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This is a somewhat humorous topic to write on, but I felt obligated. First off let me say I am a collegiate runner who competes year round (cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track). I started running road races in elementary school, but didn't take it seriously until High School. While I have spent the last 6 years surrounded by runners and running related topics, I have witnessed just as much jogging. For those people who are runners out there, they know there is a great difference between running and jogging. For everyone else, listen up....

While most people will categorize these things based on speed, I see it differently. Rather than the pace, I care more about the mindset. When I see someone pushing along on the streets or treadmill, I ask myself, "what's their goal?". For someone who is training, they are running. Whether they belong to a team or not isn't important. If they are pushing themselves in order to increase their athletic potential for a later competition, then it is running. I don't care if they are running relaxed at 7:30 pace, or ripping through intervals at 5:30. Even the slow painful recovery trot in between workout sets count. It is ALL running. Everyday when they run, and a runner will run mostly everyday, they have a plan. Whether it is how long to run for, or how fast, someone who is running knows what their body can handle, and what they need for their training. Running is also a total commitment. It isn't just the time spent running that counts. Recovery, nutrition, and other daily choices are all factors that aide or detract from an individuals training. Usually runners will have better self-control because they are determined to achieve a goal.

Here's another thing. Look at the person's attire and form. If they are in fact a runner, they will be wearing the right gear. If it's nice out, they'll be wearing shorts. Sweatpants are for people trying to loose weight, not race a 5k. If I see someone at the gym or on the roads and I think, "man I'd hate to wearing that and running", they probably aren't runners. Same thing applies to form. If someone is running, they probably have some experience. They also know about general mechanics and efficient form.

Now on to how to spot a jogger. Let me first start by saying I have nothing against joggers. If people make the decision to use jogging for recreational or health reasons, great. More power to them. Where I get frustrated is when people group them together with serious runners.
Joggers are usually people who are trying to loose weight, not run a race. The total commitment factor is substantially less. Most often a jogger will use this exercise to offset poor dieting or other poor lifestyle choices. Also, jogging is not nearly as effective as running. It is often much slower, and shorter in duration.

My biggest pet peeve is when I hear someone say, "running isn't hard, anyone can do it". Not exactly. Anyone can make their legs move quicker than walking speed for a little bit and look atrocious doing it. Running is something else entirely. Running is a lifestyle, a culture, a commitment. Non-runners will never understand this. Even those people who hit the treadmill at the gym for 20 minutes a day, then go out partying, won't know what running is. Running creates a special bond between other runners because they can respect each others commitment, no matter their abilities.

Learn more about this author, Travis Visco.
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