Running my stroller into the ground

Well, it's conclusive. The lifespan of a Dreamer Design Ditto jogging stroller is 4,000 miles. Now the welding at one of the joints has failed in addition to the untrued creaking wheel which is stuck onto the frame, torn fabric and rusted snaps. Unfortunately, it appears that Dreamer Design has gone out of business! Maybe we just ran off-road one too many times, but I do feel that I've gotten my money's worth out of it.

For now I've got it duct taped together while I decide what my next move should be. After giving advice to other people about buying a jogging stroller for so many years, I know exactly what my options are, but none of them are particularly cheap! Even though Spencer is 3 1/2 already, I think that I still have 2 more years of running with the double since he'll go to afternoon preschool and I don't prefer to wait until 1 pm to run everyday! Hmmm...

FOLLOW UP:
I chose to buy the exact same stroller from a seller on craigslist. I had to stay with red. I feel like it's me trademark at this point. I'm the crazy running lady with the giant red stroller. The guy selling it was nice. It may have been used 2 or 3 times, but it looked like it was straight out of the box. Though Dreamer Design is no longer in business for replacement parts or warranty issues, now I have a stroller for spare parts too.

Coincidentally, REI had all their BOB strollers on sale the same week I was making this choice so, on a whim, I put Maddie and Spencer in a BOB Ironman double (the really popular yellow one with suspension) and it was RIDICULOUS! The effort it took to push THROUGH the suspension to make a turn made it almost impossible to turn at all. No wonder so many people find it so hard to run with a jogger! Now I understand why they made a front swivel wheel. Once they added the suspension, you can't turn anymore! So silly...

The Next Big Thing

Arm warmers! I'm convinced that the next fashion fad in running is arm warmers (after the summer, that is). Leg warmers made a comeback, right? So, you heard it here first!

I ran the Cherry Blossom 10-miler this past weekend. I missed having my stroller along - just an itty-bitty bit - because if I wanted to wear any extra clothes to start out, I wouldn't have anywhere to put them! It was a beautiful day, but a little chilly (50 deg F, +/-) when you weren't actually running. I had to wear shorts and short sleeves to run as fast as I could, so arm warmers were the answer! They are standard wear for bicyclists - which I am also trying to become - so it was great! When I got hot, I just tore them off and stuck them in my waistband. I didn't even need to slow down.

I chuckle a little since there are so many problems with trying to transition from jogging with a stroller to racing without one. But if I can figure out the wardrobe, at least that is a start. I used to subtract 1 min per mile from my stroller pace to approximate my non-stroller pace, but I think that the stroller must be getting heavier because I pulled 7:22 min/mi, on average, in the race and I am definitely not running 8:30s or better with the stroller these days.

Free Stuff!

Recently I wrote about a great high-impact nursing bra. If you would like to try this bra for FREE, email me (jen_cortesi@yahoo.com) or leave a comment below with your name, address, and size. I'll randomly choose a winner on 4/14/09 and Expressiva Nursingwear will send you one for FREE!

That's a good customer service rep!

Continued:
I realized after I wrote the above, that it is a little weird for you to send me your address and bust size and everything - but then my power went out, so I couldn't change it right away! Anyway, just email me and I will email you back if you win and then at that time you can privately give me the other information :)
Sorry.

Marine Corp Marathon 09

We are all signed up. Who's in?

To run or to babysit...