Running doesn’t have to stop when you have kids, because running with your kids in tow is easier than you think. I have two sons and I did my best to include them in my running routine. It’s definitely not as simple as you think, but incorporating them into a routine could form a strong bond early on. The biggest decision you have to make is how you plan to run with your kids in tow when they are young (less than 4 years old), whether it’s a jogging stroller or bike trailer converted into a jogging stroller. I went the bike trailer route and will share much of what I’ve learned along the way to help you with your decision.
Finding the Right Means to Run with Kids
I bought a bike trailer to be able to spend more time with my kids. I bought a Thule Chariot Cross 2, specifically for strolling, biking, and running. It seats two children with a five point harness similar to what you see with child seats. With the purchase of a jogging wheel, you can run, stroll, or bike with it. The trailer is designed well and it’s easy to set it up to handle each. If I go skiing with it, I’m sure it would be more for fun than anything.
There’s a couple of reasons I went with a bike trailer:
- Safety: I wanted a device that would keep my kids safe. Most jogging strollers or bike trailers on the market achieve the safety requirement easily. I went with a bike trailer because it’s an enclosed device the can provide protection against the elements and accidents since it’s enclosed.
- Great Design: Design was also important to me. A great design could make would be something really powerful to get my kids to want to use it. The design of this bike trailer is so well thought out, it’s really worth the extra money. The place to store your bike arm, the way the wheels lock, the red/green colors to ensure you are locked in, and the ability to go from biking, running, and strolling so seamlessly is just evidence of wonderful design.
- Comfort: I want my kids to be comfortable while in tow. There is no way to get a toddler out to do something where they will not be comfortable. I run year round and the thought about using a jogging stroller in colder weather didn’t seem comfortable. The enclosure will also help me prevent dropped items along the path. If it rains, I can quickly pull down the rain shield, which keeps your passengers both warm and dry. It also is exceptional cicada shield, while walking, running, or biking. When walking with an open stroller, I had several cases of cicadas falling on my infant just while walking around the neighborhood.
- Two Strollers: I chose a bike trailer because we already have a wonderful walking stroller and I couldn’t justify a second stroller. I do occasionally like to bike and having that option is great. I have to believe a jogging stroller is way easier to run with compared to a bike trailer, but I went into it knowing that challenge.
Running with your Kids and a Bike Trailer with Jogging Wheel
Running with your kids in tow is quite the experience. I didn’t know what to expect. The weather was a little warm for running, but it was too sunny not to go out. I think he was enjoying the ride, because he said he wanted to go out again tomorrow during our run. At our turn around point, he told me he wanted to go “this way” which looking in the direction he pointed he wanted to keep on going and not turn around. I told him I’m too tired to keep going and we needed to get back for lunch.
I’m going to share some rather obvious feedback that did not surprise me at all. Running with your kids in a double bike trailer feels big, wide, and rather long with the running wheel attached. It’s also very noticeable pushing a 30 pound toddler with a 30+ pound trailer. Especially on hills. The route I took had newly paved roads, less incline, and a wider entrance to the multi-purpose path. My pace was about 20 seconds slower per mile than running without my son with me. It felt like I was running in higher elevation. Nothing here really is surprising, but hopefully gives you some things to think about when considering an option to go with a double bike trailer or a double jogger. It definitely took a few extra days to recover. I am still sore three days later, so something to be prepared for.
As for the device, the ride was buttery smooth on the roads. Even though I was pushing 60+ pounds, I felt little resistance. Although it feels larger, you can tell it has a aero dynamic design. My son loves the room. As a two year old at a normal height, he has room to grow. His feet hang down towards the front of the trailer in such a relaxed way. You can tell he enjoys the extra comfort. When you are pushing your kids, there is nothing more important than comfort. Spending extra on a device that provides safety and comfort is a must.
I’m learning more about steering. Since it has one stationary wheel (that doesn’t turn left or right), you have to steer by applying force on the handle or you can lean on the handle to slightly raise up the front wheel and turn it one direction or the other. It’s definitely a feel thing. The best way to get experience is to get more exposure. I would suggest it’s not a seamless thing you can do with one hand. Don’t expect it to be natural. You will feel like you are steering a cart. I’m sure others have figured better ways of steering.
The Experience of Running with your Kids
I made a pit stop to pick up doughnuts today for my son. It’s something we rarely do, but he gets so much excitement from it. I secretly do as well, but don’t tell anyone. We stopped by a crowded market. I will suggest using this trailer with the jogging wheel attached is rather difficult in a crowd. If we had more time, I would definitely take the wheel off and use the strolling wheels. You can store the strolling wheel on the back and put the legs into the back storage compartment. It’s fairly easy to do.
I realized I should have bought a trailer after our first son was born. There’s a unique bond you can develop taking you son out on a run with you. Remember, it’s more than a workout for you, it’s an exploratory experience for your kid. The first priority is your kid and not your workout. Half way through the run, I could sense he was getting anxious to get out and explore. We stopped to talk for a bit and decided to stop at a local park. He came over and sat next to me on the park bench. It’s odd, but sometimes you just don’t see things until you have a moment to pause and take in your surroundings. I could sense a bond between us by spending so much solo time together.
It was really cool to bring my son along on a short run to spend time exploring together and experience a different side of the town we live in. Once we got to the multi-purpose trail, it was so cool to experience nature. Running down the path, we saw trees, birds, wildlife, and just got away from the busy suburban streets. Probably my favorite part about running is seeing unique things that you just don’t notice commuting any other way. It’s like an exploration every time out. Where does this path go and what will I see along the way that I’ve never noticed before. I look forward to further exploring.
Running to be in Shape to Bike
I am a runner by heart, but love the speed of convenience of biking when it comes to getting from point A to point B. With a bike trailer, you have the ability to switch from running with your kids to biking with your kids. Setting up your bike can be fairly straight forward if you have a straightforward hub and frame to work with. Make sure you follow the instructions provided by your trailer. I did run into a few challenges with a road bike that had a hooded drop out (a “bump” that surrounds your quick release hub).
There are definitely a few things I learned right away with a bike trailer:
- Kid safety – I was most worried about safety of my toddler at the beginning and throughout the bike ride. What other traffic do I need to be aware of? What roads should I bike on and what should I not bike on? Even at the very beginning getting your bike hooked up to the carrier was a little bit of a challenge. I made a change and found a more secure connection. The problem is every bike has a slightly different design and there may need to be a slight change in how you set it up.
- Bike differently – Biking straight ahead is easy and it’s easy to think you can bike as you normally do. You can’t. You have to take wider turns, focus on braking before intersections, and going up hill is noticeably more difficult. I would definitely try riding around low traffic areas first to get used to a bike trailer.
- Keep kids engaged – I had no idea if my toddler would enjoy the bike carrier or want to go in it again. As I expected on the first time out, he hated wearing a helmet, but once we got going he totally forgot about the helmet. We went by a park, drove by some train tracks and show a “people train”, and waved to the people at the station. All in all, I think he will be back for more.
Crossing the Finish Line
Running with your kids in tow is definitely worth exploring. And so is biking. You can keep some resemblance of a workout routine, you get to spend more time with your kid(s), and they can get out and experience where ever you take them. Remember, the priority is your kid, so make sure to have the right gear packed and have a destination that will allow them to get out of the trailer and also get some activity. Enjoy the experience, it doesn’t last long!