Lesley Hall is the Marketing Director for Moms In
Motion, an organization that connects moms across the globe through fitness,
and helps women achieve their goals, ranging from triathlons to stand up paddle
boarding. This August, Lesley stepped out of her comfort zone to successfully
compete in her first triathlon with the Moms In Motion team. Lesley and Moms In
Motion continue to inspire women to reach their goals, and support local
philanthropies to further community bonds.
How
long have you lived in Santa Barbara?
I lived in Santa Barbara in the ‘80s for 6 years, went
to UCSB, got married at The Music Academy, and then left for 15 years. We came back 5 years ago with our two kids
and love to call Santa Barbara home.
What
is/are your favorite local restaurants?
The Palace Grill, Carlitos Café and Cantina, and Brophy
Brothers.
What
is your favorite music to listen to/workout to?
All types. Some
include: U2, Sheryl Crow, Jason Mraz, John Mayer.
What
are your favorite sports/hobbies?
Running, biking, swimming (yes, now swimming).
How
do you spend a typical Sunday?
Watching Fall Ball baseball games for my 9 year old son
Logan, riding bikes and spending time with my family, reading in my hammock, and
gearing up for the next week.
How
did you first get involved with Moms In Motion?
When I moved back to SB after being away for 15 years, I
saw an ad in the newspaper for a Moms In Motion hiking team. I wanted to find a way to meet other moms and
at the same time learn the trails in our mountains. I loved it.
We would hike, do yoga over a vista or near a stream, then hike
back. It really helped me reconnect with
Santa Barbara while making new friends.
The next season I took on the challenge of a running team. Loved that also, and I've since been on a
handful of their running teams.
What
motivated you to compete in a triathlon?
Six months ago I would have said no way could I
complete a triathlon, let alone compete.
In the back of my mind I've had it as a goal, but needed to find the
time to take swim lessons and maybe shed a few extra pounds before I thought it
could be a reality. I thought maybe I'd
attempt one before I turn 50.
As marketing director for Moms In Motion I had a
meeting in May with our Moms In Motion's head triathlon coach, Ernesto Paredes. I asked him if I could show up at a few of
the first practices to take photos for marketing purposes. His response was that he had hoped I would
join the team. My response, "but
Ernesto, I can't swim, I mean, I can get across the pool, but it's not pretty." I never learned how to side breath, let alone
in the ocean! He said he had heard those
stories before, and don't worry, we'd have 12 weeks of training. I told him I'd think about it. This may sound corny, but as I was driving
home, I heard a song on the radio with the words ... "and you've only got 100
years to live." I decided that day to
give it a try. What motivated and
inspired me to compete the triathlon was thinking of all the inspirational
stories of women who have overcome obstacles and joined Moms In Motion
teams. One story that I love to share is
about a woman that joined the triathlon team a few years ago. She was a single mom who didn't know how to
swim. Ok, that's not so uncommon, but
she also didn't know how to ride a bike.
Then there are the women who have just overcome cancer and joined a
team. Everyone has their motivations,
and I guess mine was that it was time to step out of my comfort zone and do
something that I was afraid to do.
What
was your biggest challenge you overcame for the triathlon?
For sure it was swimming in the ocean! I had so many little aspects of learning to
swim that were challenging and new to me.
Some silly little challenges included taking private swim lessons
amongst a bunch of pre-schoolers, wearing a swim cap for the first time and not
feeling self-conscious, and learning how to de-fog my goggles. When I started practicing, my 12 year old
daughter Madison was my first coach.
After jumping in and swimming a few yards in the pool, I'd have to stand
up, totally winded. She'd look at me and
say "mom, you know you won't be able to stand up in the ocean, now do you want
to learn how to do a flip turn?" I
remember trying to swim fighting back tears in my goggles.
Here's an email I sent to my coach midway through the
season: "Ok coach, I just looked at the
triathlon website and looked up cut-off times.
I'm a bit concerned about them yanking me out of the water. What happens at the tri if it takes me longer
than 25 min.? I can currently swim one
lap in a minute of less, but 20 consecutive (in the ocean), ha! How can I get up to speed in just over a
month? I'm in the pool 4-5 days a week,
and can now swim 2 laps pretty much without stopping, but am still totally
winded after 2 laps. Any tips???" His reply:
"YOU ARE DOING IT!!!! Great job! Just keep on keeping On! Your
motivation and attitude is what is making you successful. I am SO not worried
for you at the TRI...it is so far away. Just enjoy THIS process of achieving
little victories. Let the SB TRI stay on Aug. 24....focus in on today and maybe
a little on tomorrow...I am VERY proud of you...stay in that "good"
place that allows you the ability to get a kick out of what you are doing....DO
NOT put pressure on yourself of Aug. 24th. That will simply be the icing to all
of this. THIS is TRIATHLON...the training and self motivation WHILE maintaining
a healthy happy balanced life. You will be successful. No one has EVER been
pulled from the ocean during the race. I look forward to our next swim! See you
soon."
