I noticed that every time I’d share a video on Instagram stories about running with a jogging stroller that I would get a lot of questions about it, so I figured it might be a good topic to share here on the blog so that it can be here for future reference. If you haven’t already, you can check out the blog post I wrote here with my BOB Rambler Jogging Stroller Review. I answered a lot of questions in that post too so if you don’t see your question here, I probably answered it in that one. Today’s post is going to be more focused on tips for running with a jogging stroller specifically!
Tips for Running with a Jogging Stroller
Accessorize.
What I mean by this is, some accessories you can get with your stroller make the experience even more convenient and enjoyable. For me, that is the handlebar console system and the tire pump. Be sure to keep the tire pump with you in the stroller when you go out on runs…since the tires are air-pumped, if you get a flat or the tire pressure starts getting low, you will need that pump! It’s a lot harder to push with flat tires.
Adjust Your Expectations.
Running with a jogging stroller is going to be harder than running without one, that is just a fact. Running by yourself is easier than running while pushing a 25lb stroller and a child in it. My child is about 25 pounds now and so pushing an additional 50 pounds around is harder than not pushing it. The stroller we have is a very smooth ride and so pushing it feels a lot easier than even our regular stroller, but still. Adjust your expectations that it’s going to feel challenging, and that’s ok! You’re a strong mama and you’ll get stronger as you keep doing it!
Prepare to Slow Down.
Along those lines of adjusting your expectations…prepare for the fact that you’re likely to also run slower with a stroller than without one. Again, this is okay! My pace with a stroller is easily a minute to a minute and a half slower than it is without it.
Use Your Arms.
My best friend ran cross country in high school and she always explained to me how to “use your arms” properly while running so that they really help propel you. Using your arms during a run help you gain momentum and takes some of the onus off of your legs. So, to use your arms while running with a jogging stroller, you’ll have to run with one arm on the stroller and one arm off. I do this and just try to alternate throughout my run! Keeping both hands on the stroller is a lot harder but, if you want to really burn out those legs, you can take your arms out of the equation by leaving them both on the handlebars.
The Wheel Lock.
I addressed this in my other post, but I don’t personally run with the front wheel locked. And like I said in that post: I don’t understand how to steer when the front wheel is locked?? But, I primarily only run on flat, even surfaces and if there’s ever a bump or anything I always slow down almost to a walk to go over it (like big bumps or uneven sidewalks, for example) and just be careful. You just have to be careful and watch where you are going and the wheel should stay straight anyways as long as you aren’t hitting bumps. I’m not recommending you to not lock it, I’m just saying that I don’t. I feel comfortable with the paths I’m on because I’ve run them so many times but, I think I may try with the wheel locked and see how it goes. Maybe it’s not as hard as I’m thinking, lol. Some people have told me they find it easier to have the wheel locked, so just figure out what works best for you! BOB recommends to leave it locked while running, just FYI.
Q&As
How do I start? First, always get clearance from your pediatrician that baby is OK to go in the jogging stroller. Beyond that, I would give the same advice to running with a jogging stroller as I would to someone just starting to run normally…work your way up. It’s okay if you can’t go out and do a full on run without walking. Walk whenever you need to. I still do that on some days. Gradual increase in mileage, with or without a stroller, is the best way to avoid injury and build up conditioning. I found I was able to go out and still run the same amount with the stroller as I did without it, I just go slower.
How do you work it into your schedule? When I take Emma on a run with me, I am doing it during her awake time, not during nap time. We follow Moms on Call, and so I know when she’s going to be taking a nap and when she’s going to be asleep. So where I do my circuit training during her naps, I do my stroller runs when she’s awake. She just chills and looks around. She seems to really like it.
How does Emma like it/tips for keeping her entertained/not fussy? So she seems to really enjoy it; she loves to be outside. She instantly just gets so chill and relaxed whenever we are in the regular stroller on walks or on a jog. I give her a toy (that I have hooked to the seat belt so she can’t drop it) but I think she just holds it. She just looks around and takes it all in! I haven’t had any issues with needing to keep her entertained or her being fussy. I think going during her awake time is crucial for this. If I did it during nap time she’d obviously be so tired and would then I’m sure be fussy. Beyond that I don’t really have any tips for keeping her entertained because I haven’t needed to figure it out, but I don’t think there’s much you really can do when you’re jogging. For example, sometimes on long walks I will take little snacks for her if she seems to get fussy but I wouldn’t do that on a run because A) she’s facing away from me and I can’t see if she’s choking or not and B) I wouldn’t want to hit a bumpy spot while she was eating and cause her to choke or something. I think…just bring some toys and hope for the best.
Thoughts about stroller runs in race training? Count as easy run or workout? Fun fact I haven’t ran in an actual race that I’ve had to train for since like, 2013. So I don’t have strong thoughts on this. I think you can make it an easy run if you want (like I said you will be going slower) by trying to find a flat route. It’s definitely much harder on hills. So I guess it depends on your goals and if you care about pace and all that or if you’re just trying to get mileage in.
Tips on running form like where to land on your feet, posture, and breathing? This shouldn’t be any different really than your running form without a stroller, with the exception of keeping one hand on the stroller. If you’re a new runner, check out this post on running form and you can read this one on foot strike. It all depends on the person.
Okay I hope that helps!! At the end of the day, you’re just going out on a jog. Don’t overthink it 🙂 Do the best you can and stay close to home in case baby gets upset. You got this!
xo,
Bess
I actually have a fixed front wheel on my stroller, and I feel like I can go faster with it (since it doesn’t wobble side to side). I just push down on the handle bar to lift up the front wheel to turn corners. And during the winter we just slide around the corner on the ice–no pushing down necessary. Ha!