For the Love of a Stroller

The following is a real life sob story. About a stroller. You may think I'm joking but the struggle was (still is?) TOTALLY REAL. 

I first started stroller running with my oldest daughter Miss Mak when she was just a few months old. We've had our trusty used navy blue BOB Revolution since then. We call him "Bob". I know. Super creative.  After getting a positive pregnancy test for baby #2, the first thing I started searching for online was the BOB Duallie. My amazing Dad came through and found the perfect used double BOB, with all the extras and gifted it to us for baby #2. It truly was the "gift of running" for a mom! We have put so many miles on that ride. From Baby Hallie's early days she HATED the stroller...but she grew to love it (she didn't really have a choice!) and she has turned into a (mostly) delightful companion for me and Miss Mak on all of our walks and runs. 

,That double BOB went through the ringer. It's gotten spilled on and peed on. We've flown and gate checked it. It's run through several states with us. It's gotten tossed off the back of my SUV and drug down the highway (true story). But it still held strong. My personal vehicle for sanity and fitness as a mother. 

​But when a good friend of mine offered me a great deal on her almost new double BOB I had to seriously consider it. With another baby coming, I knew that we had hundreds of miles to go in our double stroller running years and starting fresh could be a good idea. I tossed it around for a while, because thanks to the same amazing Dad who gifted me the stroller, he's also gifted me the blessing/curse of sentimentality. My brain won over my heart and I accepted the deal, and quickly found a buyer for our old stroller. I put on a brave face when I told Miss Mak that our stroller was going to a new home, and that we had an awesome new, red one now. When she started to cry, I started to cry and let's face it, we were a wreck. I know some of you will relate, and others thing I'm absolutely insane to cry over a stroller, but those strollers hold such a sacred place in our lives as moms and kids. The comfort, the memories, the miles. 

I almost backed out of the deal. I had to wear sunglasses when the sweet mama came to pick up Ol' Blue. It was like saying goodbye to our dearest friend, but I was certainly happy to see that it was going to someone who was so excited to have it. I knew it was going to be in good hands. But still, there were multiple times that I second guessed myself.  Even after she had driven away I spent several WEEKS thinking about tracking her down and asking for our stroller back. The new one wasn't the same. It was clean and smooth and an AMAZING upgrade. Seriously, a no brainer. But Miss Mak didn't love riding anymore. We named the new stroller "Ruby" and have spent the last few months warming up to running with her. She's *slowly* becoming a part of our family but it hasn't been without resistance. I made a promise that we would keep our original single BOB forever. That one is truly Miss Mak's favorite and holds an even dearer place in my heart. And after losing Ol' Blue...we've learned our lesson. 

You know it's bad when you're looking back at summer vacation photos and your daughter doesn't say "I miss grandma and grandpa" but she does say "I REALLY miss that stroller". 

Miss Mak wasn't too thrilled on our first run with Ruby

When I told Miss Mak WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT that we had the chance to try out a brand new single stroller (the NEW BOB Blaze!) you would have thought I run over her dog. She thought it meant that her Single was being replaced and I was the horrible person doing it. I promised that "Blaze" would never take the place of "Bob" but that he's just a cooler, newer faster stroller that we get to use too! That made her jump for joy! 

It's been super fun adding "Blaze" to our stroller family. It's the first NEW running stroller we've ever had and he's oh, so fancy! I haven't been able to test out his full speed capacity (hello preggo!) but I can tell he's FAST! The fixed front wheel takes a bit of adjustment for me, but on straight shots I love how it rides! The girls love him too and I can tell it will be a competition for who gets to ride in him. I have a feeling though, that good ol' Bob will still always be a family favorite. With Blaze's adjustable handlebar I'm hoping I can get my tall hubby behind the wheel one day too! I'm gonna need his help getting 3 kids around the neighborhood anyways so I guess I'll let him push the fancy one. We're already begging Grandpa (the original family stroller runner) to come visit and put some miles on him too! 

It's safe to say they are big fans!

This strange connections with strollers is one I never expected to experience when I first started stroller running. I think it's such a symbol of our strength and our journey as mothers. Stroller running is hard. But moms...it's 100% worth it.

​And word to the wise: don't sell a stroller you love. I've cried like 5 times writing this post. 

The BOB Blaze was given to me by BOB to review. I ALWAYS speak my mind and only promote products I use and LOVE! 
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