When Neely Spence Gracey discovered there was a world record to be held for the fastest mile run while pushing a stroller (with a child inside), she relished the prospect of chasing it. As a lifelong professional runner and mother to two young sons, goal-setting was second nature – and she was pretty sure she had already beaten the record anyway.
“Last summer, I saw someone had broken the men’s stroller mile record, and out of curiosity … I looked up (the women’s),” Gracey said. “I was like, ‘I’m pretty sure I’ve already done that, just running around my neighborhood with my kids.’”
She made it official on June 30 at Englewood High School, with her helmeted son Rome riding, breaking the previous mark — held by Sally Onn of the U.K — by over 30 seconds. Her new record is 5 minutes and 24.17 seconds. But the actual process of applying for and verifying a Guinness World Record is a lengthy one. It required plenty of paperwork, the presence of USA Track & Field officials and video evidence to verify the length of the track, system of the timing, and legitimacy of the witnesses to her feat. For Gracey, all that work was a no-brainer and a shining opportunity to showcase a combined love for her sport and her family.
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