What is a stroller friendly race?

MarinRunsWhat is a stroller friendly race?  I hear this question all the time since I started Run Stroller Run. A stroller friendly race is a running race that allows parents to walk, jog or race with a stroller. No, these races are not specific races for strollers to race one another or have specific categories for “strollers” like age group categories, but just allow running parents to participate with their child in a stroller.

Most race directors I speak with are often open to stroller participants as long as the strollers start in the back. And no, they do not require you to stay in the back the entire duration of the race. For safety purposes, they want you to respect the other racers that run a faster pace or hope to do so without initial distractions. For me, I run at a slower pace with my stroller and I am not generally “racing”, I want to be able to participate in a race atmosphere and do not require a babysitter, especially since both my husband and I train for running races and triathlons.

Since I started Run Stroller Run, I have discovered most race directors do not even consider or think about stroller participants until I ask them. So, when searching for a race, you most likely will not find on the race website or on their race registration page whether they allow strollers. Hence the reason, I started Run Stroller Run, so running, active parents and families could go to one resource and find all races throughout the United States that allow strollers.  At Run Stroller Run, we contact all race directors and verify that strollers are allowed. If strollers are allowed, then what are their safety requirements?

If you know of other races that are not listed on our site, please feel free to contact us at info@runstrollerrun.com.

Run Stroller Run Partner

One quick shot out to a great race director Jason Jacobson, who produces Marin Runs based in San Francisco, California. Check out their races, they are family and stroller friendly. Here is a recent article on a family who participate in the Marin 415Mile & Miracle Mile.