NatNews

Each year, more than 4 million strollers are sold in the United States. It’s easy for individuals without young children to take for granted being able to run with two free hands and no added weight to push, but stroller runners know the lifestyle all too well. Stephanie Hone, mother of an 11-month-old, knows that the difficulties she endures are worth the trouble, though.

“Although running up hills isn’t easy, and I definitely don’t run my PR while pushing a stroller, I like to know that I’m modeling for my daughter what strength, health, and endurance look like,” Hone said.

And while many strollers have become much more runner-friendly, there are still challenges for those who bring their kids along for the ride.

“Some people make it look easy, but it’s hard,” Kyle Ary, who has been running with the WRRC for almost three years, said. “It’s heavier than it looks, and you don’t take it into account when a kid throws a toy off, and you have to go back and get it.”

Hone has a solution for that, though.

“She gets a two-toy-drop limit, and then it goes under the stroller,” she said.

Other than flying objects, there’s one other concern runners have when pushing a human while knocking out some miles.

“You know, you’re kind of embarrassed to post to your Strava because of your times,” Ary said. “You always have to post a caption that you’re running with your stroller so that people don’t judge you.”

Regardless of whether or not stroller runners are posting paces they’re proud to display, one thing is certain: they’re still doing something they love (or at least sort of like) while spending time with their precious little ones. 

“It’s a whole other animal,” Ary said, “but you’ve got to get your miles in, and you do what you do.”

Since the first iPhone became available in June 2007, cell phone users across the world have differed in opinion on whether or not the Apple product is superior to all other mobile devices.

According to GSMA Intelligence—which is used around the world and provides mobile industry insights, forecasts, and research—there are 5.32 billion unique mobile phone users in the world today. Additionally, the number of smartphones used by individuals worldwide is growing annually at a rate of 5.7 percent, with an average of nearly 1 million new smartphones entering the picture every day.

With such an expansive number of mobile devices being utilized on a regular basis, individuals have a variety of options from which to choose. As a result, an ongoing controversy exists between iPhone users and non-iPhone users regarding which type of phone is of overall better quality. For those who own iPhones, an integral component in this debate is one that may seem small but often has significant impact on communication and—in some instances—even relationships: green text bubbles.

Upon receiving a text message from a new contact and seeing it come through in a green bubble, many iPhone users experience a deep sense of disappointment.

“You just know it’s going to be difficult to communicate,” White Rock Running Co-op admin Julie Lanaux said.

One of these difficulties arises in group text threads. If there’s one Android user, all of the text bubbles are green, and reactions to messages become separate messages themselves rather than simply tacking onto the original message. According to WRRC IT guru and Android user Josh Odegard, Google fixed this issue for those without iPhones, but he doesn’t see the same solution pacifying Apple customers anytime soon, and he doesn’t think that those who send texts in green bubbles are the ones to blame.

“It’s not the Android user’s fault—it’s Apple’s fault,” he said. “Apple refuses to let users customize their apps. Apple also refuses to work with every other phone manufacturer in the world when it comes to messaging.”

Regardless, some individuals find texts from Android users to be an immediate turnoff—and WRRC members are not immune to these feelings.

“Dating red flag: green bubbles,” Jacky Bonilla, WRRC admin, said.

Odegard, however, is not concerned with the bitterness that iPhone users feel when he disgruntles Apple customers or changes the dynamics of the group text.

“To all iPhone users who complain about a ‘poor person’ in the group chat,” he said, “just remember 2 things: 1. Blame Apple. 2. I laugh at your misery, and your tears are delicious!”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Julie + Rue Lanaux enjoy an afternoon at Mutt's