Stephen Biebelhausen didn’t set out to beat a world record with his 1-year-old daughter Blake.
But when the 30-year-old dad took to Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland for the city’s Guardian Mile race, he went a lot faster than expected.
His original goal was to beat the course record, which was 4 minutes 44 seconds. By the halfway mark, he realized he was ahead at 2 minutes 12 seconds.
“I was like, ‘Oh, man, this is going to be a good day,’” He told The Athletic.
At the finish line, the father-daughter duo clocked in at 4 minutes 17.07 seconds, dethroning Silas Frantz, who achieved the world record last year at 4 minutes 26.29 seconds with his son Otto in the stroller.
Running with a stroller isn’t easy.
“Everyone comments on how hard hills are with a stroller, but if you get a nice headwind that thing turns into a sail,” Biebelhausen told Runner’s World.
That said, the two of them run a lot together. Well, Biebelhausen runs while Blake, who weighs 18 pounds, kicks her feet for moral support.
Biebelhausen said the miles he put in while she’s enjoying the scenery at a leisurely pace (around 7 minutes a mile) was key in his big win Saturday.
Plus, it helped that Blake was in good spirits, kicking up a storm when the race started 45 minutes past her bedtime.
“I was just mostly surprised at my baby, who made it past her bedtime and wasn’t screaming and crying,” Biebelhausen told the Athletic. “We were just happy that there was no meltdown city.”
What to know about running with a stroller
What’s not to like about a run with baby? Get a great workout in while spending time with your kid. For Blake, there’s nothing better.
“She’ll squeal when we get in the car and put the stroller in, and then she knows our favorite running spots, and then she’ll squeal when we get there and I’m unloading the stroller,” Biebelhausen said. “Usually the leg kicks are just reserved for if we’re going down a hill, or when we first start, she’s really excited. But I think she just loved everyone cheering for her and going fast.”
As Runner’s World reports, though, there’s a lot of confusing information out there about how to do it safely.
Here are some guidelines to follow:
- Wait til the baby is at least six months old. The baby should be able to sit upright and hold their head up. Check with a pediatrician to make sure the child is ready and the stroller is suitable.
- Always use the safety harness, and follow the manufacturer’s weight and height requirements. Check it’s attached before running.
- Use a stroller made for running. Test the brakes, wheel alignment, and that all wheels are locked in place.
- While running, switch hands. You can see Biebelhausen’s expert hand switching in the Instagram video embedded above. You’ll also want shorter strides to avoid kicking the stroller.
- Choose a smooth, flat route.
