When it comes to active moms, we recently got a chance to talk to one of the women leading the charge, Emilee Franco from Los Angeles, California. She is a runner, mother, mindset coach, and advocate for the abilities community. She caught our eye while sharing details about the Ultra Mama Bootcamp she launched recently in a running group on Facebook.
What caused us to reach out was that she was not only running for herself, but challenging other women to be active moms as well. Doing it all as a new mom took courage. It’s something we wanted to support and we knew her story would inspire you to run beyond your comfort zone.
Emilee’s Fitness Background
Growing Up Active
Emilee: I’ve always been active. I grew up playing sports, primarily basketball, but I was that tomboy and that girl that always wanted to go out and do more. I begged my mom to try out for football. She wouldn’t let me. I was the kid that was outside until it was dark playing at the park, so I’ve always been active. It’s just been a part of my lifestyle.
As I’ve gotten older it’s changed a little bit. I was doing a lot of boot camp classes, strength training courses, and gyms when I was in college. However, my health wasn’t very good. I was stressed out with working full-time and in school full-time. The way I coped with it was working out more. My nutrition also wasn’t great. I wasn’t eating enough because I was stressed out.
Making A Change
When I went to the doctor for a physical, I was in my early 20s. The doctor says “I think we might need to switch up your physical activity because you’re hurting yourself. You’re stressed and the way that you are managing it is not healthy.” I got defensive because I was young. I thought “No I’m healthy! I’m doing what you’re supposed to do.”
The doctor suggested that I try yoga, stretching, and possibly do some running and cardio. Maybe not so much heavy lifting and pounding on my body that I had been doing for so long. I looked at her like “I can’t do that! Yoga! I need to be more energetic, I need to be moving!” So I thought, ok I’ll try it!
Discovering running & learning new strengths
I tried yoga near my house. There were these classes I tried twice a week. Then I looked up running groups in the community where I lived. I thought, “Oh, I can run a few miles, not horrible. Meet a few people.” I went and ran with the local running group by my house, at the time Highland Park runners. Then I got really into it because this opened a whole new community. I didn’t know the running world at all. I didn’t know the active world as an adult. I always kept doing it for myself because it is something I had always done.
The people in the running group would talk about these half marathons, marathons, and relays that are 200-mile races in 48 hours. I would look at them like “You’re crazy! That’s insane!” But the competitiveness in me just wanted to see how far I could push myself. I don’t know if that is what my doctor meant by my running.
I started getting into that community as I got older. I think I’ve been running now for the past 8 or nine years. I’ve been in that community and still go to the gym, doing some strength training, but very different. It’s a very different context now. Before I wanted to do cross fit and I wanted to see how big and strong I could get. Now, it’s a different kind of strength I’ve learned.
Discovering Ultra Running
Then I got into a lot of different races and events. A runner opened trail running to me. I thought “Oh my God, this is great! I love being outside.” On the trails, it’s my peaceful place, rediscovering that through running, and seeing how far I can push myself. That’s when I learned about ultra running, where you can go beyond the marathon in the mountains.
Right before the pandemic, I had a crew and started training to do my first 100-mile race. I’m super inspired by these women that are out there in that particular community and they’re crushing it! They are beating the men more and more. It was just super inspiring to see! I thought “I can do this.” That’s how I met my husband. We had just gotten married and then the pandemic happened. That stopped the whole plan for the 100-mile race. The whole world just went into a whole different phase.
When we, little by little, could start to come back to being active, it takes time. You have to get a base. You have to get consistent, while not knowing what’s going to happen. Gyms were open, but they weren’t. There were a lot of regulations. I am a preschool special ed teacher for the public school district here in LA, so a lot was going on with that.
Becoming an Active Mom
Fast forward we started running a year ago, we’re getting back into it. Then we found out I was pregnant! That threw me for a whole different adventure. I’m very stubborn and consistency is a big part for me you have to be consistent. You don’t have to do a lot, but you have to do something or as much as you possibly can.
