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Runner versus Jogger

While I was running today, a guy told his young son to "look out for the jogger". I corrected him!

Was that wrong of me????

Comments

  •  Were you being passed by the son?

  • Thankfully, No! But that's a great question!!!!
  • How did you correct him? Was it matter-of-fact or indignant?

  • Ahhh no sweat. That's just your ego popping up it's little indignant head. It happens. What really matters, in the end, is that we truly believe the only thing that counts is our opinion of ourselves. I'd rather know for sure that I am kind, fair, a good wife/mother/friend, and a person with integrity. Jogger? Wouldn't even register on my radar.

  • I had something similar happen to me a few weeks ago. I was on my bike climbing a hill and passed a guy suffering a little more than me. I looked down and saw he was riding a single speed. I ask him if he really liked riding a single speed in the mountains. He quickly corrected me, "It's a fixed gear, not a single speed." Oh la la, well, it looks like a bike to me.
  • I can remember feeling very proud when I was able to convince myself, some years ago, after I'd done a few races, I felt I was no longer a "fast jogger", but one of the "slower runners" when I competed. It meant a lot to my athletic self-image. Some one who doesn't know the distinction, making a comment about me, is not going to affect what I think about myself. Now, if the comment had come from one of my running buddies ...

    The same thing happens almost daily among my co-workers and casual friends; they always want to know when I'm going to do another "marathon" (never), or if I'm still 'biking a lot"  (uhh, sure.) I've stopped trying to tell people I'm not a biker or a runner or a swimmer, but rather a triathlete. Similar is dealing with the question, "which event is your best, or do you like best?" Explaining it's ONE event, not three, and I worry about my total time, not how well I do in any one part, just takes too much nuance. Like asking a baseball player, "which inning do you like best?"

  • For most people who have never ran, there is no difference between a jogger and a runner. They often use them interchangably.
    Either one is doing more exercise then the average couch potato though.
  • I thought "runners" were those pieces of carpet that you put down the middle of the stairs?

    Someone not that long ago asked me if I was one of them "exercise fanatics".  Seemed like a nice enough old/fat/smoking guy...I just told him Yes.  

     

     

     

  • Heck, I'd be thrilled just to hear the "look out for the ....." shout out. A parent telling a kid to pay attention to what is going on around him? Golden as far as I'm concerned!

    That said, I also remember the sense of pride I had when I finished my first race and a fellow competitor congratulated me saying "now you are a runner". It was one of those moments I'll treasure forever.
  • Usually I am asked to get in the van because the volunteers want to go home

  • Ron Burgundy: Oop... I almost forgot. I won't be able to make it fellas. Veronica and I trying this new fad called uh, jogging. I believe it's jogging or yogging. it might be a soft j. I'm not sure but apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild.

  • It was a joyful reply that involved bit of running backwards with my arms in the air in mocking incredulity. The cool thing about Madison is that it’s filled with people who respect athletes. And how could I not be happy? I’m off for the next 3 ½ months! Even endorphins don’t make me feel that happy!

    @Steven, I laughed out loud!
  • I guess I'm just weird because I feel the need to categorize things in my life, so my definition for the last decade or so has been this:

    Running: Set distance over variable time
    Jogging: Set time over variable distance

    At one point I used to associate running with speed, and I've had hyper runners "correct" me but whatever.

    I'm with Nemo though, having a parent actually make a child aware that they must be aware of their surroundings and impact on others is freaking gold!
  • Runner - anyone who will go outside and run when the snow is coming down sideways regardless of speed (me when I lived in Wisconsin, Ohio, etc).

    Jogger - someone who spends the winter thinking that the need to go out and run, but will wait for a nice day...and then probably postpone to another day.
  • At mile 12 of this weekend's HIM a young spectator to me: "Way to bring it in, Gramps."
    I'm 49. I must have been jogging.
  • The same thing happens almost daily among my co-workers and casual friends; they always want to know when I'm going to do another "marathon" (never), or if I'm still 'biking a lot" (uhh, sure.) I've stopped trying to tell people I'm not a biker or a runner or a swimmer, but rather a triathlete. Similar is dealing with the question, "which event is your best, or do you like best?" Explaining it's ONE event, not three, and I worry about my total time, not how well I do in any one part, just takes too much nuance. Like asking a baseball player, "which inning do you like best?"

