Babyjoggers should be outlawed in ALL races

Pebbles,

Thanks for bringing to our attention that we're all "Haters." I thought we were runners concerned about safety, courtesy, and good sportsmanship.

Specifics? You want specifics? Do you think we're just making stuff up out of boredom?

Here's a specific: Jamba Juice 5k, San Francisco, September 19, 2004. Guy with a stroller running next to me during a very tight twisty start (and we were not at the back). Did I fall down? No. But was I distracted, annoyed, concerned, bothered, and inconvenienced? Yes. Sorry I don't have photographs to back up my story. You probably still don't believe me.

Signs of the apocalypse:

People equating nuclear weapons to jogging strollers.

People equating drinking and driving with jogging strollers.

I must be a jerk for spending time with my daughter and writing that most people that do run with them don't cause problems. I can see that and I'm very sorry.

I still don't see any stats here, you people can't even make any up. Anyone that stood on top of G St. hill at the Ollie last week appreciated watching the baby strollers (wayyyyy behind everyone else) battling it up that hill. Ask the Race Director. It was hilarious and fun which is what the sport is all about.

I'm out.

All those who believe Pebbles is a jerk and blind to the truth.

Dr. Running Mom wrote:

Of the last 8 races I have been either a competitor or an official in, all of them have had some sort of “stroller” incident accompanying them.

What qualifies as a "stroller" incident? Someone complaining about them?

Please answer the following questions if you are one of the 30 or so people that have already posted to this thread.

1. How many times have you been tripped by a baby stroller in a race and fallen to the ground?

2. How many times have you been tripped by something else in a race and fallen to the ground?

My answer to the first question is, of course, 0, and my answer to the second question is at least 4 that I can remember.

NB330 wrote:

Sorry I don't have photographs to back up my story.

That's OK. We believe you that there was a guy beside you in the race pushing a baby stroller. That was pretty much the stroller incident, right?

What qualifies is this:

- An altercation in which one party or the other needs to seek medical attention (stitches, broken bones, concussion, other) and a medical incident report was files with the insuring agenesis of the race, the race director, the race medical director (me), and the hosting city.

As to your other two inquires, I have been hit without apology numerous times during races as well as with runners. That is not the issue. For me it is a medical one. A runner tripped up by a fellow runner is less likely to need medical treatment for the incident as compared to those who are bludgeoned and rammed by an indifferent parent and their stroller. If you want specifics, I suggest you check with the incident reports of insurers and medical providers of races as I know in Illinois we have to keep meticulous accounts of these. Strollers are fine during workouts, but not in races in which you have hundreds of people participating.

PS…my vote is for “ignorant boob” funinthesun

if pushing stollers, rollerblading, leashes, and walkmen have not caused widespread problems in road races, they why does the RRCA's insurance not allow them?

I'm a race director that welcomes everyone, wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, blind people, minorities, women, children, and drunks.

The more people we have coming to races and spreading the good will of running, the better. We need everyone, especially the slow trotters in the back. I have had very few strollers complaints (maybe one in four years) and my races have gone from 400 to 800 runners in the last 4 years. I say let 'em in and spread the cheer, my good friends. It is a great sport and we need everybody's help.

so where do you get insurance that allows this?

Pebbles wrote:

I must be a jerk for spending time with my daughter and writing that most people that do run with them don't cause problems. I can see that and I'm very sorry.

Everybody!

Look at me, look at me, I run with my daughter. I'm a good daddy! I spend time with my child! I'm a good daddy!

I'm out.

Good!

Pebbles, up above you are quoted saying that "you people can't stand to be beaten by a person pushing their child". Now, to show your complete and utter display of incompetance I will state a few things. As I read the quote above I could not help but read the below quote where you say "we are in the friggin' back behind everyone..." keywords being 'back', 'behind', and last but not least 'everyone'. Now, explain to me how you are beating people when you are 'back' and 'behind everyone'? I have yet to contrive these mind excursive statements which controvert each other. As soon as you can bequeath a reasonable explanation, please feel free to let me know.

Chew on this hypothetical for a bit:

City hosts major roadrace geared towards fun runners and strollers show up amongst the field. Tragically, in the mad dash at the start of the race a stroller is toppled over and an innocent child is crushed to death as dozens of runners fall over and on said stroller.

