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Photo by Skip Lawrence
Mike Wardian pushes son Pierce Miler, 9 months, across the finish line in record time during the Frederick Marathon on Sunday. |
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A new Guinness World Record was set Sunday at the Frederick Marathon. Michael Wardian of Arlington, Va., is now the fastest person to run a marathon while pushing a baby in a stroller.Wardian, 33, pushed his 10-month-old son Pierce Miler in a stroller and crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 42 minutes and 21 seconds, breaking a record set in 2004. Trying to catch his breath after finishing the 26.2 mile course, he said, "It was bonkers." Wardian, who won the last two Frederick Marathons, finished third overall this year. He has also qualified for the 2008 Olympic marathon trials in New York City in November. The wind was unbelievably strong, Wardian said, wearing a number 1 on his runner's bib. His son's bib bore a number 2. The race was a challenge; he had never run a marathon with the stroller and the plastic windshield on the stroller caught air like a parachute, he said. "It was brutal. It was one of the hardest races I've ever done." Wardian runs about 100 miles every week to strengthen his endurance. He did a practice run with the stroller before the race. He said he wanted to run a marathon pushing a stroller when he saw Michal Kapral set the record in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2004. He decided if he ever had a child he would go for it. If his wife hadn't supported his crazy ideas, he said, he might not have broken the record. Jennifer Wardian said she is proud of her husband's accomplishments. "I was so nervous," she said. "I knew Mike could do it." Jennifer said the stroller's windshield sheltered their baby and kept him warm and cozy during the race. "He took a 13-mile nap," she said, holding Pierce after Mike finished the race. "Hopefully, he still has a dry diaper." She said they woke the baby about 4 a.m. Sunday and fed him a big breakfast. After the marathon, Mike let his son wear the medal. "It feels great," Mike said of his world record. "I was able to just keep pushing." The winds during the last six miles on Elmer Derr and New Design roads were the worst, he said. "I felt like I was going to pass out. That hill at mile 25 was awful." The downhills helped, but only a little. He said the record is for his son. "He was beautiful. He was fantastic." Wardian still holds the course record for the Frederick Marathon, 2:26:42, which he set last year.
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