Member of the Month - October - Christie C.

Hey hey hey! It’s Monday, and mid-month(ish) so let’s get to know another one of our marvelous mamas! Each month, we aim the spotlight at one of our members so you can get to know them better. How do we choose? With a random draw from the hat by the nearest toddler in tow.

If you ever need the hookup on the best way to rent the runway for a fancy night out, then look no further than this mama. Christie C, has dressed to the nines for events all over Austin with her husband, Matt. Since he is in the business of Government Relations and Public Policy, the couple attends numerous formal occasions throughout the year. Christie is also involved in fundraising for some of her favorite organizations. This year, she served as a host committee member for the 22nd Annual Food for Thought Gala benefitting Communities in Schools of Central Texas. This organization provides social services to students in their schools to help prevent students from dropping out. As a school social worker, this cause is definitely near and dear to her heart, and Christie’s group knocked it out of the park with a record-setting $671,000 event!

When she’s not fancy and kid-free, you can find her getting footloose on the trails with her 19-month-old daughter, Katherine. She trades her ballgowns for tanks, and her updo for a super sweat-soaking visor, which she says is her favorite piece of running gear. With enough snacks for Katherine, Christie can put in some serious miles on the tires of her trusty B.O.B, stroller. Her favorite trail is the Roy and Ann Butler Trail on Lady Bird Lake, which is convenient since one of Katherine’s favorite parks is Zilker Park! Christie says she loves both the energy and scenery of the trail, and appreciates that she can go in any direction there and still enjoy it.

Since joining Trotting with Tots a year ago, this mother-daughter duo (also known as Cheese and Kathers) have logged a lot of miles together. After not quite being able to complete a half marathon in previous years, Christie decided that this was the year. Her main motivation? Knowing that it could not be as difficult as natural childbirth. The best part of completing 13.1 miles of hills at the Austin Half for her was seeing Katherine and Matt at the finish line. The second best part was celebrating with a Freakin’ Vegan breakfast taco from TacoDeli, which is her favorite post-run treat. Christie has only participated in a handful of organized races, but is expanding her repotoire in the next few months with more half marathons, and her first Ragnar Relay in the spring!

Originally from Houston (with a few years in Venezuela thrown in there during her preschool years), Christie has been in Austin for 14 years. She still calls Barton Springs her favorite spot in the city, although she spends a lot less time swimming and sunbathing there than she did before Katherine was born. She remembers spending several hours there a week with friends, and says that surfacing after jumping into that 65-degree water is like a rebirthing experience. Her love of the cold runs deep, as she comes from a family of self-described ice cream eaters. Coconut based or otherwise, Christie says there is not a flavor she has tried that she did not like. Her other not-so-guilty pleasures? Ryan Gosling and Arcade Fire songs.

If she ever gets her dream job of being an astronaut, Christie will probably have to leave her old workout DVD collection behind. She might have to sneak “Buns of Steel” on board though, since atrophy is a real concern in space. Since having Katherine, she no longer collects things as much as she collects ideas of things she wants to do, but doesn’t. One thing she does hang on to, though, is the knowledge that running makes her feel good emotionally and physically about being a mom and about life.

Next time you see Cheese and Kathers out and about, be sure to say “hi” (and you might even get to meet Douglas).

Lisa

Photo Credit: Evan + Marin Photography