I'd personally put myself into the "hobby runner" category. I've run 2:30 and 69 but this is still minutes off from actually competing for the win at some of these regional races. It also doesn't pay. Serious runner comes off as someone that gets paid to do it.
World elite - sub 2:10
National elite - sub 2:20
Serious Runner - Sub 2:45
Runner - Sub 3:15
Above 3:15 = Jogger... That's 7:26 pace, maybe I should make the line of jogging be 8:00. jogging is 'run at steady gentle pace'... 8 minutes is certainly very gentle. Never in my life was my daily run slower than roughly 7:30 pace, even in middle school when I first started running.
what about the word serious implies professional? if you meticulously plan workouts and weekly mileage, you are taking it seriously. if you skip nights out with friends to wake up early to run, you are taking it seriously. if you post on an outdated running message board full of trolls, you are taking it seriously. you are delusional if you think you arent. people that dont take running seriously follow hal higdon beginner plans.
in summary you can be serious about running and still be slow by LR standards. they are both arbitrary terms.
I would put it this way. If you meticulously plan, train and set goals you are a serious runner, regardless of talent or ability. A hobby joggers run for fun without thinking about it or putting much effort into it. Hobby joggers can be pretty fast and many are retired serous and professionals that just want to run for fun and fitness.
It’s a frame of mind, not a time.
78 next month, just over 45 years of recorded road running-95,808 miles and counting, I call myself a “serious runner”, but fortunately, never take my running too seriously. I am grateful that I can still run. Enjoy your journey.
Congrats! Glad to hear you're still at it. It gives me hope for the future!
There is no "line", because those descriptions have no accepted or agreed upon metrics.
The "hobby jogger" thing is simply a loosely defined term thrown around in here as an ironic epithet of sorts designed to deride any "civilian" who never achieved at a minimum "sub-elite" status.
Don't worry about it. Everybody that runs with a goal at the edge of what their genetic ability
allows is "serious", it doesn't matter what that ends up being.
However, if you must have a "cutoff", the numbers you mentioned seem reasonable. Most others in here would probably skew 1/2 hour lower for each gender, which roughly gets you into BQ territory for both of the "open" categories.
an enthusiast wrote:
I would put it this way. If you meticulously plan, train and set goals you are a serious runner, regardless of talent or ability. A hobby joggers run for fun without thinking about it or putting much effort into it. Hobby joggers can be pretty fast and many are retired serous and professionals that just want to run for fun and fitness.
This sounds right. As someone else noted, I would add that your marathon pace should be faster than your long run pace. For me, a serious marathon runner meticulously plans and is doing more than just trying to survive 26.2 at their normal long run pace.
If you require more than that, you are describing something other than a “serious runner.”
iugvgv wrote:
My personal definition between a serious runner and hobby jogger is that if your marathon pace is slower than your easy/everyday run pace, then you are a hobby jogger.
I kind of like this!
bro some of you need a therapist to talk with to walk through some of your mental issues.
Lemme summarize. If you're an involved parent, you automatically get bumped up one level. Doesn't matter the times.
Hobby Jogger = 0-20MPW
Decently Serious Runner = 20-35MPW
Serious Runner= 35-50MPW
Running is your life (but pretend you're "a hobby jogger" because you're slow) = 50MPW-75MPW
Elite = 2:25 marathon. Doesn't matter the mileage.
iugvgv wrote:
My personal definition between a serious runner and hobby jogger is that if your marathon pace is slower than your easy/everyday run pace, then you are a hobby jogger.
This is actually a very good answer.
beersandmiles wrote:
I'd personally put myself into the "hobby runner" category. I've run 2:30 and 69 but this is still minutes off from actually competing for the win at some of these regional races. It also doesn't pay. Serious runner comes off as someone that gets paid to do it.
Nice
ksdyfgbsdlkfjnsbdakjhfbk. wrote:
bro some of you need a therapist to talk with to walk through some of your mental issues.
Lemme summarize. If you're an involved parent, you automatically get bumped up one level. Doesn't matter the times.
Hobby Jogger = 0-20MPW
Decently Serious Runner = 20-35MPW
Serious Runner= 35-50MPW
Running is your life (but pretend you're "a hobby jogger" because you're slow) = 50MPW-75MPW
Elite = 2:25 marathon. Doesn't matter the mileage.
I don't see the need for the 50-75mpw classification. Maybe I am just butt hurt because I fall into that category but I run in that range, call myself a hobby jogger and running is a distant third place after my family/kids and work. The incremental time commitment for 50 vs. 75 miles a week is like 2 hours as well. Is that really your threshold.
Tony CT wrote:
Was wondering where do you guys draw the line between hobby jogger vs serious runner when it comes to marathon finish time ?I was thinking maybe sub 3;30 for the men maybe 4 hours for the women ?
Asking for a friend .
When I first ran a marathon, "serious runners" ran under 4 hours. When I ran under 4 hours, "serious runners" ran under the Boston Qualifying standard. Now that I've recently run under the qualifying standard, "serious runners" run under 3 hours, which is what I'm hoping to do soon.
In other words, you define this however you choose to define it.
I love this! And both my marathons were faster than my easy pace for the first 16 miles or so and then slower after that. I think I'm right on the line.
This is a good answer!
So was the other poster who mentioned Boston. I think that's a pretty well-accepted line for those who take running seriously. You don't have to be great, but you have to put some effort into it. Particularly since getting to Boston has gotten harder in recent years.
Think about it- if you're 50 and male. You probably need to a 3:20-3:21 to get there. Up to 40 years old? 3 hours or below. There are very few people who complete marathons who can get to Boston.
If you have a goal time based on evidence from training runs, and get it with an even/negative split you have taken things seriously, whatever pace.
If you are a keep fitter who goes out hard and stumbles over the line whenever you can get to it, you haven't taken it seriously, whatever pace.
highhoppingworm wrote:
ksdyfgbsdlkfjnsbdakjhfbk. wrote:
bro some of you need a therapist to talk with to walk through some of your mental issues.
Lemme summarize. If you're an involved parent, you automatically get bumped up one level. Doesn't matter the times.
Hobby Jogger = 0-20MPW
Decently Serious Runner = 20-35MPW
Serious Runner= 35-50MPW
Running is your life (but pretend you're "a hobby jogger" because you're slow) = 50MPW-75MPW
Elite = 2:25 marathon. Doesn't matter the mileage.
I don't see the need for the 50-75mpw classification. Maybe I am just butt hurt because I fall into that category but I run in that range, call myself a hobby jogger and running is a distant third place after my family/kids and work. The incremental time commitment for 50 vs. 75 miles a week is like 2 hours as well. Is that really your threshold.
35 MPW seems a bit low .My girlfriend jogs that just to keep her body toned .