Portland Hobby Jogger wrote:
Do you run professionally? Does your sponsor contract/appearance fees/prize money pay your mortgage? Is running your primary occupation rather than your avocation?
No? Then you are a hobby jogger.
The thing is there is a difference between jogging and running. Jogging is running slow. Everyone runs slow at some time or another, but those who train to be faster and actually are faster are not joggers, whether they make a penny at it or not. A 14:00 5K runner who wins maybe $200 to $500 a year in prize money is not a jogger, nor is a 16:00 runner who makes nothing. But somewhere around 21 - 22 minutes for 5K (certainly 23s and 24s or slower) you are getting into more joggerly levels.
But it's also attitude. I've seen plenty of fairly talented runners who run 20 miles a week and still go 18-19 for 5K and still can BQ as masters runners. That's kind of borderline hobbyjogging for a male.Moreover, if you get your information an insipiration from Runners World, quote Hal Higdon at will, and you life's biggest dream/maybe accomplishment is a BQ, then you might just be a hobby jogger.