    I can so relate to this, Al! Everyone thinks I'm a marathoner.
  • Posted By chris malone on 11 May 2010 05:20 AM

    At mile 12 of this weekend's HIM a young spectator to me: "Way to bring it in, Gramps."

    I'm 49. I must have been jogging.



    LMAO.  Chris- I can't wait to spend a week listening to your wise cracks.  Hoping the laughter will get me up all those hills!

  • I think of jogging as running slower than my LRP/EP. Therefore it is individual and completely relative to your current fitness.

    The first 6 miles of an IM run I jog, the rest of the year I run.

    In other words, Ryan Hall and Meb jog at a pace that most of us could only dream of running at :-)
  • Very funny,

          Enjoying some down time after the Rev3 1/2 this weekend and these posts reminded me of a lady doing the olympic race and she was headed in the other direction finishing her run.  she was kinda speed walking and come to find out after my race, she won her age group at 78.  Bad ass!!  So I say, those folks can call it whatever they want,   if  I make it to 78, I don't care what they call me, I just hope I'm still vertical.  At the end of my run in the 1/2, I'm not sure what they would have called me the way I must have looked but I wish they would have called me a cab.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  • Velour track suit = Jogger

    Robert Cheruiyot = Runner

    I'd like to think we're a bit closer to Robert than to the tracksuit...
  • @Kitima - so with the outfit that he wears, what category does Faris al Sultan fall into? 

  • Posted By Tony Stocker on 11 May 2010 10:00 AM

    @Kitima - so with the outfit that he wears, what category does Faris al Sultan fall into? 



    Once you win Kona, you can wear whatever you want and nobody can really say anything.

  • Posted By Cary Blanco on 11 May 2010 10:06 AM
    Posted By Tony Stocker on 11 May 2010 10:00 AM

    @Kitima - so with the outfit that he wears, what category does Faris al Sultan fall into? 



    Once you win Kona, you can wear whatever you want and nobody can really say anything.

    Darn it!!! I thought I could do that after I finished an Ironman.  There is always someone tougher isn't there?!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Posted By Tony Stocker on 11 May 2010 10:00 AM

    @Kitima - so with the outfit that he wears, what category does Faris al Sultan fall into? 

    Doode's rocking the speedo & half-singlet combo that Luc Van Lierde used to...Hmmm. He'd be a Supa Hot Tri Runner.



     

  • Or, maybe they were waiting for the kid's wicked fast Mom, so they thought you were jogging.  

  • Posted By chris malone on 11 May 2010 05:20 AM

    At mile 12 of this weekend's HIM a young spectator to me: "Way to bring it in, Gramps."

    I'm 49. I must have been jogging.

    Sorry Chris I laughed at this one. You will have to pick it up next time at mile 11.

     I remember being 10 at my grandmothers and she was 55.  I thought she was ancient.  Now at 38 I'm like uranium, at half life.  Males live to around 76 give or take so half life.  Totally unrealted story my friends wife was offended last week when someone called her ma'am.  She's 33 I believe.  I told he to a 16 year old she is ma'am.  Needless to say I did not win any points with that comment.  It's all relative.

     

    Gordon

  • what a fun thread. 

    I think Paul H summed up my thoughts - if someone is out there when it's raining or snowing or sleeting, they're running.  Those who are on a treadmill when it's 60 and sunny (PERFECT outside running weather), well, not only are they nuts, they're joggers.

    @Chris - If I can crawl up a hill at your age I'd be thrilled to call myself a jogger. 

    @Steven - LOL... I needed that! 

  • It has taken me a long time to think of myself as a runner and not a jogger. My distinction is similar to others. But my family, all non exercisers, have no idea, so I don't bother. I'm just glad that they stopped telling everyone I was crazy because I was always exercising. Yeah- they also can't make the distinction between exercise and training.
    Last fall- goofing around doing DVD exercises (P90X and Get Insanity!) that was exercise. Just something to do so I didn't get too fat. Training is very focused on a goal. Doesn't have to be a race, just something you set out to try and achieve. Not the "try to be healthier" ephemeral goal so many hope to achieve but don't really try to do.
  • As the late, great George Sheehan once wrote..."The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank."
  • The late, great running philosopher, Dr. George Sheehan defined the change from jogger to runner as occurring on the day one filled out his/her first race entry form.

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