PSA - stroller friendly races

[smithsmile]

Hey ladies - while trying to sort out my 2013 race calendar, I stumbled across this blog that has a handydandy spreadsheet full of stroller friendly races. Unfortunately the list is limited mainly to the DC and Chicago area, but I know there are quite a few ladies from those areas around here, so I wanted to pass along. Enjoy!

laracoffee.com/2013/01/11/2013-stroller-friendly-races/

[cinco]

Thanks. This is very helpful!

[lcoffee]

Thank you very much for posting. I am Lara Coffee and a mom of two and I decided a year ago, I needed to look for races that are stroller friendly.  There is not one central place to search for races. So began my own list. So now I am in process of improving the list. California is getting pretty in-depth as well. This just requires a lot of time because I have to find all the races and then email each race director to ask if it is stroller friendly. I try to dedicate 1 hour a day to updating the list and emailing race directors. I am currently working on San Francisco, CA. Also, I had some lovely woman email me about Atlanta, Ga. I will add as many to the list as I can and update daily. Thank you for your help.

[runblondie26]

The list is a great idea Lara. Thanks for posting it here smithsmile. Those are couple big races in Atlanta some stroller runners might enjoy.

[Wines Not Whines]

Thanks! I need to bookmark that list.

[lcoffee]

Thank you! Since you pointed me to the site for Atlanta running, I have begun reaching out to the race directors, so hopefully, we will have a more comprehensive list for Atlanta soon as well.

[Wines Not Whines]

Lara, I hope you can find some more Maryland races... there are so many across the river in VA!

[lcoffee]

Thank you. I will add it to me list to look for next. So, I am planning on finishing San Francisco, Atlanta and then Maryland. If you know of races in Maryland, I would greatly appreciate any assistance.

[Wines Not Whines]

I know at least one stroller friendly race in MD. It's the Run Under the Lights 5k at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, MD. I've done it with a stroller for the past 3 years.

[lcoffee]

Thank you! I will add it to the Maryland list today. I try to put an updated version up everyday with it dated so you know that is has been updated.

[smithsmile]

Ive done a few races in the NYC metro area and it always says no strollers but then on race day I see people running with them anyway! Definitely frustrating as Id love to do a 5k or 10k with my son. Lara, do you find that happens often? Do you think these people just contact the race director or show up and hope they dont get booted?

[lcoffee]

I have found when they say no strollers, the race views it as a safety issue. I believe the people that race with the stroller, either did not read the policies and/or they just show up with the stroller and hope they do not get caught. I would say both scenarios are pretty likely.

I have also found that most small 5k and 10k races that are local to the area or usually stroller friendly. They do not know to mention on their website.

[lcoffee]

OK, ladies. I now have more than 60 races in Virginia (all) and Washington, DC, 60 races in Chicago, 60 races in California (still working on other major cities), 45 races in Georgia (still working on it). List is updated on laracoffee.com/2013/01/11/2013-stroller-friendly-races/.

I am slowly moving ladies and I will keep adding. Yes, Maryland is next.

[lcoffee]

Hi Ladies!

I just wanted to give you an update.

Currently, I have a fairly comprehensive list with more than 60 stroller friendly races in the following states; Virginia, Illinois (Chicago area), California (San Diego and working on San Francisco), and Georgia. Furthermore, you will notice in the Excel document there are worksheets for Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, which I am in the process of updating. The Excel document is is alphabetical order by state and each state's list is organized by date of the race, distance (5K, 10K, 4 miler, 1/2 marathon or other distance) and location.

laracoffee.com/2013/01/11/2013-stroller-friendly-races/.

[Wines Not Whines]

Thanks, Lara!

[lcoffee]

Hi Ladies!

Maryland is now updated with about 60 races.

[Wines Not Whines]

Awesome! How did you find these?

[katinthehat]

Would you mind linking some Houston, TX races? I don't know many but I have at least three I can think of off the top of my head

[Jermys]

This is awesome!

[lcoffee]

Hi Ladies.

Sorry for being delayed in getting back to you. Wines Not Whines, I found them several ways. I searched for regular Maryland races in active.com, runningusa.com and them did numerous running store searches in Maryland and reviewed their race calendars. From there, I took my normal steps of contact each race director and looking at their website to see if they mention strollers. Of course, I am waiting to hear back from some.

katinthehat, I will most definitely start on Texas. I am going to put my updated Excel spreadsheet up today; there is now a worksheet for every state. Kati, if you know of races, you can either email directly or post a reply.

