I love running with a jogging stroller.
It gives me the flexibility to get my shorter runs in without a babysitter or on the treadmill during naps. It gets me, and the kids, outside for some fresh air.
It can be the best remedy for a challenging afternoon, because it’s 30-40 minutes where I don’t have to say “no” to my kids and they don’t have to hear it. They’re not jumping on the couch or climbing onto the kitchen counter, and I’m not constantly redirecting them. What a relief!
We see all kinds of things on our runs, and the boys love pointing them out to each other. One of my favorite stroller runs is parallel to the commuter rail, and my little train enthusiasts love seeing a train go rushing by on the other side of the street. People walking their dogs, cyclists with reflectors on their helmets, motorcycles, construction vehicles, landscaping trucks… our runs are a smorgasbord of visual delights for toddlers.
They’re great for me, too, because I’m out there exercising and improving my mood. Science has now shown that running and other exercise really do release endorphins into your brain. (Check out this New York Times article from 2008 about the runner’s high if you’re interested in reading more.)
There are more benefits to stroller running than just my runner’s high:
We’re out of the house
No one is fighting over toys
No one is making a mess of the family room
I can use my babysitting or nap time for something else
If the kids are overtired, it can be down time for them
I get some upper body and core workout benefits from pushing the stroller
I can steal water from their sippy cups and hydrate on the run
I look like an awesome runner even though I’m running really slow, because I’m pushing two kids
I have that calm feeling a mother gets when she knows where her kids are and that they’re happy
I can do something I love without interruption (chatting with them doesn’t hinder my running)
It’s something fun to do that’s free, healthy, we all enjoy, and that is a little different every time
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| Andrew often claps for me on our runs… slowed to a jog and captured this with my phone 🙂 |
Hi Kelly,
I wanted to get your advice. I’m in week 4 of couch to 5k, but today I missed the cue and accidentally ran for 9 minutes, 30 seconds without stopping. It felt pretty good, so I repeated that for the second half, after a 2 minute walking break. What should I do next? Should I get back on the program, or build off of this because it went well?
Thanks!
Hey Caroline! First of all, congratulations, I LOVE it when a run goes better than your goals or expectations, it’s one of the best feelings in running. I thought this question was so relevant that I had to make it its own post!
Thanks for asking and I hope you find my answer helpful!
Skipping Ahead When C25K Is Going Well