was still trying to figure out what fitness looked like other than cheerleading practice 6 days a week.

The opportunity for PDBD came up and, while I had ZERO interest in running, I decided to try it. Running had NEVER been part of my athletic history.

Flip and spin blindly through the air? 

Absolutely! 

Get thrown up in the air hoping the people below would catch me? Sure, no problem! 

Run a mile?....you could find me hiding in the bathroom avoiding it at all costs probably on the verge of tears.

The breakdown and progression of PDBD made running feel attainable and not overwhelming. The end goal wasn’t to run a 5k. It was to train your body, meet mini goals, and build endurance and confidence. I have never felt so proud as the first time I ran 5 mins without stopping ... .yes, I couldn’t even run for 5 mins straight before the beginning of PDBD. 

I ran The Big Dog Jingle 5k at the end of the program, never really planning to do more than a 5k here or there, but I had enjoyed the program so much that I decided to join the next session. I completed round 2, beat my previous 5k time, and realized I had been bit by the running bug. 

At the time, Carolee was also helping another group of runners who were looking to do more. It was an amazingly diverse group of people with varying goals. The group ranged from just wanting to improve 5K times all the way up to marathon training. “Next Steps”, as we lovingly called ourselves, refined and expanded the foundation that Carolee had set during PDBD. 

In 2016, while working with Next Steps, I got pregnant for the first time. I ran my first marathon on a Sunday and found out I was pregnant on Wednesday. I was shocked, excited, and I wanted to be that crazy pregnant girl running up until her due date (we all know at least one!) Unfortunately, that pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage and very much affected how I was having to train my body. Just as I felt like things were returning to normal, I got pregnant again! However, I was terrified to run having harbored a lot of guilt from my miscarriage thinking my marathon had been a factor in our loss even though it was not. Thankfully I had no issues with that pregnancy and delivered my first boy, Anderson, in June 2017. 

Postpartum was another crossroad I hadn’t anticipated being as challenging as it was. I had been slowly easing back into running but not doing much else. It was then that I decided to give S.L.A.M. a try. I had known about S.L.A.M. for years. It was not unusual to see S.L.A.M. moms passing the masses during races and taking over our local parks during the week. I was reluctant to try S.L.A.M. but the first class was free, so I figured I’d try one class and never show back up. 

At 1 year postpartum and secretly pregnant with my second baby, I went to my free S.L.A.M. class and was quickly humbled in the best possible way. The workout was great, the community was instant, and it was exactly what I didn’t know I needed. I was able to safely and comfortably S.L.A.M. and run through my entire second pregnancy thanks to the certification and expertise of the coaching staff. After having my second baby, Thomas, I set my sights on becoming a S.L.A.M. coach. I wanted to be that resource for other moms that that group of ladies had been for me. I got ACE fitness certified and began coaching and then formally took over as S.L.A.M. Boss in 2021.S.L.A.M. is a little bit of everything when it comes to fitness, but I always make it a point to include running portions. All these years later, I still find myself quoting Carolee and implementing the many techniques she taught me to help coach my S.L.A.M. girls. I’ve been able to help coach up multiple mamas to run varying races distances, Run Across Georgia, or simply just not loath running. 

Instead of just hearing from me, I asked a few fellow SLAMMERs to spill about their running + SLAM journey…

Jada: “When I first started SLAM, the running scared me! I’d never been good at it and always avoided it. Getting around the Lakebottom track even once was not feasible for me then. But now, running isn’t that scary monster I always thought it was. My goals have shifted from getting one lap around the track to getting a sub 26 minute 5K. I never thought I would even say the words “I like running”. It’s hard, but so, so rewarding. I owe all of that growth to SLAM”

Windy: “SLAM promotes so much growth in everyone by celebrating doing what you can and not feeling any shame for what you can't. With chronic pain and weak joints, I didn't think I would ever enjoy running or get past a point where I felt too much pain to run. I would run too hard for my abilities and then need a week to recover, never making progress. This summer, all these wonderful SLAM moms celebrated going on SLOGs and running as slow as possible. It changed my whole perspective on running, and I have improved not just in my running ability but in my confidence. We celebrate even the small and slow wins, and that is life-changing!!!”

Casey: “The Riverwalk 4 Miler was my favorite race I ran since falling in love with running again, thanks to SLAM. It's the strongest I've felt and the first time I made a plan and stuck to it. I never would have accomplished it without the support and hard work of my SLAM team and instructors.”

While these girls say that we have helped them, they have also helped me. My running journey has not been fluid. I’ve had many breaks from running, especially over the last couple of years with the diagnosis of an autoimmune and the birth of my third (and final!) baby, Sadie Kate. I’ve only recently found my passion for running again. This was my most challenging post-partum running return for a laundry list of reasons but S.L.A.M. members have celebrated each mini win with me as I climbed my way back.

This year will be 14 years since my first PDBD. In those 14 years I have completed 1 full marathon, 2 Runs Across Georgia, and I’ve lost count on how many halves, 10ks, 5ks, and every race distance in between I’ve done. I even got engaged at one of those countless 5k finish lines! 

PDBD led me to Next Steps which gave me the most amazing group of found families - you all know who you are and yes, you will always be family! Our group spanned everyone from twenty-somethings to those old enough to be my parents, even grandparents! They were at the finish line when I got engaged, one of them was my nurse in the delivery room having Thomas, and a group of the “dads” gave me a father-daughter dance at my wedding that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. One of them even officiated my wedding! So many of them have been there for all those big, life defining moments and I wouldn’t have met them if I hadn’t shown up to PDBD that first day. 

So yeah, PDBD quite literally changed my life. I wouldn’t be where I am personally, professionally, or physically without Carolee’s whistle and “WALK!......RUN!!” 

Her motto “Get the miles on your legs, the rest will come” applies to more than just running. While I’m always happy to help someone reach their running goals, I recommend PDBD as one of the best places to start!

Molly Wright is the owner of S.L.A.M. Sweat Like a Mother, Columbus. Find out more at www.sweatlikeamother.com/columbus