A Busy Mom on the Run

V1 Staff, photos by Sharp Portrait Studio |

A Southern California girl finds her place here in the Chippewa Valley, inspiring others to get outside and stay active ...

name 

Shelly Peters

family 

Husband: Dave. Kids: Zoey (9), Grady (6), Henry (4).

neighborhood

Third Ward, Eau Claire

background

Shelly grew up in Southern California but through a series of events, education, and travel, ended up teaching fourth grade at a Spanish immersion school in St. Paul, Minn. It’s there she met her husband. After having their first child they moved to central Mexico to work for a nonprofit doing community development work. In 2008 they moved to the Chippewa Valley to be back in her husband’s hometown of Eau Claire just two weeks before their second child was born. Shelly’s current job is managing the operations of their home life, but she also co-owns, manages, and coaches Moms on the Run in the Chippewa Valley. She enjoys running, swimming, skate-skiing, travel, and tries to read but usually falls asleep. “Maybe when my kids grow up I will read again,” she said.

We love the Chippewa Valley because it’s a great place to raise a family. We are grateful for so many family friendly and accessible activities and events. We love the Montessori Charter School our kids attend and that we can have fresh eggs and milk delivered to our door. We love being able to bike, run and ski on safe trails. We can get anywhere in 10 minutes (thankfully because I already tend to run late!) and the people! There are so many inspirational people that live here.

I couldn’t live without coffee in the morning with fresh Castle Rock half-and-half. And my running shoes.

I make sure to never miss my kids’ events, running with Moms on the Run, and the Farmers Market at Phoenix Park.

My favorite place to take the kids is Rod and Gun Park in the summer. It’s a magical place of discovery. Surely it’s EC’s best-kept secret. In the winter my favorite place is Kickin’ Kids at Tower Ridge.

I never leave the house without ... I hate to admit to this, but my iPhone. Not sure when that thing became an appendage but it cannot be denied. Also, water.

Our typical weekend is unpredictable depending on the season. Currently it includes kids soccer games, a long bike ride for my husband, Moms on the Run for me, church on Sunday with some work around the house sprinkled in and hanging out in the backyard with our kids and neighbors. In the winter there is lots of time spent at Hobbs Ice Center and time out on the ski trails at Tower Ridge. When we have an unusually quiet weekend, we escape up North.

My husband always laughs at me because of my optimistic time management.

My husband would say my super power is my optimistic time management.

My kids will tell you that their mom and dad love them, always pray with them, and talk too much when it is time to go.

If I could pass on one bit of advice it would be to love courageously, run your own race, and get outside in the winter.