When you are pregnant it’s an hour-by-hour, day-by-day thing. You have to be flexible. I think that’s key. Miss Emilee here had a very hard time being flexible. I’ve been so rigid and consistent for so long. For my personality, it was a butt kicker. I could only run until I was about 3 months pregnant. I just couldn’t. I got too sick every time. I ran a 15-mile run one weekend. That was the last one and I cried because I could tell. I got back into yoga and stretching.
After having her, I have been trying to get back, but it’s very different. My path is very different now. I’m grateful when I can run and be active. I started learning that when you become a mother, you’re not valid in society as much as we think. We are before we’re a mother and I think that’s sad. Moves are being made and organizations are pushing for change, especially in the active world.
Meeting a need for active moms
I’ve noticed there’s not a community out there of moms just supporting each other and that get each other. I always wanted to do training on the side and I always wanted to be a running coach. I started a little bit here and there, but never really fully did it because there was a lot of fear. After going through this whole process and having a daughter, I want her to see that it’s possible. I want her to see how strong women are because we’re pretty incredible.
I just want to give the opportunity to people and tell them it’s ok. Either you were a runner and active, then became a mom. Or you’re a mom who wants to be active. Whatever it looks like just come on out! We can laugh about it and we can sweat about it. We can cry a little bit because it’s going to be a little intense, but it’s possible.
It will be cool just to create a community. That’s why I’ve been working on getting certified because my dream is to also have a running group. A mom running group, hopefully, a road, and then an ultra group would be incredible because you don’t see it. They are there, but they’re not and it’s sad because we can do it!
Where did the idea for Ultra Mama Bootcamp come from?
Emilee: I was looking into some programs to get certified. One of the certificates is a strength and conditioning coach. It requires a lot more work in the course. I did their program via Zoom because of the pandemic. I realized that being strong will give you the benefit of every other area. I think if you’re strong and you build it, then you can go out and do more if you want.
I thought a boot camp in the community would be less intimidating because it’s 45 miles and I do it in a public area. There’s a park close by, so if a family member needs to bring their child that’s ok. There are restrooms right there. I was just trying to think of everything you would need as a mom. So, I chose the strength and conditioning coach versus the running coach first. Creating a running group is a little more intimidating at the beginning. Plus, it is great practice for me and I get to experience it as well.
What kind of exercises do you do at Ultra Mama Bootcamp?
Emilee: Usually, it’s 45 minutes to an hour, with water breaks in between.
The warmup:
There’s a 5-minute warmup, where we do active stretching to warm everything up. Then we go into a 5-minute meet-and-greet fun game, which can sometimes include the cha-cha slide song. We do it plank style and there are different moves you can do. That’s where we have a fun workout, do relay races, or a fun game that usually lasts about 10 minutes. Hopefully, everyone feels more comfortable they get to laugh with each other and get a water break.
Stations
After the water break, we go into six stations with cones and mats. We do 3 rounds of it. Each station is a minute. I have music that plays and a timer that goes off. It takes about 25 minutes, sometimes more. There’s not much equipment. I’ve been doing a lot of bodywork because I feel like you don’t need equipment. I’ve had women contact me and ask “Is this for really conditioned athletes?” “If I’m a beginner can I come?” There are all different kinds of alterations if they need accommodations. If you need to take a break, you can step aside and do that. There’s no set number of reps. They do as much as they can within a minute. My biggest goal is not intimidation, I want them to like it. However, if they want it to be more intense, I tell them “I got you!”
Finish with squats
There’s a 10-minute finisher. I use the “Bring Sally Up” song. It’s a squat activity. We huddle up, and they have to bring Sally up and down. A lot of them don’t like it and they laugh. Others enjoy it. The whole song is 6 minutes. Right now, we’re built up to 3:30. They have fun with it and say “Their legs burn.” I do it with them. I tell them “You got to get those squats in because that baby isn’t getting any lighter.”
End with stretching
After that they can take a break and get some water, we all get to a mat and do some stationary stretching at the end, with some yoga songs. I send them home to foam roll.
Do you have any memorable moments from the Ultra Mama Bootcamp?
