Dad Sets World Record With 4:17 Mile While Pushing His Baby Daughter in a Stroller
Dad Sets World Record With 4:17 Mile While Pushing His Baby Daughter in a Stroller
CLEVELAND — Stephen Biebelhausen didn’t expect to make history when he lined up for Cleveland’s Guardian Mile with his 1-year-old daughter, Blake, in a stroller.
The 30-year-old father ended up running the fastest stroller mile ever recorded, completing the race in an astonishing 4 minutes and 17.07 seconds with his 18-pound daughter along for the ride.
Biebelhausen’s performance broke the previous record of 4:26.29, set by Silas Frantz while pushing his son Otto.
He Wasn’t Initially Chasing the World Record
Biebelhausen’s original goal was considerably more modest.
He wanted to beat the Guardian Mile’s course record of 4 minutes and 44 seconds.
By the halfway point, however, he realized he was running much faster than expected. He reached the midpoint in approximately 2 minutes and 12 seconds and knew he had a chance at something much bigger.
He ultimately crossed the finish line in 4:17.07, taking nearly nine seconds off the previous world mark.
Blake Was Along for the Ride
The remarkable performance was a father-daughter effort.
Biebelhausen and Blake had already spent plenty of time running together before the race. While her father handled the difficult work, Blake apparently provided plenty of enthusiasm from the stroller.
The young girl reportedly remained in good spirits throughout the race, kicking her feet as her father pushed her around the course.
Biebelhausen later joked that he was particularly relieved that Blake didn’t have a meltdown because the race began about 45 minutes past her normal bedtime.
Instead, she appeared to enjoy the excitement and attention from spectators.
Running With a Stroller Isn’t Easy
Pushing a stroller at elite running speed creates challenges that ordinary runners don’t face.
The stroller adds weight and changes the runner’s mechanics. Hills can be especially difficult, while wind can also have a surprisingly significant effect.
Biebelhausen has trained regularly with Blake, though most of those runs have been considerably slower than his record-breaking mile.
That experience helped him become comfortable maintaining speed while maneuvering the stroller.
A Family Bonding Experience
For Biebelhausen, running with Blake isn’t simply about setting records.
He said his daughter recognizes their running routine and gets excited when she sees the stroller being loaded into the car.
Those regular outings allowed the two to spend time together while Biebelhausen trained.
The record-setting race simply turned their shared activity into an unexpected piece of running history.
Safety Remains Important
While stroller running can be an enjoyable way for parents to exercise with their children, experts emphasize that it requires additional precautions.
Parents should use a stroller specifically designed for running, secure the child properly and choose routes that minimize traffic and other hazards. Infants also need appropriate head and neck support before they are ready for running-stroller use.
For Biebelhausen and Blake, the Guardian Mile produced a remarkable result: a father chasing a course record and a toddler enjoying the ride ended up setting a new world record together.
The final time — 4:17.07 — is now the benchmark other stroller runners will have to chase.
