Running with a stroller
So it looks like I may be doing one run a week pushing my daughter in her stroller. She loves it and I get to spend even more time with her so it is a win-win. I have done it a few times and found that at times it is harder to hit my pace goals. Like when it is into the wind or going uphill. Does anyone else have these issues? Should I not be doing my runs with her? Or should I just accept that i may be 10-15 seconds off of my goal pace?
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For fun one day, I'm going to borrow my nephew and sister's bicycle trainer and see how many extra watts i takes to pull the kid/stroller.
Yeah. I think you will be slower -- does anyone have a rate of slow/weight, wiggly-ness of child equation?
I did 3x1 mile intervals a few weeks ago, pacing off a dude pushing a double stroller and doing 7:45s. Those things can move!
Also, before I was an EN girl, I trained for a marathon pushing the other son (1 yr at the time) It was a hilly marathon so I even did hill repeats pushing him. No you can't expect to be at your same pace, but you can expect to be EVEN FASTER when you aren't pushing them.
Good Luck
Jessica
Do it whenever you can. It's ALL good. She likes it, you like it, you're together doing something fun and healthy, and you're getting a bit of "power" work in on your runs. It's just like adding a bit of incline, or running into a head wind - only you're smiling while you're doing it.
I spent much of my training time for my very first half mary running behind a stroller. I would wait until it was just before the twins' nap time, and boom, out on the road and they're OUT. I get a run, kids get a nap, mom gets a break. PURE GOLD.
Mike
(1) What 'trailer' are you guys using that you are pulling this kiddos with? My wife and I have talked about getting one...just don't know what to get.
(2) To Tucker's question - it WILL be tougher, but, don't be too type-A about it - which is easier said than done (I know from experience!). Push the kid(s) and enjoy the time...aim for the paces that are outlined but understand that it is just a different kind of workout. It will probably be a good challenge, but, don't follow the plan into a brick wall. If you are a few seconds slower, so be it!
Pushing a stroller is hard for sure. I would not worry about the pace much at all especially if you are not doing ALL of your runs with it [like my wife tends to]. It messes up your stride so be careful with that as well. Nothing like a 70 / 5 pushing "family run" brick to earn your lunch.
I have found however that you can push one pretty fast unless there are big hills or wind involved if you want to. My record for the double jogger with a 5 and 4 year old is 19:17...