Joggin’ Mama

I have always wanted to be a jogger. It must have something to do with the dedication I’ve seen in the eyes of the regular runners as they move down the street. And I have to admit that I’ve heard about the rush of elation that joggers feel when endorphins take over. I’ve always wanted to experience that "second wind," as my dad calls it. Most of all, though, I have come to feel that jogging will teach me discipline, as long as I think of it as something I must do for myself. After all, I spend 90 percent of my time caring for others. When it’s time to do something for myself, I have to be careful. Which will be more satisfying in the long run: baking a huge batch of guilt-inducing fudge brownies, or getting in a great workout that helps me feel good about myself? It’s a no-brainer.

A couple of months ago, I decided to go for it. I already had my perfect running shoes; all I needed was to get out the door and stay on my feet. My husband kept the kids busy playing "Werewolf" (long story), while I snuck out of the house and jogged a mile and a half on my first try! I felt so proud of myself that I jogged again the next night and the next! Then, at the end of my third jogging workout, the bottom dropped out. My daughter, the ultimate mommy’s girl, finally noticed that I was gone. For days afterward, she became hysterical if I left her sight! I thought my short-lived days as a jogger were over, until I discovered a product that has allowed me to achieve my dream of becoming a "real" jogger.

Thanks to the good people at InSTEP, I received a Safari Jogging Stroller , and I couldn’t be more pleased with the product! I assembled the stroller by myself, and it was extremely easy. I couldn’t wait to hit the road with my mommy’s girl right in front of me, but I wasn’t quite sure how she’d react to the stroller. It might be odd, but at two-and-a-half years, she’d never been in a stroller. I used baby carriers extensively when she was a baby, and she’s always been an "in arms" kind of child. Thankfully, she fell in love with the stroller as quickly as I did (I think it helped that it’s bright pink). I actually had to push her around in the house for the first few days we had the stroller, because she didn’t want to get out! It’s incredibly encouraging to hear her yell, "More!" after I’ve completed my run.

My Safari performs extremely well. It cuts through my awful, rutted country driveway like butter. The swiveling wheel allows me to make tight turns when I’m walking, and can be locked into place before I start to jog. Also, the Safari comes with an infant seat attachment (for someday) and a mesh bug screen which I have found invaluable during the mosquito-ridden Nebraska summer. This stroller has a large sun shade with a clear plastic window, so my mommy’s girl can see me any time she’d like to. Though it’s not tiny, the Safari folds down to an easy-to-manage bundle that fits in my trunk or on my back porch. There’s also tons of room for storing necessities, with a basket under the seat, a pouch behind my daughter’s head, and trays with cup holders for the child and adult. If he’s not too macho to push a pink stroller, my husband could easily accomplish the task, since handles can be adjusted with the click of a button. All these features make the Safari everything I could ever want in a jogging stroller. Here’s the best part: The InSTEP Safari retails for just $169.99!

The only problem I’ve run into while using my Safari is trying to deal with a two-year-old who asks a million questions a minute, and expects me to hold up my end of the conversation. She simply will not accept the monosyllabic grunts and wheezes that come out of my mouth when I’m jogging! If anyone out there knows a two-word explanation for where grasshoppers’ ears are, I’d love to hear it! In the meantime, I’ll just have to muddle through with my wonderful stroller, and explain things to her when I catch my breath.