Father and 4-Year-Old Daughter Break Stroller Marathon Record

After Calum Neff set the stroller half marathon world record with his 11-month-old daughter Holland in February, his next goal was to go for the record at 26.2 miles.

Though the load he had to push was a little heavier, Neff and his 4-year-old daughter Alessandra claimed the stroller marathon world record this past weekend at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:31:21—more than 10 minutes faster than the previous official Guinness world record. The record title is “Fastest marathon pushing a pram (male).”

“It is really unbelievable still—especially to break both world records in the same year,” Neff, 32, told Runner’s World by phone. “My friends joke that I am defining myself as this ‘stroller guy.’”

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Neff’s goal going into the race was to be faster than 2:32. There was an unofficial stroller marathon world record set in 2009 at the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Zac Freudenburg, who ran a time of 2:32:10. However, the record was never officially recognized by Guinness world records. (Michael Wardian set the previous official Guinness Record in 2007 in a time of 2:42:21.)

“I knew the 2:32 record was out there, even though it is not officially recognized. I wanted there to be no question [I broke the record],” Neff said.

Having officials from Guinness world records present at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and Half Marathon made the usual rigorous process of confirming a record much simpler for Neff. When he broke the stroller half marathon record in February, he said there was a ton of paperwork, statements, and video submissions needed in order to confirm his record.

In fact, five additional world records were set during the weekend with officials on hand, including: fastest half marathon dressed as a chef (male, 2:23:43), fastest half marathon dressed in motocross gear (female, 2:14:34), fastest half marathon dressed as a swimmer (male, 1:47:50), fastest half marathon dressed in a suit (female, 1:42:42), and the fastest marathon dressed as a chef (male, 3:56:21).

Even though it rained for the first half hour of the race, and a headwind in the last 10K was strong, Neff was surprised at how well the race went overall.

“Alessandra really kept to herself throughout the race, which isn’t typical for her,” Neff said. “She was still asking questions here and there, but not as much as usual—she let me concentrate more during this race. I actually had to ask her for encouragement at times because she was so quiet.”

Alessandra had all the necessary provisions along—snacks, water, a camera given to her by Neff’s mother to take pictures, stroller cover—to keep her busy. In total with Alessandra, the stroller, and the supplies, the total weight of pushing the stroller was around 60 pounds. Neff said it would have been nice to be able to bring Holland, now 1 year old, so the stroller could have weighed about 15 pounds less.

However, he and his wife, Julie Neff, decided the longer race was too much for a child that small—Alessandra was the better candidate for comfort reasons and because she would actually be able to remember the experience.

“Our number one priority is that the girls are safe, happy, and comfortable,” Calum Neff said.

The race had sentimental value to Calum and Julie’s family. Julie’s mother, Judy Kozak, is currently fighting cancer for the third time. Calum dedicated the race to Judy and Alessandra.

Calum began training for the marathon toward the end of August and would run with the stroller, with one or both of the girls, about three times a week. (See his training plan for running with a stroller below).

With two world records under his belt, Calum still doesn’t think he is done attempting stroller records. He and his wife are expecting their third daughter in March 2017, and he plans on attempting to set a 5K or 10K stroller record with the newest addition to their family some day.

“We are very excited. I will have to dream up something else for her,” he said.