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Name and age: Betsey Moe, 40

Occupation: Pastor at Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church

Tell us about your fitness journey.

While I've always been thin, before I came to FGF, I was never FIT. My family moved to Spokane from Denver six years ago when my sons were 6 and 3. At that point, I felt like I wasn't getting any younger, and I decided to try running. So I would jog half-heartedly for short distances. Then I had a third child, and even my "running" went by the wayside. Two and a half years ago right before Christmas, Kristin Markham, a member at my church, sent me and a bunch of other women an invitation to try this new gym called Farmgirlfit, where overall fitness and strength training was the focus -- and I felt like it was my time. On Christmas Eve when Kristin went through the pastors' "hand-shaking line," I leaned in and told her I would join her in the new year -- and then I had to!

For the first four months, my soreness was DEBILITATING. I had a hard time lifting a pencil at work. But I kept going; Kristin and I met in a parking lot on 57th at 6:15 a.m. to carpool, so I couldn't NOT show up. That May, I ran Bloomsday the whole way. Tears ran down my face as I rounded the corner from Broadway to Monroe; I could not believe that this was MY body about to cross the finish line! That September, I ran my first half-marathon (Priest Lake), and I am now training for my third. Unbelievable.

If you could tell your Farmgirlfit story in 100 words or less, how would it read?

New. Nervous. Warm up. Pass out. Jump rope. Wet pants.

Return. Out of shape. Monthly fee. Make it worth it.

Industrial sunrise. Bears. Do they really do these in Turkey?

Pull-up bands - green to blue.

Spunky women. Laughter. You can do this. Double-unders mastered.

Can't sit. Torn shin. Forearm bruises. Whip marks. Explanations.

Pull-ups in business attire -- for pennies. Blue to red to purple band.

I have arm muscles! Ban sugar. Climb rope. Stand on head. Accomplishment.

Ah! Foam roller.

What has been your greatest fitness/performance accomplishment so far? Do you have a performance goal?

When I first did 50 double-unders in a row, I let out a yelp. That was a big deal for me. And I recently climbed the rope to the top -- which I thought I'd never do. Right now, I am trying to improve my squat form so that I might be able to lift more. Ultimately, I’d love to end up being (God willing) an old lady who travels the world with her husband and is not limited by her own body.

How has FGF helped you become more healthy / When it comes to your health, what goals do you have?

FGF has helped me to be disciplined year-round. I feel stronger physically and sharper mentally. I realize now what athletes have probably always understood: that there is something about setting and achieving physical goals that gives you the confidence in other areas of life to strive for things you might not have thought possible.

My favorite exercise at FGF is:

Double-unders (as long as I have MY favorite purple jump rope with the black handles).

My least favorite exercise at FGF is:

Toss-up between Bears and Turkish Get-Ups. One day we had to do both of those in one work-out. Who would ever design something like that?

My favorite thing about Farmgirlfit is:

The camaraderie. Also, the chance to do something completely different from my work.

How have you integrated the Farmgirlfit mission outside of the gym?

Pushing forward and not holding back is the FGF lesson that transfers to my professional and family life. I think I’ll always be working on this.

When you're not pumping iron at FGF, what does the rest of your life look like?

I love my job as a pastor. In one day, I might visit a man in hospice care, meet with a discussion group in Manito Park, spend two hours writing, and lead an evening worship service. I am the wife of a professional (symphonic) musician, so there is a lot of live music in our lives. We have three kids -  ages 12, 8, and 4, and I love being with them and their friends. And how can I not mention that the newest member of our family came from Farmgirlfit? In early May, a scruffy little dog was wandering around on Sherman, giving us all sad puppy dog eyes as we ran around the block. Just as Liz picked up the phone to call SCRAPS, I said I’d take the dog, and after having him bathed at the Doggie Daycare next door, I did! No one ever claimed him, so he is ours now. We love our Bruno.

Any advice for new members, or your fellow Farmgirls?

Find a friend to go with!  For some women, just paying the monthly fee is incentive enough to come. But serious exercise was hard enough for me that I needed DOUBLE incentive: paying the monthly fee AND not wanting to stand Kristin up. Now, my incentive is more internal. I so look forward to my Farmgirlfit mornings because I will get to visit with friends (which I don't have much time for otherwise) and feel challenged physically. There is no better way to start the day.

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