Being A Stroller Mom

Today Isaac and I did some stroller multi-tasking. Before I even began, though, I began to think about how important my stroller is to me. Really, it started in the beginning.

Here I am with three day old Isaac (looking huge, still) introducing him to the neighborhood.

Within the first few weeks of his life, we were walking the neighborhood nearly daily.

Here he is about 4-5 months old after a very, very hot run. The poor guy conked out.

Preparing for my first post-baby marathon (which I did when he was 9 months, 27 days old).

I remember being at my baby shower and people giving me very warm clothes for Isaac. Their rationale was that they just KNEW he'd be out in the stroller all the time. Ha! His stroller is probably the most used "baby item" I own (well, just after his diaper bag... which has now been replaced with a cool backpack).

We trained together the most, however, for the 2010 Chicago Marathon. I did many, many of my Galloway-style runs with him. He is such a good stroller rider! The max he has ever been with me is probably 4 miles, I'd say. I don't want to ruin a good thing!

20 month old Isaac after our final Chicago training run (plus The Cat in the Hat).

I didn't do very much training for the Cowtown Marathon with Isaac, as I trained during the colder months. I tried to utilize the time that he was away at Mother's Day Out to hit the roads. As for the other mid-week run, I'd reserve that one for the treadmill while he was napping. So from about November to March, the stroller sat dormant. Chasen even asked if we could get rid of it. Um... NOOOOOOOO!

So that brings me to now. Today I am in base training for marathon #6. Isaac and I headed to our old neighborhood (because it is large, fairly flat and has very little traffic). We ran three very stroller-fast miles (I may be sore tomorrow...) and then tended to a friend's dog. We even strolled across the road to Target to buy diapers and wipes! Planning that tri-purpose trip is what made me realize just how integral the stroller is to my life.

Non-runners ask me all the time "How do you find time to run with a 2-year-old?" My answer: the stroller and good planning/sacrifice. When runners ask me the same question, the answer is pretty much the same. Somehow people have a hard time understanding that I am just NOT willing to give up something I love to do just because I have a child.

Where there's a will, there's a way... so long as there's a stroller and decent weather!