The grieving parents file a huge wrongful death suit against the RD, race promotion company, sponsors, and the city for failing to insure the safety of their now dead progeny. A jury awards a multi-million dollar judgement to the parents and that financially destroys the RD and his company, puts employees of the race out-of-work, and scares the sponsors into putting their money into safer events like golf tournaments, community festivals, parades, etc.

But the biggest consequence would be this: fearing the possibility of another similar tragedy with its financial and political fallout, the city refuses to issue road closure permits or provide police and emergency medical protection for races. That effectively cancels the town's marathon and other roadraces and that hurts all the runners and walkers in that area.

So to Pebbles and others who feel their personal rights are being trampled upon, try thinking about the broader consequences of your actions. The scenario above could very well happen in our overly litigious society. If you care so much for our sport, is worth endangering it's existence for the masses just so your kid can "race" in a stroller? Who's really getting the ego gratification? You or your toddler?

Dr. Running Mom wrote:

Of the last 8 races I have been either a competitor or an official in, all of them have had some sort of “stroller” incident accompanying them.

What qualifies is this:

- An altercation in which one party or the other needs to seek medical attention (stitches, broken bones, concussion, other) and a medical incident report was files with the insuring agenesis of the race, the race director, the race medical director (me), and the hosting city.

So let me get this straight. In the last 8 races you were a part of, a runner required stitches, broken bone repair, or treatment for a concussion due to a baby stroller incident.

My problem with Chariots goes further than obvious dangers in races. It's very common for people like Pebbles to go on and on about spending quality time with their child at races. I don't get it, it doesn't fly with me. Usually a bit before 12 months a child is starting to walk and needs acitivity. If I see a child older than 1 year being pushed in a chariot, if it is not for transportation or a really short run, I think the parent is bitchy and selfish. I've seen people luring two year olds into these things with candy and sugary drinks. When the child eventually falls asleep from the sugar hangover (sugar high, sugar low)the parent gets in their training or racing. At races it's worse because it usually takes up a whole Saturday morning, they drive the kid to the race and strap them into a chariot for the whole morning. Pebbles, how is this helping your daughter? Wouldn't your weekend be better spent waking up bright and early getting your run in before your daughter is even awake and then spending time with her doing activities that enrich her world rather than yours. This is not nuclear war, Pebbles. It's not rocket science, stop this crazy chariot racing and do something for your family where everyone can benefit.

Pebbles wrote:

There is more to running than high school, bambam. If you are going to ridicule people, at least check your spelling.

it aint a spelling issue, it's a typing issue. i cant have my secretary type my posts for me, but i'll hire you for $6.50 an hour. stupid minimum wage laws dont allow me to pay you what youre actually worth.

H2O girl, do you have any experience with children whatsoever? I mean other than watching them with their parents for 30 seconds and passing judgement.

Most children love going for stroller rides. How many children in "chariots" have you seen crying? Taking a crying child for stroller or carriage ride is an age-old remedy.

And you think feeding a 3-year-old sugar puts them to sleep!? You need to experience a couple birthday parties.

Being outside for a few hours, meeting 50 new people, 15 other children, and 10 new dogs is a great way for an infant to spend a morning.

You might not like baby strollers in races, but it's ridiculous to pass it off as being bad for the children.

Pebbles wrote:

I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe it is that much of an issue. We are in the friggin' back behind everyone...

It is NOT A WIDESPREAD problem.

I agree, it's not a widespread problem for runners in the event. It at most injures just a few people out the hundreds or thousands.

Saying that they start in the back so they're not an issue really isn't the point because it's MORE crowded at the back, for longer, than it is up front. You apparently feel people in the back shouldn't concern themselves with the safety of themselves or a child.

As far as specifics, I see only one incident a year, but I'm obviously farther back in the pack.

One incident a year isn't widespread, but it's enough to cause concern for a RD and to cause inflated insurance for everyone.

I could see this crap happening easily. Look what the Denver cops did when they didn\'t get their money on time. Cities will cancel shit if they think it will get them sued or if it will cost them too much. Strollers don\'t belong in races any more than bikes or skateboards or rollerblades do. I hate when people think pushing their kid for a few miles in a race makes up for ignoring them or putting them in some daycare warehouse all week.

Good Point Law,

We are living in a world where every one sues over stupid crap like getting fat from fast food. We as RD's and even the regular folks have to do what we can to protect ourselves from frivolous lawsuits. I can totally see some wack job suing over wiping out in a race and her kid getting hurt. So for those small races that cannot afford the insurace, they need to ban strollers completely, getting rid of the liability.