Push chair half marathons

I have been running for about ten years and in te last 12 months I have a beautiful baby girl who wakes up early. So I bought a push chair for running and 4 times a week I run at 5 or 6 am to help her sleep. My mileage has increased and speed ok so would like to find an event in south west where I can run with A push chair. Preferably so would love to have a go at a half marathon with her as already at 6-8 miles with her. Please help me find an event .

Comments

  • Why race with her ? By all means run - but why pay - travel with baby - strap her in - make her sit there for a couple of hours - travel back....



    Running races are for runners. Not ideal for pushchairs for trip hazards etc.



    Let her play with her mum and you do your race ? Everyone is happy then.
  • What if she cries, needs you, etc etc? You might have the longest half marathon in history, with all the stop-starts...

  • The world record for running a half marathon with a buggy was set in Norwich with a time of 1hr 15. you better get training. An excellent idea, I hope you find one to accommodate you.

  • I suspect any race that lets you run with a pushchair might ask you to start at the back. Which would probably be ok if you're a really slow runner, or not bothered by a time. If you're average paced though or faster, you'll end up catching others up and trying to dodge them. Which is probably going to be irritating for you and them. Plus you'll be dodging bottles or cups and people stopping suddenly. I'm just not sure it would be much fun.

  • CindersCinders ✭✭✭

    Slightly off topic but if you are taking her out to get her to get back to sleep then how are you going to teach her to get back to sleep on her own?  Why does she wake at 5, is it for a feed, does she need blackout blinds?

  • I think this is great you take your baby out, im sure any race would let you enter with a push chair maybe it's worth looking at any event near you, I know some do state disabled access so maybe it's worth speaking to the event organiser I really can't see why you wouldn't be aloud.

  • Any race ? Think not Gary... Always check with the organisers first 

  • DustinDustin ✭✭✭

    +1 with Cinders & Cougie

  • I did a half last year where someone ran with a bugy, but it was very lowkey (less than 200 runners) and I think that would be the key. In larger events it would surely present a health and safety risk that few organisers would be happy about.

  • wow I'd love to have a go at that!!!   I started running with an old hand me down which was really hard to push and steer.   I wasnt getting on very well with it and was getting grumpy!!!!   I've just treated myself to a new buggy - Baby Jogger Summit x3....it is AMAZING!!!!   Why did I wait so long!   really recommend it.   It steers really well and has huge wheels so it feels effortless and my pace has quickened up!!!  so happy x

     

  • I think Bristol HM may allow pushchairs, best to check. 

    I got up to 10 miles with my daughter in her buggy but then she got heavy and I also has a heavy hand me down buggy so now she stays with her daddy and brothers. 

    I bet your other half loves that quiet hour in bed (I know I would) when you take her out. Good for you.image

  • How old is your daughter?   I ran with my 20 kilo niece yesterday with the baby jogger and I managed 5 miles.  Maybe because the sun was shining!  i bought it from buggybaby.co.uk.  they are really friendly too so can advise you if it's suitable....

    maybe your husband will treat you, if it means one less child to look after!  i know that's how mine felt! 

  • I think you are inspiring!! I have an online shop www.babyrun.ie, we deliver to the UK for £10 and specialise in running buggies. I run 10K a couple of times a week with my little girl in a Joovy Jogger and up to 6k with my Kelty double jogger (this is with a five year old and 3 year old in tow!!) Its a great way to get out and get moving with your little one.

  • When I first ran the Great Scottish Run a couple of years ago, I saw a dad and mum and their little boy in a running buggy, and thought how nice it was to see that.  So not everyone gets annoyed by them!

    My 2 y.o daughter wouldn't be happy to sit in a buggy for 90 or 100 odd minutes whilst I pushed her round, so we've not invested in a running buggy.  But I reckon if we did, she'd not mind a 5k parkrun every Saturday morning. image

    For parkrun or a half marathon, I'd speak to the organisers to make sure the paths are accessible for starters - there's plenty of races with steps up onto the pavement and into park paths, etc.  I guess the short answer is if the race is ok for chair racers, shouldn't prove inaccessible for buggy runners?

  • I saw this thread a bit late.. anyway, running buggies.

    First off consider the needs of the child - make sure that they are happy and comfortable. If they get distressed be prepared to abort the race to tend to them - accept that you will loose the entry fee or you might finish at the back

    Next consider the other runners around you and as strange as it might seam starting at the back is generally not the safest place to be!! You want to be a rolling road block and starting with runners a few minutes faster than you are - the onus then is for the more nimble runner to keep out of the way as they pass you. When you are overtaking with a buggy you have to go wide and in a crowded start there is no room to go wide - so better not do overtaking until the road clears after a mile or so. Generally few runners have the experience to run along side a running buggy and will make unexpected moves as they see spaces = make sure that they know you are there.

    Next tip is again keeping out of the way. Be prepared to take the long way round the corners! All the others will be diving to the inside edge and if you are there, you can trip them...

     

    So 2 important things to remember - baby first, other runners second

     

    Then comes to the running. There is nothing wrong at all with taking your children out racing, mine never shut up and talk all the way round - it is good daddy / child time and good coversation. You also have to be aware of your surroundings so you can find things to talk about (animals, other runners, local sights etc) which makes the run more interesting. A race where you would be heads down and go you suddenly have to look around you.

    A bonus of the buggy is that you can carry stuff with you - thier snacks and drinks for longer races, your water and so on at relativly little penalty

     

    As for the races, road races are good and having a knowledge of the course is ideal - narrow paths are not good because there is less room to pass and anyone coming the other way can be a problem for you to get out of the way from. Running buggies with 16" wheels and larger (ie mountain bike wheels) can get over a lot of stuff you wouldn't have thought. Mine has 'climbed' 4' walls once or twice (don't tell his mum that), bogs and deep puddles are fine - he loves puddles in fact

     Length of the run, yes as the OP says build up the distance - don't just hit them with a half marathon first run out!

     

    Race organisers... what to do with them... you can ask and they will tell you where to start or you could just jump in. Check their rules to make sure there are no 'no buggies' rules else you might get disqualified

     

    parkrun - these are ideal, free so you can abort and ty the next week if needed, all are friendly with the same crowd most weeks. Why is the same crowd important? Well as you learn to runwith the buggy, people your pace are learning to run alongside you making it safer - you will all learn how it goes and in bigger races the same crowds might actually be racing there too so this makes races easier

     

    Finaly remember runnign is a bit of your indulgance and if the child wants an ice cream, or go in the park after then that id their indulgance.

     

     

    As for "running races are for runners".. I am  runner and me and the buggy with a 3 year old in it get under 20 minutes at my local parkrun no problem.... but by inference of your comment "running races are for RUNNERS" does that mean I Am not a runner? That is a pretty fast pace then for a jogger

  • Steven - remember Jonathan came on asking about Half Marathons for his race. That's a long way off the distance of a parkrun...



    I'm impressed with your parkrun times - but you're not following their guidelines ?

    "Please take care of other runners around you. If possible start from the back of the field and try to keep to one side of the main body of runners."



    Of course you are a runner - but your baby isn't. What happens if you clip someones heel or they clip yours in the heat of the race ? Going at your speed it could be nasty.



    By all means jog round with the little one - but as parkrun says and you say yourself - keep out of the way of the runners.



    I just don't see the point. You're not going to get a PB. Baby doesn't know he's in a race or just out for a little jog. I suppose you could get him to launch bottles and toys out of the pushchair a la Wacky Races if someone is about to overtake ?
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