Runners with small children

I have a double BOB. It's like pushing a blocking sled while running, but it gets the job done. You also feel a ton faster when not running with it.

I run a home daycare, so I know all about scheduling exercising time with kids! lol I started running in the evenings (after dinner) when it wasn't so hot out. I will also run on the treadmill at naptime. I bought a BOB Revloution SE stroller. Well worth the money, trust me!! It has been my lifesaver. it's very lightweight, easy to push, turn on a dime, and fits larger children as well. I also have those plastic gates (Superyard XL) from Wal Mart. You could put him in there and exercise while he colors or something. Good luck!!

I get up at 5AM, out the door at 5:30 and back by 6:30 before anyone else gets up. It's the only way I could stick to a regular training schedule.

I also run at night on my treadmill after the kids (ages 7,5,3,1) go to bed. I get outdoors for a longer run on the weekends when hubby is home. I do sometimes run while the baby is napping, the oldest is at school and the other 2 are being watched by the electronic babysitter - although, this is pretty rare. I do sneak in a 1/2 hour Jillian Michael's DVD in the morning and the kids just play around me or jump on my while I'm on the floor. My plans for the summer are to hire a teenager to watch the kids so I can run/workout.

I have a 3 year old and she rides in the jogging stroller. She LOVES to "run" with mommy, so I am hoping that by doing this now will instill in her good health habits. Plus also, on race days you feel alot "lighter" as you aren't pushing the jogging stroller anymore. :-)

I run into the same issue. No pun intended. LOL. I have a 5yr old who can't exactly keep up and I don't want to send him to daycare either. So, I use my elliptical and will try to start my new running program on days that my husband is off. Getting up early is hard because I do work nights. So, its either get up earlier in the day to squeeze in my workout or do it as soon as I get home from work.

I run super-early in the morning, but I love the idea above of letting my kids play in the middle of a track while I run around it. My daughter is still a little too young for even that level of supervision, but in a couple of years, maybe I'll try that.

As it is, though, whenever I'm not at work or taking care of the kids, I'm pretty much always running. And that's only 30-60 minutes a day. I just don't do anything else!

I get treadmill and proper outdoor running time when the hubby is around. When it's TheBoy and I (who's going to be 6 soon), we do (and have done for a couple of years now) what I call wacky races around the neighbourhood. We jog, walk, hop, skip, jump, and run at full tilt (something kids seem to take real pleasure in) for 20-30 minutes. When I'm in charge of both TheLittleLady and TheBoy and want a walk/run, it's TheLittleLady in her buggy (she's almost 3) and TheBoy walking/running alongside or riding his scooter. We also just run in circles inside the house on miserable, wet, dark days (of which there are many here in Scotland). I've measured and 100 laps of our downstairs is about 1 mile. When you've got little ones, flexibility is key, and a bit of fun hopefully gets them on the path to a lifetime of fitness as well!

Yup, running stroller or my gym has free childcare for a 2 hour maximum.

I dont run myself, but a family friend has an almost 6 yr old boy that she puts in the BOB stroller and runs with twice a day everyday she is super dedicated. She gives him a book while hes in there, a sippy and a snack, usually hes super happy just enjoying the ride. My son is 3 and goes in my Jeep Jogging stroller still while I jog around the block, he loves it hell cheer me on saying "faster mommy go faster!" lol

Thanks guys! I think I'm just going to try and wake up early to go. Which is sad because I'm NOT a morning person lol.

Can you go after the kids go to bed? I am able to use my lunch hour right now but for a long time all I had was the time after bed:) I would put her to bed about 8 and hit the gym or go out to run. I found if I got dressed as soon as I got home from work and before I started dinner I was more likely to follow thru with going.

Stupid question.. but do high schools/middle schools mind if you go and run on their track? If I wanted to use it, should I ask for permission?

I'm a teacher, and I have to say, I don't think I have ever heard of anyone having to ASK to use the track... As long as they aren't having a practice on it, I don't think anyone would care.

I completed couch to 5k lasy july and i have a 3 year old daughter. I ran in the evening after she was in bed and my husband was home. I run with my running club on tuesday nights now. During the weekend, we'll go to the park and my hubby will watch her whilst i run a few laps and then i'll join them in the park.

Hi,
I have two kiddos, age 5.5 and 2.5.... and I run with them in a double jogging stroller about once a week. A few other times a week I run with just the 2.5 year old while the 5 year old is at school. My 5 year old loves to ride in the stroller, with a snack, her camera, and a book or two. I got a double jogging stroller with the highest weight limit I could find, so as to make her more comfortable and not as squished. She's good for about a 30 minute run, which is all I really need.

A few items, try get a fixed wheel stroller. You should NOT run with a swivel wheel stroller swiveling, and I've seen a few come unpopped even from the fixed positon and tip while in use. It is harder to steer a fixed wheel, but it is much safer, IMHO. I got my jogging stroller (single) free from a neighbor, and bought my double fixed wheel stroller off of Craigslist.

I end all of my runs at a neighborhood park, so that the kids get rewarded for sitting in the stroller with a play session at the park. I also give them a special snack for the runs, and sometimes play their music on my phone for them to sing along to as I run (Mulan, other Disney songs).

If you run on a school's track, they usually don't let you run during school/afterschool hours- so be done by 7:15 am, or after 5;30 pm in our area.