Baby, What a Workout! Are you fitter than a two-year-old?

Just Strolling (?) Having nearly completed the biking portion of my workout on a Sunday morning, I had already encountered umpteen numbers of young adults pushing strollers (which were presumably occupied), some a fast-paced walk while others at speeds that the occupants apparently called for ("faster daddy!"), presumably after checking their seatbelts. An increasing trend the past several years (neither prompted nor limited by the pandemic), reflected in part by the types of strollers being marketed to parents (as well as grands trying to stay in shape, come to think of it), so parents are able to sustain fitness and simultaneously feel like they are spending time with their youngsters (who can at least see them in their rearview or back-up mirrors, if well equipped)..."If I don't have time to work out and my kid needs a walk or nap, why not enjoy pushing them in a stroller while they can see the world whizz by"--similar, I would guess, to the folks who run or race walk with Fido...Which in turn prompted me to briefly (as I was just a mile or so from home now) reflect on the whole range of feat of feet that occur daily for parents in and around their home, their own...

Baby Olympics, Parent Pentathlon! In addition to the stroller roller, there's the 'multi-tasking, trying to feed junior while on a phone or zoom call', a back-and-forth event that will burn more cals and strain more muscles than a competitive tennis match...the 'disposable diaper dash', chasing down the child who is sagging while you are lagging, a couple more hundred cals burned and worth whatever aerobic points your fit bit indicates...and the 'duo event of wrestling with your cherub(s) to first get into the car seat and then out' of the very contraption they fought you to stay out of in the first place -- if your clothes that you hoped would look decent on zoom weren't a mess before this...Well, you get the idea, it's a target rich environment, a whole range of Olympic feats that rival those about to occur in Tokyo (so far) in a few days. I'm sure you can all add enough events to make this a decathlon and beyond. And, for those who are what the folks on the "doctor radio channel" this AM referred to as "child free" or those who have 'outgrown' the parenting years, there's still an unlimited set of opportunities found in...

Baby, sitting (?!) Hardly, at least if they are a toddler or beyond, as research has shown (by such organizations as "Growing Up Milk"😃), for example, that "Toddlers' constantly running around burns equivalent to 83 rounds in the boxing ring or an entire marathon"...EVERY DAY! Yep, as much exercise if you, the babysitter, were to do 249 minutes in the boxing ring, ran 30 miles, or cycled 82 miles at 12-14 mph...studies have replicated, sometimes even having very fit athletes trying in turn to replicate, how a toddler's daily antics rival adults climbing just under two miles...or roughly equivalent to about 300 hours of soccer, or a rowing session of six hours or so...So, no wonder you are exhausted, as you just enjoyed the company of one or more of the real 'jet set', those who are "blessed with boundless energy". 

Going for Gold: So give yourself some credit, if your fit bit didn't already and don't be afraid to...try this at home! In the meantime, in honor of all you unheralded athletes who won't have time to watch the '2020' Olympics because you, yourself, are in your own steeple chase after one or more children, I offer you my own version of the 2021 Parent Olympic anthem:

"Mommy, you can sure push far" 🎜(sung to the tune of "Baby, you can drive my car"🎝) Enjoy!!!