Emilee: When I first started, I was intimidated. Everyone says “You’re just so supportive.” That’s because I know what it feels like to show up that first day, to try to do something new or be different. Your brain is very powerful and you are harder on yourself than anybody will ever be. That was difficult, but after a few weeks, I started seeing people post it on their social media. They would say “You guys got to come out” or “This kicked my butt.”
Hearing that they’re so excited to come back is really what did it at the beginning. Those are some of the most rewarding stories you can get. I haven’t been around long enough yet to have the whole 360. However, I see that in the future. Hearing those stories keeps me going because community is key. If we have our community behind us in anything, we’ll feel great and more people will have higher self-esteem.
How do you stay motivated to be an active mom?
Emilee: As an active mother, it’s my time for myself. I don’t have a lot of self-care. I have a hard time with that, as all moms probably do. We want to make sure everybody is ok before we deal with ourselves. By the time we get to ourselves, we’re like “We’ll do it another day.” But the peacefulness that I get is something that I truly love, it’s motivating.
I think the biggest thing for me is two things. One is seeing people get out there and hearing their stories. The second thing, I just feel different and I like it. The ultra and trail communities are getting bigger. It’s become a little more popular, but it’s not the coolest thing. I feel I’m cool because most people don’t know about it, or don’t see it the same. That makes me feel different and I like to feel different.
Those are the two things, people and having my own space with being active is huge mentally. It always has been, but on a different level now that I’m a mom. Every day I ask myself, “When can I do it? What does my day look like?” I have to coordinate with my husband or take her with me if it works out.
What advice would you give to other moms who want to incorporate fitness into their lives?
Emilee: I definitely would validate them. It’s hard and every day is going to be hard. I don’t think it’s going to get any easier for a long time, so we have to be creative. Even if you can take 10 to 20 minutes out of your day. Whether your child is taking a nap, or they are at school, if you can take that time for yourself, it will change your whole state. You’ll be a happier person. You will have more energy. Just try it! If you need help I’m here.
I also say to let your kids be inspired by you! You are the number one, so show them that you are by taking care of yourself. Then they will take care of themselves as they get older. If you don’t prioritize it, what makes you think they are going to? They learn best from you.
I also want moms to know they are not alone, so don’t think you’re crazy. Life is not easy and sometimes we think “Oh I didn’t get to it.” It’s not easy. You are growing a little human and it’s work.
Do you have any races coming up that people can cheer you on?
Emilee: I just finished my first race back, it was a 10K. It was called the Tough Topanga in the mountains. It was a trail run. It was a little intense and fun.
Because I was having my daughter, we had to defer some of my races. So I have two in September. One is the Santa Monica Classic 5k on September 10th. Then on September 22nd, there’s the Mammoth Trail Fest. I will be running their 16k race.
My husband and I made a pact that we’re going to do the LA series, which includes the Santa Monica Classic, the Pasadena Half Marathon in January, and the LA Marathon in March. The reason we are trying to do the series is the LA Marathon lands on my daughter’s birthday this year. Our goal is to do it with her. We’re going to train and do the best we can. I think if my husband and I tag team it, we can do it. We’re going to get shirts made with our name on it. We’re very excited.
You can follow me on Instagram @Em_Lee_Runner.
Final thoughts?
Emilee:
Moms are an incredible population of runners that I don’t think has been tapped into yet. There are so many active women who became moms. Just because they become a mother, doesn’t mean they can’t be an incredible athlete. There needs to be more options out there for us. Creating those communities, so help us do it!
Come out to the boot camp. Give me ideas on how to start my running group because that is my goal. There are these incredible mom athletes who I would love to coach and get their name out there, to show other moms this is possible. They are not just a mom.
If you want to attend the boot camp
If you are an active mom and want to attend the Ultra Mama Bootcamp it is at the Rosebowl Stadium in Pasadena, California on Sundays from 8 am to 9 am. There’s no set price to attend, just donation based. Emilee asks that you bring your own water, towel and yoga mat. She is working on adding childcare in the future.
If you are more of a runner, Emilee is working on creating a running group called Ultra Mama Running. You can follow her on Instagram @Em_Lee_Runner.
