Julia Reid-Howell Breaks World Record for Fastest 1 km Stroller Run
March 17, 2026
Meet Julia Reid-Howell! Julia is a runner and new mom from Fredericton, who just recently set the Guinness World Record for the fastest stroller kilometre.
On February 28, supporters gathered at the Gagetown Fitness Centre in Oromocto to watch Julia and her 17-month-old daughter Winnie attempt to beat the record. They finished with a time of 3:17, which beats the current record by 18 seconds.
While they wait for confirmation from Guinness World Records, we chatted with Julia about the attempt and her experience leading up to it.
Can you tell us a bit about how the record attempt came to be? Where did the idea come from, and what motivated you to attempt it?
The idea came at the end of last year’s race season; I completed a 5k ParkRun at the local Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge ParkRun with my toddler in the stroller, and surprised myself with how fast I was able to go without truly pushing myself. From there, I decided to try again and get another 5k Stroller PB. After almost breaking 20 minutes (which is now a new goal for me), I began looking into world record times for fastest stroller runs by females. I knew that there were such records, as I heard about a father in Toronto trying to get the Fastest Marathon with a stroller in the fall, as well as reading about the Fastest 1 Mile Record (male). This sent me down a rabbit hole of searching specific distances and times, landing me on the 1k, which was currently 3:35.14, set by a woman named Sally Onn in France. I felt that breaking that time was achievable with my current fitness and gave me something to work towards, since I did not have any races planned for a few months. When I shared my idea with my teammates and coach, they encouraged me to sign up and try it, telling me they would support me in any way possible!
What did the training and preparation look like leading up to it?
My coach recommended a training break for November and December, to focus on building mileage and easy runs. This allowed me to take my daughter on stroller runs more often than I had been, which gave me time to get used to the feeling of going fast, and practicing keeping constant contact with the handle as well as switching hands. I then incorporated one speed session into my week with the stroller. If the weather was nice, we would go outside; if not, we would run on the track at Grant Harvey or the Base Fitness Centre’s indoor track in Oromocto. We would also meet with friends once a week for a run outside. My daughter would wear her goggles to protect her eyes from the cold air, and I would put her in a winter bunting bag; she loved taking in all of the scenery and getting fresh air, as well as socializing with our friends!
My speed sessions would consist of interval training, running at my 1k goal pace or quicker. An example of a workout with the stroller would be: 10-minute warm-up, 6 x 200 at 35 seconds, 2 x 400m at 1:20, 1 x 600m at 2:05, 10-minute cool-down. My daughter especially enjoyed these speed sessions. I would ask her if she wanted to go fast, and she’d always reply with “yah!” and clap!
Was there a moment from the race that stood out to you as especially memorable?
What stood out most from my 1k record attempt was looking down and seeing how happy my daughter was; she clapped, kicked and laughed the entire time…I have that image engraved in my memory, and it brings me such joy! Another key factor for that day was the support I was given from my team and husband, who were there to help in any way possible, as well as friends and family who cheered virtually, via Facebook Live.
How has becoming a mom influenced your relationship with physical activity? Have you had to make any changes or adaptations?
There have been many changes and adaptations since becoming a mom, physically and mentally, and I definitely have a deeper appreciation and love for running and exercise. The recovery from a C-Section was a big eye-opener for me; slowing things down and easing back into physical activity was not the easiest task, but an important one.
Another factor that many people may not talk about is breastfeeding while being an athlete; ensuring that I was well-hydrated, eating enough nutrient dense food and more calories than I would usually (especially as a vegetarian), and planning runs or workouts between nursing sessions or that there was pumped milk readily available for my husband to give to her while I was at a team practice or out for a long run or race.
I believe that incorporating my daughter into our physical activities, such as family walks, hikes in nature, biking, skating and running, not only is bonding for us as a family, but shows her that we can do these things together and hopefully, I can be a role model for her in this aspect of life – showing her that women can continue pursuing dreams and staying active after becoming a mom!
What advice would you give to other moms who are looking to incorporate physical activity into their busy lives?
I understand that every birth and postpartum recovery is unique to each individual, and not all moms are able to find the time or have the support to stay physically active. As a first-time mom, there was a lot of trial and error and finding what worked best for us as a family unit. For me, that meant going for lots of stroller walks, often taking our two dogs, running on the treadmill when my baby napped, lifting weights while she played in her play yard beside me, and once she was old enough, she started joining me for runs in the stroller in late April early May (when she was around 6 months old).
I began training with my running club, the Fredericton V-MAXXERS, again once a week at 4 months postpartum. This was my main “social outing”, and I always look forward to that time. I think it is so important to continue doing what brings you happiness, whether that is incorporating your baby into the activity or taking some time on your own, even if it is just 30 minutes. I think mothers often feel guilty for choosing themselves over their children in this sense, but I know that running in postpartum helped my mental health immensely, and I could be a better version of myself for my baby afterwards. There are so many programs available in Fredericton for new moms and babies to attend… and attending these is a great way to meet new moms who are trying to or want to start to get active in this new stage of life while bonding with their babies.
What’s next for you (and Winnie)?
I started work again this week, and Winnie is full-time at daycare, so we are adjusting to this new phase! I hope to continue running with her as often as I can, and once the trails are clear, try to PB my stroller 5k time. Looking forward to warmer weather and spending lots of time outdoors.