Also, I am working with the Time.ly developers to fix my calendar issue. I have been slowly populating a calendar that you will be able to sort by state, and distance of the race and then click onto each event/race and it provides the Google map and additional information about the races. Here is the link (laracoffee.com/sports/jog-stroller-friendly-race-calendar/), but calendar filters are not working correctly all the time. Also, I have not populated all my races from the Excel document into the calendar because the man hours is extraordinary.

Thank you ladies and please feel free to pass along information. Also, if you do any of the races and would not mind providing feedback on the race and how stroller friendly it is, I can add notes and  link to your race reports blogs/websites if you write about them.

Thank you!

[lcoffee]

Hi katinthehat,

Texas is going to be the death of me. I have over 84 races already listed and I am on March 2. You will notice the Excel document is updated.

In addition, Colorado has about 45 races listed now.

laracoffee.com/2013/01/11/2013-stroller-friendly-races/

[softspot]

Any chance you'll do Missouri races? I'm having trouble finding any that I don't have to drive 3 hours to get to.

[lcoffee]

softspot, MO will be on my list to do next now. Thank you for the request. It might be early next week before I get the list updated with Missouri. Texas is a huge state, which I knew...

I will let you know when it is updated.

Is anyone interested in assisting in populating the online calendar? Not the Excel document (laracoffee.com/2013/01/11/2013-stroller-friendly-races/), I will keep that up-to-date until the online calendar is fully populated. I got the online calendar issues fixed YEAH! (laracoffee.com/sports/jog-stroller-friendly-race-calendar/) So, now I can finally get it populated, but so far have races in Virginia, Maryland and DC. It is labor intensive, but it is pretty mindless work.

If you are interested, please let me know. I would love any assistance.

[lcoffee]

katinthehat 334 races later, TX is now done and at the current moment, it looks like 32 races are located in Houston. Let me know if this helps. Good luck. laracoffee.com/2013/01/11/2013-stroller-friendly-races/

softspot MO is next and then I had a request for Nebraska.

[softspot]

Feb 11, 2013 15:40:08 GMT -5 lcoffee said:

katinthehat 334 races later, TX is now done and at the current moment, it looks like 32 races are located in Houston. Let me know if this helps. Good luck. laracoffee.com/2013/01/11/2013-stroller-friendly-races/

softspot MO is next and then I had a request for Nebraska.

thanks! You are awesome for doing this.

[katinthehat]

thank you! wanted to let you know that the Rodeo Run is not stroller friendly according to their FAQs. The specifically request that strollers stay home.

[lcoffee]

Feb 11, 2013 17:55:46 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

thank you! wanted to let you know that the Rodeo Run is not stroller friendly according to their FAQs. The specifically request that strollers stay home.

Thank you, it must of been an oversight on my part. Thank you very much and I have deleted it from the list. Texas was a hard state. I had to filter through nearly 1500 races throughout the state to come up with the list. Please let me know if I listed one that is not. Thank you for your patience.

[smithsmile]

FYI Lara - I just got the OK to run the St Patty's Day 10k in Yorktown Heights, NY from the race director (as long as I start in the back).

I have a feeling that the Taconic Road Runners would be OK with strollers in most of their races. In his email back to me he said they try to promote a "family friendly atmosphere."

[katinthehat]

Feb 12, 2013 9:09:59 GMT -5 lcoffee said:

Feb 11, 2013 17:55:46 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

thank you! wanted to let you know that the Rodeo Run is not stroller friendly according to their FAQs. The specifically request that strollers stay home.

Thank you, it must of been an oversight on my part. Thank you very much and I have deleted it from the list. Texas was a hard state. I had to filter through nearly 1500 races throughout the state to come up with the list. Please let me know if I listed one that is not. Thank you for your patience.

No problem!  My husband is running it this year so I'll see if I see any strollers and report back!  Here's one you can add in, it's very stroller & walker friendly - www.steps4students.org/

[lcoffee]

Feb 12, 2013 22:13:46 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

Feb 12, 2013 9:09:59 GMT -5 lcoffee said:

Thank you, it must of been an oversight on my part. Thank you very much and I have deleted it from the list. Texas was a hard state. I had to filter through nearly 1500 races throughout the state to come up with the list. Please let me know if I listed one that is not. Thank you for your patience.

No problem!  My husband is running it this year so I'll see if I see any strollers and report back!  Here's one you can add in, it's very stroller & walker friendly - www.steps4students.org/

It is now added and updated. Thank you