These Guys Rule

The other day I was bellyaching about how the running magazines don’t much take family life into consideration, and how maybe only the childless and single can be Truly Great Runners. Then I read about these guys.

Zac Freudenburg and Michael Wardian did not just compete in, and did not just finish, but won (first and second place) Tulsa’s Route 66 Marathon last month — while pushing jog strollers. Their times: 2:32:10 and 2:34:37, respectively.

Awesome.

I’ve taken bambinos in the jog stroller before, with mixed results. Usually the little ones love it, although they tend to toss socks, books, or whatever other objects they’ve brought with them overboard, which can slow things down. But I could never do it in a marathon — at my pace, they would need to stop for too many meals and diaper changes along the way! Of course, my bigger problem is that I’m a mechanical moron, so I am only able to use the jog stroller until the tires go flat, the alignment goes askew, and the brake goes kaput. Then I’m without wheels until I can find someone smart enough to fix it for me.

So Messrs. Freudenburg and Wardian have left me utterly humbled and impressed. Great to see folks making a family event out of running.

I sometimes take my older ones along on their scooters, which is fun, but they can’t go too far. And I long for the day when one or more of my children might be able and inclined to run along beside me. But till then, I’m eager for any other suggestions as to how to include the little ones in the running regimen. If you’ve got any suggestions or anecdotes, please send them along!

 

(H/T Running Is Funny)