Jogging stroller in 5k?

4510heather

I know there are several ladies here who run with their kiddos.  How do you find stroller friendly races? 

My friends and I always plan a race calendar for our running season and I want to to try to get as many stroller friendly races on our schedule as possible.

And, at what point did you feel comfortable running with your kids?  Did you wait until they were 8 months?  We walk our girls in our Bob all of the time, so they are getting used to being in the stroller, but I can't wait until the day when we can run!

atc282

I check out active.com for my area in TX and also just check at the Y. Their official sites almost always indicate whether or not baby strollers are permitted.

We don't race them competitively but enjoy them anyway--the last one we raced made the announcement prior to the start that strollers were to stay far left and back.

GL!

gumiberg

I waited until my kids were 6 months before I started running with them. You can walk a 5k with them before that but I would not run.  They need good neck/core strength.

I look for 5ks that are family-friendly and that are on streets (not narrow sidewalks or paths). I also stay away from 5ks that go through parks because the stroller is a *** to push on grass.

Once I find a race, I email the race director and make sure strollers are allowed.  Not all races allow allow strollers.

When I get to the race, I like to start in the front and on the side.  Stroller or not, you should always start with your pace group.  So if you are a jogger, start in the back. Middle of the pack runners should start in the middle of the pack.  By starting off to the side, you are out of everyone's way.

Haven1

Gumiberg is the expert, but I'm looking for stroller races this year too.  I agree about waiting until 6-8 months before you run.  They get jostled around pretty good when you run.  Most races that don't allow strollers or dogs say so up front.  If it doesn't say that, it's worth asking the race director.  Good luck.  I'm super excited to take mine this season.  Now I just need those gumiberg abs...

hunt2005

I've never done a 5k that didn't allow them, except trail runs... but yeah, expect to start on the side and it to take up to a half mile to get a clear path where you're at your pace. Some local community runs actually have a stroller division up here because so many are doing now... good luck! We started races with mine around 8-9 months, jogging runs around 6 months.