Thirty years of running together: mothers who run with strollers in Runner’s World magazine 1993–2022

The popularity of distance running has increased dramatically since the 1960s and 1970s. Alongside that popularity has been an increased potential for inclusion, with one especially visible cohort being parents who run with their infants or young children in strollers. Focusing on the popular lifestyle magazine Runner’s World over the 30-year period 1993–2022, this article seeks to understand the discursive construction of the stroller-pushing runner-mother. It argues that mothers who align with conventional conceptions of the ‘good mother’, managing their athletic engagement independently while parenting and making no demands on the running community, are valorized by the magazine. However, those who do make demands to inclusion in community events, such as in races or club meetups, are subject to more complex and often negative representations. This article highlights the limits of inclusivity in running communities and the importance of recognizing mothers as a unique cohort in sporting cultures.