The first time I swam in the ocean during practice I
hyperventilated but was able to swim to one buoy. My coach was there by my side, reminding me
that my wetsuit was keeping me afloat, and getting me to that buoy. During the season I gradually went further
and further, and learned to love being in the ocean (except on the days when
the water was very choppy). During one
of my last practices I swam 1500 yards, and that gave me the confidence to know
I could swim 500 yards during the triathlon.
Completing the entire course a handful of times in practice let me know
that I could do it. Besides support from
our official coaches, I received wonderful support from team members during
practices. It was also very comforting that
Moms In Motion provided lifeguards on surfboards and kayaks in the ocean during
practices.
Can
you tell me more about how the triathlon team worked together to support
community philanthropies?
All Moms In Motion teams integrate some sort of
philanthropic outreach. I love that everyone can do a little bit and we end up
making a difference in our community.
Our team won a contest between three local triathlon teams and raised
$12,980 for The Teacher's Fund and Computers for Families.
Another cause our coach selected this season was Heal
The Ocean. We sold tickets and had a
silent auction at SB Winery and raised $3,500 that evening. It was a great social event and once again,
by everyone contributing, we were able to help a wonderful local organization.
What
is the Moms In Motion Stand Up Paddle Surfing team?
In October we started our first Stand Up Paddle team
led by coach Laura Francis. This team is
a group of Santa Barbara moms who meet every Sunday at 9am between September
21st and November 9th to learn the basics of Stand Up Paddling, get to know
each other, get in shape and stay fit.
Stand up paddling is like hiking or doing yoga on the water. It is a
great way to explore the ocean, see wildlife above and below the water, and get
in great shape! Stand up paddling
improves balance, upper and lower body strength, and core conditioning. Our
team focuses on learning to be comfortable on the board and proper stroke
technique, and distance paddling but
not on surfing waves.
Our team philanthropy is learning about and supporting
Santa Barbara Channel Keeper (www.sbck.org) in their efforts to monitor the
health of our ocean and local watersheds. Please contact our coach at
laura@ecomotion travel for more information.
How
have the women responded to paddle surfing?
Moms In Motion team members are enjoying learning all
about this cool new sport! I think they
appreciate the opportunity to carve out time for themselves in the midst of
their busy schedules, plus with each different team, they meet different women
and the Moms In Motion community continues to expand. The team follows our same concept of
combining fun, fitness and philanthropy and will be offered again in Summer 2009.
How
can women in Santa Barbara join Moms In Motion?
Moms In Motion is designed for women of all ages and
abilities. You don't even have to be a
mom, just a daughter, sister, aunt or grandmother.
Log on to www.momsinmotion.com , click on Join a Team,
and find the teams in Santa Barbara, California.
We have different teams each season. Our fall teams include Half Marathon Running,
Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Core Conditioning entitled Absolutely Flab-u-less
Core Conditioning. Look for future teams
that include: hiking, walking, trail
running, cycling, and of course triathlon.
What
are you most proud of about Moms In Motion?
I am most proud of the owner and local resident, Jamie
Allison. I so admire how she runs her
business, her entrepreneurism, and how she makes such a difference in the lives
of thousands of women in Santa Barbara and all over the country. I'm also very proud to work for Moms In
Motion as the Marketing Director. After
completing a few seasons as a member of Moms In Motion teams, I told Jamie that
I'm not sure how, but someday I'd love to work for her organization. Last year she sent a message in a newsletter
asking if anyone was interested in joining her marketing team. I quickly sent a reply saying "tell me about
that marketing team", and here I am today.
I love my job meeting all types of SB business people and finding
corporate sponsors to help support and grow a wonderful organization.
Click here to go to the Moms In Motion Website
Photos courtesy of Lesley Hall
Chanda Fetter is the owner of IM=X Pilates, a new studio that opened up on upper State Street last month. Her various programs and facilities offer locals many different ways to benefit from Pilates, whether they seek muscle toning and sculpting to injury prevention therapy. Her goal is to expand her business and continue to open up more studios, providing access to effective and efficient exercise for people of all fitness backgrounds.