quote:<HR>Originally posted by VictorN:
Most races don't allow strollers, and with good reason. Unless you are way at the back of the pack where the runners are far and few, and it doesn't sound like you are, then it is unsafe for your son and the other racers.

Victor

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I disagree with this. For one, every single race that I entered this year(12 total) will allow you to run with a jogging stroller. I also do not believe that it has to be unsafe to race with a jogging stroller. When I run I start right at the front because I generally run a 6 minute or sub 6 minute first mile. I am not getting in anyone else?s way. Basically if I am faster off the line than everyone but the Elite runners then I don?t have to worry about people running too close to me. I have never had a single instance where I thought that my son was in any danger. Now I have been in races like the ?race for the cure? where I felt I was in danger. People always throw elbows and trip people because that race is just too overcrowded(15000+). That is precisely why I don?t run that race with him. Most of the races I run are 100 people or less. I can easily keep up with all but the fastest runners for the first half mile which gives enough time for the race to really thin out. The only large race that I run with him is one where they actually have a jogging stroller division and they start the strollers and wheel chairs 3 minutes before the other runners. What is interesting is that race is the only race where I have ever seen anyone almost get into an accident with a stroller. One of the inexperienced guys was trying to maneuver himself so that someone could take a picture of him. He almost tipped the stroller over right at the start. I think that strollers are only dangerous if you don?t know what you are doing or you do not have the proper equipment. I train with the stroller so I am completely confident that I can maneuver with it just as well as without it. It sounds like you have had a bad experience with someone pushing a stroller? Was it because they started to far forward for their pace or because they couldn?t control the stroller?

Yea the jogging stroller division races are awesome. They used to have a couple in our area. Now there is only one. It is a 5K and a 10K. The race is too large to run it normally with a stroller but with the Jogging Stroller division and head start it is fantastic. What is crazy is that a Local guy runs between a 34:14 and a 34:45 with a 4 year old girl for the 10K. I think only two of the runners were able to make up the 3 minute head start he had. The second guy in the stroller division ran the 10k with a twin stroller that weighed about 100 Ibs. He did it in about 40 minutes. I wish more races would do the same. Competitive Strollers are becoming more popular in our area. Are there any other areas that have stroller races?

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Miles and Miles:
My PR is 17:14 pushing my daughter in the baby jogger back in 1998 one week after running a Marathon.<HR>

That is fly'n! Do you still push a stroller ever? How much faster would you have run a 5K back then without the stroller. I have found that I really don't run that much faster without it. That is weird tough because the hills kill me with the extra weight.