H.J. asks from Boston, MA on April 28, 2010
Advice on Jogging Strollers from Runners Please.
Hi,
I NEED to purchase a running stoller a.s.a.p. for my husband and I've started to research through mamasource and amazon etc. but most people seem to use the jogging stollers to walk or just around town. My husband is training for a marathon and needs to keep up his schedule while I work on the weekends. It's starting to create some stress that he can't get his long runs in while I'm gone and he has our son. If you are a runner and like or don't like one of the brands out there please share it with me. It's such a big purchase and I'd love to alleviate some of the stress in our house too. Thanks so much for your help Mamas.
H.
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K.M. answers from Boston on April 29, 2010
Hi H.,
I got the BOB Marathon stroller (it's yellow) and I love it! I used it when my baby was 8 months old until she was about 13 months. I then got pregnant and now only use it to walk. I never did any runs longer than 6-8 miles, but I never had and issues. Good luck!
L.M. answers from Seattle on April 28, 2010
dreamer design / baby jogger with the large wheels.. google them.. I have had mine for 5 years a single and a double.. the larger the wheels the smoother the ride.. I also like the way the fold up and the pockets for my water bottles as well as rain cover!!! sometimes second hand stores sell them and some have barely beeen used :)
L.
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E.O. answers from Boston on April 29, 2010
Hi H.,
I also am a runner and I use the Jeep Overland Stoller (just flat out couldn't afford the BOB). The front wheel is stationary so you have to tilt back the stroller on tight corners but I haven't had an issue...in fact it gives me a little better of a work out and I noticed it has helped my time since I've been training w/ my 18 month old - when I go for a run w/ out her it's shaved minutes.
The Jeep cost around $170 and comes with tons of perks - mp3 port in the glove compartment w/ speakers (no need for headphones, which makes it easier to hear your child, traffic etc...plus my daughter likes the music too), HUGE storage space below the seat (I can easily toss in a layer when I get warm or bring extra water etc for my daughter), also in the storage area it comes w/ a pump for the tires, the tires are knobby and have good shocks so this is also an ideal stroller for my trail runs, it worked well when my daughter was a newborn (w/ an added head support I added), and it still works great....I've got a few more YEARS for sure until she outgrows this, another added plus was the handle has an easy to use height adjustment...I like it a little higher when I run, but will lower it if I'm just using it to go for a walk.
I LOVE it, and you can't beat the price!!!
M.S. answers from Chicago on April 28, 2010
As far as brands for a marathon runner, I would look at BOB or Baby Jogger. If he is going to be running on a long straight path most of the time, look for a locked out front wheel. If he likes to run more in neighborhoods and would be turning a lot, you might want one that has a swivel wheel with the option of locking it out. Hope this helps
L.L. answers from Boston on April 29, 2010
Hi, We got an InStep as a gift (not sure which one, it says "10K" on the side). Both my husband and I run. My major complaint about this runner we have is the front wheel doesn't turn. So it is annoying when you have to make a sharp turn, etc. So I don't recommend this one. We did research before we received it and saw one that had a turning front wheel, but was almost 4 years ago so not sure which one it was...But I suggest getting one where the front wheel turns. Hope this helps. Good luck!
J.C. answers from Phoenix on April 28, 2010
I'm not sure if you have a bike trailer or not, but what we did was buy a Burley for biking, and they have a jogging stroller wheel attachment for the front when you detach it from the bike. I love it, because the center of gravity is much lower so it feels light as a feather when running. But they are pricey...you might be able to find a used one on Craig's list though and then order the wheel attachment. We figured it was worth the investment, since we were buying one carrier for dual purposes. Have fun and good luck to your husband! I just ran my first half marathon, and want to do a full now-its addicting!
M.M. answers from Boston on April 29, 2010
I'm a runner training for my 7th marathon and love the BOB Revolution. We did a ton of research before purchasing and are very happy with it.
D.T. answers from Boston on April 29, 2010
We love our Chariot. Both the Chariot and the Bob are sold at REI. The Chariot is a great running stroller and it can also be used as a bike trailer. The double can be used with one or two children. Also, my 3-yr-old loves that he can climb in himself.
J.H. answers from Detroit on April 28, 2010
Hello ~ Congrats to your husband for waiting to run a marathon. :-) There are 2 GREAT jogging stroller out there and they are either BOB or Baby Jogger, both of which are very expensive unless you can find a used one on Craigslist or Ebay. My girlfriend has used her Baby Jogger for training for marathons and LOVED it! Therefore I just bought a Baby Jogger.
Be aware that some of them have adjustments on them for resistance. Also make sure it is the Baby Jogger and not the Baby Trend Jogger. You will notice a big difference in the price between the two. BJ and BOB run about 400 and up!
Good luck to you all!
D.W. answers from Indianapolis on April 28, 2010
How old is your son? Both my husband and I are training for a half marathon in a few weeks, we have 2 kids under 4 years-old, and trying to run with them has been a nightmare. So, we've had to get creative with alternating our runs.
Hopefully, your son will be much more conducive and less needy than our kids who bore easily (son is almost 4, daughter is recently 2).
We have a BabyTrend. It's OK - I don't like the stationary front wheel. But, I'd recommend finding a store that caters to serious runners (locally we have the Running Company - erunningcompany.com for point of reference), and they carry jogging strollers for serious runners. Most double strollers we looked at would be at least $400 - I believe it is a BOB.
Good luck.
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