by Tori Hamby

DENVER – Angela Gribbins was 40 years old before she put on her first pair of running shoes.

Now, several years later, she’s gearing up to complete her first half-marathon this Saturday, thanks to the encouragement and companionship from her fellow Denver moms.

She started up a Denver chapter of Moms RUN This Town, a women’s running club for women with more than 200 chapters across the United States and Canada.

“Training for a half-marathon never would have been possible without having anyone there to cheer me on,” Gribbins said.

The free group – organized last summer – uses Facebook to orchestrate group runs and provide encouragement as runners of all levels and physical abilities try to maintain workout schedules despite the demand of motherhood.

And although the group is marketed toward mothers, it is open to any woman who wants to improve her health and physical fitness through running, Gribbins said.

The Denver group, consisting of about 80 members, spawned an “off-shoot” chapter in the Lake Norman area, which has grown to almost 150 members. While its difficult for mothers with busy work and childcare schedules to regularly organize an 80-person run, members can organize smaller runs throughout Denver.

Gribbins’ own love for running began when she started having problems with her heart, she said. Her cholesterol levels and weight steadily decreased until she reached her best physical condition since her college days.

While training for various 5K races, she said, she realized she wanted to share her new passion with other moms.

“I have the type of personality that if I enjoy something, I think other people should try it to,” she joked. “I’m all about the party.”

To join Moms RUN This Town’s Denver chapter, go online to www.Facebook.com and type “Denver NC Moms RUN This Town” into the search bar. For information about the national organization and other chapters, including those based in Charlotte, Huntersville and Mount Holly, visit www.momsrunthistown.com.