Dad unexpectedly runs record-breaking mile while pushing his daughter in a pram

As Stephen Biebelhausen (USA) stood on the start line of the Guardian Mile – an annual race across the Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland, Ohio, USA – he hoped to surpass the course record of 4 min 44 sec.

Yet, he didn’t think it was possible to claim the overall world record too.

However, as Stephen has experienced in his career as an emergency room doctor, incredible things can happen… and they sure did on this day!

In 4 min 17.784 sec, he achieved the fastest mile pushing a pram (male), accompanied by his one-year-old daughter, Blake.

He shaved nearly 10 seconds off the previous record, which was set by Silas Frantz and his son Otto in Arroyo Grande, California, USA, on 24 June 2025.

Stephen told GWR: “I never thought I would do something like this. Even after about a month, I am still surprised by everything that happened.

“I went into it just wanting to have fun and wanting my daughter to have fun, so that was the only real goal.

“The course record of 4 min 44 sec seemed pretty obtainable, so that was also on the back of my mind, but the world record I thought was way out of reach.”

Stephen completed the first 400 m (1,312 ft 4 in) in just 65 sec! By 2 min 12 sec, he had hit the halfway point.

“I did know what [the world record] was as I had looked it up out of curiosity beforehand, so when I got to the halfway mark in under that time, I realized I had to start pushing a little harder and really dip under it.”

Running has always had a special place in Stephen’s heart.

“I think I just really enjoy the simplicity of it,” he shared. “All you need is a path and some running shoes.

“It's time to get away, reset and recharge from a pretty chaotic and fast-moving world.

“Adding Blake to the mix definitely makes the mental side of going for a run much easier since she is laughing and giggling most of the time and it's fun to see.”

The 30-year-old dad admitted that running with the stroller is a little harder physically, yet it’s worth it every time.

“She gets so happy when we put the stroller in the car or pull into one of our running spots; makes the sting in the legs a little less when you hear her laughing.”

Read more stories about record-breaking athletes in our dedicated Sports & Fitness section.

Stephen usually goes for three or four easy runs with Blake each week.

As for training before the Guardian Mile, there wasn’t much more to it than that.

“I did one workout at mile speed the week before just to make sure she enjoyed going that fast and I felt safe doing it. Then, we showed up to the race!”

Stephen’s wife, Meghan Biebelhausen, proudly supported the father-daughter duo from the sidelines.

“At the end of the race when I went to meet Stephen and Blake, he threw his hands up and I knew then that he got the world record,” she said. “I was in shock but so excited for them both.

“It is a great story to tell Blake as she gets older.”