BOB Ironman stroller with Infant Car Seat Adapter--Not safe to run???!!!

are you sure the warning applies to the baby?  it could apply to the runner and have been written by a couch potato. 

I'd be shocked if you called them and they said it was just an overly protective warning our lawyers made up write.  Rather, I would ask them WHY the warning is in there, maybe when running there is an increase chance of tipping over or something like that.

As for why they sell this, I've seen people use running strollers as regular strollers, so they can sell it as a regular use stroller as well as a running stroller.

Well, being the impatient person I am, I called a local running shop that sells the BOBs and I asked them. Basically the concern is not so much for tipping the stroller, but for vibrations/jostling that can happen if you're running on rough surfaces. And since BOB can't account for the amount of cradling/protection that every car seat provides, the warning is there. His guidance was to use common sense and not go running on unfavorable surfaces--stick to paved paths, avoid sidewalks, etc.

Feeling a little better about things, I took the stroller out for a 3-mile walk/run loop around our subdivision, and what I learned was that it's all about the surface. I used our Graco SnugRide car seat with the head support and a little extra padding around the head (as I learned in car seat class). On sidewalks or the beaten-up portions of the walk/run path, the ride was pretty bumpy. Nothing extreme, but there was some definite head movement. On the better-kept sections and parts of the streets that had an extra lane that was marked as a shoulder, it was smooth sailing regardless of whether I was walking or running.

 Either way, I learned that 1. the surface you run on is key, 2. that I'm going to get quite a bit stronger on the hills now that I'm pushing my daughter around in the BOB, and 3. Whatever amount of vibration/bumps I encountered it wasn't enough to wake up my daughter.

It's definitely about the surface, I was running with my 8 week old in the BOB without the car seat adapter, with Doctor approval of course.  It's also about your baby's head control.

As for getting stronger wait until you get the double BOB and your pushing a 4 and 3 year old, awesome.  My avatar is how I roll.

yeah - there is something to the power of running with a stroller.

I did a 5K a few years ago with a hellacious half mile straight uphill climb.  I busted a nut getting to the hill, struggled up the hill and some dude pushing his son in a stroller goes flying by me up the hill.

Then again, HE was in shape (unlike me) 

x2 that is the whole deal, once they have that head control you are good to go

Thanks so much for posting this.  We bought the BOB Ironman and the car seat adapter for the same car seat you use.  I'm excited about getting out for a run as soon as I can after having my baby in 3.5 weeks!  I'm glad to hear that it worked just fine on smoother surfaces.  I'll be looking for paths like that.

Congratulations on your baby and keep on running with her!!!

 Well, after asking around a bit more and agonizing over the decision quite a bit, I arrived at a couple decisions-- First, I'll probably wait till at least 8 weeks to run with my daughter, just to be on the safe side. Second, I've actually returned the BOB in favor of a bit more tri-friendly option, the Chariot Cougar 1. It's a modular carrier that works as a trailer and a running stroller (or hiking carrier, or XC ski trailer!) and, unlike Burley's trailers, they look like someone actually thought about the design of the running kit. The cool red/white/silver will match my P2C nicely too.

 Just a thought if you're a triathlete and looking around....

owl_girl - 2009-03-16 2:10 PM Hmmmm.  I might have to check that thing out.  I've been leary of buying something that is convertable between a bike carrier and running stroller.  I'm of the opinion that something has been left out in the conversion.  Let me know how it works!

 I definitely will. The advantage of the Chariot (in my mind and from the reviews I've read) for running, especially with an infant, is that 1. it's completely enclosed and the windows afford some UV protection, 2. The center of gravity is MUCH lower than the BOB w/car seat (assuming the use of the Chariot Infant Sling), 3. the 20" wheels and cushy suspension would make for a bit smoother ride, and 4. less clutter in the garage.

All the reviews I read seem to support the idea that Chariot is something of a gold standard when it comes to these things, so we'll see. I have yet to read anything bad at all about the running and cycling configurations.

The XC ski attachment, though made me wonder-- you could make a little catamaran that you could haul behind you while swimming....