Running With a Pram, and With Patience

It’s not the run you planned. It’s the run that was possible.

Maybe your playlist is drowned out by crying. Maybe your “easy pace” feels like a weighted sled push. Maybe you're not even sure if this counts as training.

But running with a pram: on road or trail, is more than movement. It’s resistance training, mindfulness, presence, and persistence all wrapped into one. It’s a reminder that strength isn’t only measured in pace or distance, but in the choice to keep showing up, even when conditions aren’t ideal.

This piece is for the women pushing forward, literally and figuratively.

What It Demands (That Solo Running Doesn’t)

Pram running is biomechanically and psychologically different from running alone. You’re not just navigating terrain: you’re steering, absorbing jolts, and attuning to your little passenger. It can feel clunky, interrupted, and miles away from flow state. But it builds embodied strength and mental flexibility that matter far beyond the trail.

• Core and upper body strength: Stabilising the pram requires trunk control, shoulder engagement, and grip strength, especially on trails or inclines.
• Altered posture and stride: Your form will change. Expect shorter strides and more upright posture: it’s an adaptation, not a flaw.
• Mental adaptability: You’re reacting constantly: to cries, terrain, needs: and still choosing to continue. That choice builds grit in a way solo running rarely does.

Technical Tips for Safer, Smoother Pram Running

• Alternate arms: Unless you’re on steep or technical terrain, switch arms every few minutes. Steering with one hand while letting the other swing naturally reduces asymmetry and fatigue.
• Use a wrist tether: Especially on downhill sections, clip the safety strap to your wrist to prevent roll-away risks.
• Adjust your stride expectations: Shorten your stride slightly and stay upright. Don’t force your usual rhythm — discover the new one that works.
• Choose your route wisely: Wide fire roads, firm dirt paths, and smoother surfaces are best. Avoid narrow singletrack and steep cambers unless you have trail-specific gear.
• Lower tyre pressure slightly for trails: A small adjustment improves shock absorption and gives your little one a smoother ride.

Recommended Running Prams

For Trail:

• Thule Urban Glide 2: lightweight, responsive, excellent suspension; great for gravel and light trail.
• BOB Revolution PRO: rugged and stable, with a handbrake for hills.
• Mountain Buggy Terrain: designed for varied terrain with large tyres and strong clearance.

For Road & Light Trail:

• Baby Jogger Summit X3: hybrid with lockable swivel wheel; ideal for parks and mixed surfaces.
• Joovy Zoom 360 Ultralight: budget-friendly, smooth on pavement, solid for light gravel.

All include 5-point harnesses, large wheels, and suspension systems — non-negotiables for safety and comfort.

The Psychology of Pram Running

Running with a pram asks you to let go of ego.

Your pace will be slower. Your route might be short or looped. You may stop ten times in 30 minutes. But each step is a choice to keep moving.

For many women, pram running removes the pressure of perfection. Instead of obsessing over splits, they redefine progress as: we got out the door. This reframing supports not only physical return-to-run after birth but also mental wellbeing in the unpredictable rhythm of early motherhood.

Even walking with a pram through nature counts. Even pushing it up one hill and turning back counts. It’s not about the distance covered, it’s about the resilience cultivated.

Running with a pram may never deliver your fastest times, but it offers something deeper: the practice of patience, the layering of strength, and the chance to share your love of movement with the next generation.

The kms may be slower, but the lessons last far longer.

Reflection Prompt

• Where have I been measuring my movement by the wrong metrics?
• What does strength look like when I let presence: not pace, guide me?