Yes, I am a runner! This entire time I have been wondering what the difference is between a runner and a jogger. I thought there must be a set mph you have to run/jog at to be considered either. I felt like a runner the last time I wogged but I still thought I needed to meet some standard. I decided to google the difference between the two today and found some interesting results.
Apparently, jogging started as as term used in Britain in the 1700's to describe individuals who would go on brisk walks. It wasn't defined by a pace, goal, or distance. It was more like leisurely walking at a somewhat fast pace but just walking. In the 1960's and 1970's the definition of jogging seemed to take on the definition of recreational running for fitness without competition, distance, pace, or goals. Jogging was less serious and less arduous than running. It was just something to describe getting in shape. These days it seems the line as been clearly drawn between the runners and the joggers. Running is tagged as more of a competitive activity be it competition with others, yourself, or a cause.
There are some people who even draw the line at a certain pace when jogging. I, myself, before having googled it assumed that anything over 5mph had to be running because it felt like it to me. Professional runners and athletes have drawn the line at 6mph, 8mph, or even 10mph! Some people have said it is an an 8-minute mile (and here I was proud of myself for getting to a 12-minute mile...). From what I am seeing for the most part, anything above a 10 minute mile is a considered running. Some runners even get offended when someone says they are jogging. Jogging has been made out to be some pansy activity to describe people are not serious enough about running.
Some Doctor named George Sheehan, a running expert and professional, has a famous quote that says, the difference between runners and joggers is a race number. I like this guy's way of thinking. Why should joggers feel any less serious or active because they don't meet someone's standard of running? In fact, it turns out that most runners have their own idea about the difference between running and jogging and there is no official difference between the two from any organization. I understand why runners feel this, especially after all the hard work, intense training, time and money invested, etc. And sure, you have to run at some sort of great pace to be considered an Olympic athlete but it is not the goal of every runner to reach such a status. I see the reason for a desire to clearly want to draw a line in the sand, I am just not sure if it's the most encouraging and welcoming method out there.
I wondered at what distance, at what pace, would I be able to stamp myself as a runner. The truth is a felt like a runner earlier this week and in seeking confirmation on the internet for this, I discovered something even bigger. I discovered that when a person feels like a runner, that person is a runner. There is no one out there that needs to tell you that you are that you are not. The elitist runner community will burn the same amount of calories as someone who walks or jogs the same distance. Meaning, you can complete your marathon in 3 hours or 10 hours. The point is, you both did the same thing. Sure, those lower times are pretty impressive. Those people set a standard for running. They olympians and supreme athletes. They should be respected and admired in the way same other runners are respected. They should be admired but not the end all of running and jogging differences.
I felt so great about my run today. I didn't even run into a wall which I thought would happen every time during running. I felt like I could keep going. I thought, if today were the half marathon I could do it! Lol, well, I am truthfully far from that but I didn't have anything blocking me. I didn't have me blocking me. Today was also the first time I ran while listening to music. I chose Led Zeppelin and Van Halen because I thought, good running music, intense but not overwhelming, and well, easy listening. I got into every song. Those songs are so long too that it made time go by! Whenever I am on a treadmill, I cover my time and distance with a towel. For some reason, it's too mentally distracting for me. I just like to go and don't like to put pressure on myself to get to the next minute, speed level, incline, or mile.
Today was different though. I didn't look at my time for the first three miles but after that, I didn't seem to care. I didn't feel the normal pressure I feel when I see my time and distance. It was a great feeling! I learned so much! There is something amazing about saying I am runner. It makes me feel like no distance is too great, no speed is too slow or too fast, no pain is too mild or too intense. Sweating glory. Uphill is power. Breathing is living. Running is a wonderful mind, body, and soul activity that I excited to take part in at this time in my life. Running is free! It is exactly what I need and want. Today I ran. Today I am a runner!
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