Difference Between a Runner and a Jogger
As the total number of marathon finishers increases, and the average marathon finishing times get slower and slower, the debate about how slower marathoners are ruining what it means to be a “marathoner” has raged on. To some extent, I understand the viewpoint of those who state that those in the five-hour range or slower are “dirtying” what it means to be a true marathoner. For example, if you say you play baseball and are a baseball player, the understanding is usually that you play in the big leagues and are, at the very least, one of a select few hundreds of people in America that are good enough to play that position. If not, and you just play beer league softball, well, then someone can easily categorize you as such.
However, if one were to scoff at the five-hour marathon finisher the same way we would the guy with the gut and 40 ounce aluminum bat swinging for the fences, they would risk being ostracized for their unenlightened opinions about what it takes to be a true marathoner. I mean, I truly do get it. For people who define themselves by speed, not necessarily everyone should be allowed to call themselves a marathoner. But then we get to the obvious question: where is the line we draw? 4 hours? 3:30? Maybe sub-3? Heck, soon we may have a world record under two hours. Can people only 2:30 and under be real marathoners? They would still be over a minute per mile off the world record. Isn’t that slow and therefore demeaning what the other real marathoners are doing? Obviously, there is not a time goal that fits all criteria for this line of thinking. As such, there has to be a better way to decide what makes a real marathoner, or real runners.
Recently, I was at the Boilermaker 15k in Utica NY. I had the chance to partake in a great conversation with Kevin Hanson of the Hansons-Brooks Distance project. This creation of Kevin and his brother Keith is an Olympic development squad that most recently put Brian Sell into the Olympics as a qualifier in the marathon. Obviously Kevin, who surrounds himself with only the speediest of the speedy, must be disgusted by the plodders out there sullying this wonderful sport, right? Not even close.
Kevin and I came upon jus about the same conclusion and feel that we were able to easily define what the difference is between a runner and a jogger. In our opinion, this difference is having a goal. Not obtaining a goal, not having a fast goal, but plain and simply having a goal. If you are going out to run for a reason and a purpose, with a goal in mind (whether it be to get fit, to get faster, to improve your mental health, etc.) you are, without a doubt, a runner. Sure, hopefully it is a realistic goal or one that is not somewhere on along the lines of “I want to decrease my marathon time by one second” but a goal nonetheless.
Everything else falls into too much of a gray category. What is fast? What is slow? In the end it matters not. It only truly makes a difference if there is reason why you are putting on your shoes. Then, regardless of your time, you have just as much in common with the elites as anyone else.
In my opinion it really comes down to being positive. Everyone has their own set of motivating goals and reasons for putting their shoes on. If it bothers a speedy runner so much when someone who takes 5 hours to complete a marathon calls themself a ‘marathoner’ then maybe the speedy runner isn’t focused on their goals enough. The slower runner isn’t slowing them down or making their finish time look any worse. Whether they know it or not, the speedy runner is a source of motivation for all those behind them…so act accordingly!
Lace up your shoes and go out and challenge yourself to get to new places in your fitness and abilities. If that means you are aiming for a sub-2:30 finish time or just want to finish the race…it is still a success when it is achieved.
Great article Dane.
First or last, it’s the same finish line. A marathon is defined by distance. Cover the distance and you have completed a marathon. What you choose to call yourself after that – marathoner, runner, jogger, Fred, etc. – is up to you.
Let the snobs yammer on about how only the elites are entitled to run races that close major streets and arterials in cities and towns across the country. What should they care that thousands come in behind them? If not for the contributions and support of the masses these road marathons wouldn’t happen at all. The elites don’t own the roads, the communities and people do. If the masses want to fund races, deal with road closures and traffic, pay the taxes to build the roads to begin with etc, then they are entitled to run! The elites should be thanking them for providing them the opportunity and venues for their races as well as the adulation that they recieve from these less talented runners… Besides, many of the runners who cross the line after 5 hours have worked damn hard to do so, perhaps with more effort than an elite glides through his/her sub three. What right does anyone have to say any person should not be there? It sounds very snobby and unappreciative and doesn’t sit well with me at all. Let those folks drink their beer alone…
Great article Dane! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…anyone can run a sub-3 marathon. It takes a REAL athlete to do it in 6 hours : ) If you complete the 26.2 you are a marathoner, regardless of the time it took you to achieve that goal. Although I’d never call myself an elite (nor would anyone else!), I’ve earned the distinction of marathoner and will continue to call myself one.
I realize that the people that complain about slow marathoners not really being marathons must exist because people always say they hear that argument, but I’ve never actually heard somebody that holds that opinion. Personally, I’ve run for almost 8 hours before, so I know how much harder it is to run for 4 or 5 hours versus running for 3 hours. I have a lot of respect for the elite runners, but I have more respect for the folks that are out there for twice as long.
As for the question you ask in the title of the article, George Sheehan offered the best definition and is the one that I go by (not that I discriminate between runners and joggers in the folks I coach, they just have different goals with their running).
George Sheehan said, “The difference between a runner and a jogger is an entry blank.”
Maybe I’m taking this the wrong way, but as a runner who might not have the best time, I’m very hurt by this article. There’s only one real thing to focus on here–the positive. Sure, there are more people running marathons, but isn’t that a GOOD THING?! No longer do you have to be some elite athlete to participate in something that less than 1% of Americans can say they’ve done. And knowing that more people are running and taking care of themselves, isn’t that a great thing to hear?! Not everyone has the guts to do a marathon. I don’t care the time on the clock when I cross the finish line–I care that I finished, that I made a commitment to finish, and that I DID IT. Not many people can say that. ‘Nuf said. omaha-moms.com
We can contest all things in life, but let’s not be absurd in removing the name of the first messenger to run a Marathon; surely, he didn’t run it in the sub-3 hours.
Let’s try to remember history, respect it as much as we can – perhaps then all finishers will be called undoubtedly – marathoners, with pride and of course a positive attitude to go with our statement.
Let’s not contest that the first marathon runner was or was not a marathoner, because some thoughts are just absurd.
I like the simpleness of your definition. My goal as a runner has changed over the years from a specific time, being a part of a CRAZY 1/4 mile track marathon for a great cause, to showing my kids they can do anything they decide to do. One constant goal has been going out to meet other souls I would not have otherwise had the pleasure to meet. I am connected to the Army and to put your definition in practical terms I would say a Soldier jogs most days and runs on PT test days!