Let It Roll! One Dad’s Journey Running with a Toddler
By Karl Herold
Are you bored with your usual training plan? Do you feel like your legs are ready to step it up? Then I have a great suggestion for you: go make a baby–or borrow one from a friend–and take your running career to the next level.
Having been a competitive swimmer half my life, I never enjoyed running. I always saw it as a form of punishment. That all changed in November 2019 when I arrived on 4th Avenue to cheer on my good friend Ben C. who was running the NYC Marathon. There I encountered the PPTC cheering station. I will never forget that noisy wall of red: I wanted to be part of that energy. I signed up to be a member a few days later and started “running.”
In previous years, I had gone for the occasional run but had never put much thought into it. I assumed that numb toes and sore heels were the norm. At that time I could barely run three miles at a 12-minute pace, but there I was, overconfident, overstriding, and underprepared.
Tackling “Zoo Hill” stroller running style.
Three weeks later, I decided to join a PPTC group run. Assuming it would be one easy loop around the park, I found myself turning around on the Brooklyn Bridge at mile seven–exhausted, light headed, and with my calves literally on fire. I would still be lying on that bridge if it weren’t for PPTC team captain Jimmy L. (he/him), who was so kind to slow down for me. He didn’t make me feel like a failure when I decided to turn around and limp back home.
That’s when I decided to slow down and educate myself on everything running-related. I read a lot about form and training techniques. I listened to countless podcasts. I dove headfirst into the endless topic of running shoes (turns out that sizing up eliminated the numb toes!). And I just generally decided to take it easier. I realized that the key to staying injury-free is to treat the “next run” as the most important run, and not to overdo anything today that you might regret tomorrow.
Capitalizing on my love for the cold, I was able to slowly and steadily increase my mileage throughout the icy New York City winter months, going up to five, six, and even eight miles at a time. I was so excited that I signed up for several upcoming races, including the Brooklyn Half.
A chillier run tuckered Finn out and lulled him to sleep.
I had not yet considered running with my then almost two-year-old son, as it was effort enough for me to move my own body, let alone adding on the weight of a heavy piglet. Little did I know that the then-untouched running stroller in my storage unit would be the secret weapon that would light my running on fire just a few weeks later when the unimaginable happened–
COVID-19 shut down the world.
With his daycare closed and deprived of his usual group of friends, my toddler Finn, like so many other children, had a hard time adjusting. The arrival of our second baby, Max, in early summer added another layer of complexity. Finn had lost his routine and his friends, and there was a new tiny creature in the apartment taking up all the attention that used to be his.
It was nearly impossible to get him to take his afternoon nap.
That is when I decided to take him out for a lunch run. To my surprise, he passed out after just three minutes, in contrast to the three hours it usually took at home. After that, it became our new routine, and until this day, he enjoys every single stroller run. It really calms him down and he enjoys taking in the scenery, the fresh air, and the background noise, including the tapping of my steps and my breathing. Once in a while when he does get restless, I let him watch something on my phone (I don’t really listen to music while running), which I strap onto the handle bar with a makeshift rubber-band contraption.
Needless to say, becoming a father was a life changing event for me. But incorporating running into my life changed it too. It made me want to be a better version of myself. I’ve noticed that running trickles into every other part of my life, positively changing the way I see and do things. Consistency got me to where I am now and I often think back to the Brooklyn Bridge breakdown and how hard it was for me to run only a few miles, let alone go fast. Today, almost a year and a half later, I can sustain a 7:40 minute pace during my monthly half-marathon long runs, all while pushing 70 pounds of sunshine in front of me.
Finn and Karl both enjoying their run.
I hope this will help motivate you to go out for a run with your baby or toddler. Start with shorter runs just to get them into it. If they’re fighting it, don’t push it, just try another day. But I would be surprised if that were the case. After all, who doesn’t like being carted around in a business class seat on wheels? If you ever see me in the park huffing and puffing with the stroller, please say hi or run with me for a while, I’m always in need of encouragement. As we all know, some days are easier than others, but having a little on-board running partner definitely makes it easier and gives me purpose.
In conclusion, it matters not if you look like a worn out slinky on the outside: As long as you feel like a coiled mamba on the inside, you will achieve your goals. You are a runner! Now go lace up and run baby-run!
PPTC is a diverse and supportive team. We want to celebrate the diversity of our club and membership. We welcome and encourage everyone to share their stories with us.
Text by: Karl Herold
Edited by: Rachael DePalma (she/her)
Produced by: Linda Chan (she/her) and Rachael DePalma
Here are a few tips on running with babies and/or toddlers. I am no expert by any means, but having logged over 700 stroller-miles last year, I have some pointers that are worth noting.
Let’s talk running strollers
- Before my first son was born, I snagged a Bugaboo running stroller off Craigslist. It is just the base and works nicely with the seat of the regular Bugaboo stroller I also got second-hand. I can clip the seat on and off, moving it from one stroller base to the other without a hassle.
- Most running strollers have three wheels. The front wheel either swivels around with the option of locking it or is permanently fixed and might have screws you can adjust to center the wheel for a perfect straight line, something I end up doing almost every other run. Unless you are weaving through crowds of people or going around tight corners, you’ll generally have a better and more stable ride with a fixed wheel.
- Many strollers have a handbrake on the handlebar, which is something I strongly recommend.
- Some strollers come with extra features, like a cushy suspension, a reclinable seat, or cup holders, all of which are nice to have but not necessary.
- If you want more comfort for your passenger, you could decrease tire pressure (the pressure range is printed on each tire), keeping in mind the added resistance. I prefer to hold the pressure on the high side for a faster, more responsive ride.
- Most strollers have some sort of tether that you can loop around your wrist, but I find those quite restricting. I have been using an old dog leash looped around my waist and clipped to the stroller’s handlebar, which gives me just enough slack to run freely. This is very important to me as the last thing I want to happen is to trip, lose control, and have my bundle of joy head straight into oncoming traffic. It’s basically the stroller’s umbilical cord, so always tether up!
Tips for the actual stroller run
- You will have to adjust the way you run when moving that precious cargo. You will naturally lean forward, which is actually good for your running form.
- You’ll be pushing quite some weight so I recommend increasing your cadence (steps per minute) by taking shorter steps.
- Hold your arms in a relaxed angle and it might help to switch the hand you’re pushing with every 30 to 60 seconds, which is what I do. This will ensure even usage of both arms without too much strain on a single side. It will also help with course corrections; there’s nothing more annoying than a stroller veering toward one side. This usually happens if the front wheel is not centered properly or if the left and right tires are unevenly inflated.
- One good thing about a stroller is that you can throw all your stuff into the stroller basket below.
- Depending on your child, you might need some sort of in-flight entertainment, snacks, drinks, or even a potty. Thankfully, mine is quite content with just a bag of crackers.
- Running in the winter months with a toddler requires some extra preparation.
Make sure to dress them warm, since unlike you they won’t be exercising and generating heat. Wrap them up front and back and try layering a wind-proof layer over some lofty clothes.
Covering the seat with a reflective layer (like those silver/gold emergency blankets you get at the finish line, or just good old tin foil) before putting your child in will help a lot.
I did take my second son, then seven-months-old, out for the occasional winter run, but made sure he was all wrapped up and kept it to a short 15 to 20 minutes to avoid him getting cold.
- Running in the summer months on the other hand might require extra measures to keep them cool and protected from direct sunlight, involving some sort of sunroof and lots of SPF lotion.
For the very hot days I have a little rechargeable fan that can be clamped onto the stroller, which creates a nice cooling breeze.
Always bring enough water for the both of you.