I'm becoming a hobby jogger and I am happy about it.

I disagree with FP's assertion, but this is a free society (although the message board here is anything but freedom, what with all the heavy duty meddling that goes on) and we are all entitled to opinions.

I'd put the non-professional elite and a good portion of competitors into the non-hobby jogger category. Hobby jogger denotes two levels, the sport is a hobby (part time) and they are joggers. Not to split hairs but perhaps a good dividing line is how much time you put into it, combined somewhat with talent/speed.

Now here and there you might find some superbly talented runner who can go 14:40 for 5K off of three or four days a week, totalling in the 15-30 mile/week range. I'd put them in the competitor. Compare that to the person who puts in 5-6 days a week for an hour or more, but can't break 24 minutes in a 5K? Or 4 hr for a marathon. That's a tougher call, but I'd put them more in the participant category because they are not competitive.

Now only professionals can train as professionals, but be real there are serious amateur athletes who are definitely not hobby joggers even though they might not put in as much time into the sport, do not make a living at it. The top 2-5% at bigger races are a far ways off from the elites but they are usually not just hobbyists nor are they joggers.

I was never a professional runner but would label my sequential running experiences as follows:

Obsessed High School Runner

Hobby runner

Hobby jogger

Obsessive Compulsive hobby runner

Hobby runner

Hobby jogger

Oh, each phase lasted about five years, give or take a year or so.

Looking back, I was probably most miserable during the OC years. Never raced again, but just run to stay reasonably fit. I'm glad I had those OC years, but don't miss them at all. As much fun as it was to feel invincible, the effort was incompatible with career and social objectives.

Note that I eliminated "hobby jogger" entirely precisely for the reason you stated...it's two things that don't necessarily go together...that's why I changed it to "hobbyist".A "jogger" is a slow runner, and that's subjective, so even that's tough to put a time on, and it COULD be all relative. If elite 5k runners start a race at 14:30 pace, the commentators often refer to that as "jogging"...well, it kind of is for them...would be more than redlining for me even on my best day.Would I call a 14:40 guy a "jogger"? No. Would I call that runner (if a guy) a "hobbyist"? Yes.

Flag,

I like your financial advice but this categorization of runners is ridiculous and insulting to many.

Someone had mentioned running is a gift - very true. I can no longer run due to orthopedic problems (much related to running a lot). I enjoyed my go at competitive masters running and got myself down to the low 2:40s (only a few yrs ago now) as a master and was very competitve at a local, regional and state level. Certainly nowhere near elite and never a successful college runner etc. I would be called a hobbyist by you - and would be very insulted.

I think my scenario is similar to many here at letsrun.

I trained my arse off, had a coach, did lots of doubles and viewed running almost as a second occupation at times. I loved it but orthopedic proclems ensued and I had to turn to swimming and wt lifting - both of which I enjoy now.

I did have a sense of relief like the OP about not feeling the self-induced pressure of competitions, compulsive training etc.

Much as the local scratch golfer who practices at the range all the time is not a hobby golfer, many of us with similar past or present motivations are or were not hobbyists. Stamp collecting is a hobby.

I would not call you a hobbyist simply because of what you put into running as a whole for all those years. A hobbyist is someone who takes a casual attitude towards said activity. You are a competitor (even if you still can't run by the way, because that's always a part of who you are) who trained to be be the best he could be.

I think Flagpole is operating under a flawed premise. This idea that if you're not fast enough to make a living off the sport or be considered "non-professional elite" (a dubious category to begin with) that it's not on the same level.

If we're going to make distinctions, we would begin by looking at the person's lifestyle, level of commmitment, and desire to get faster, ie improve.

But, that's why the additional categories I created are necessary. Even though you were a decent masters runner, you, by definition were still a "hobbyist". You get to decide if you're offended by that, but in my mind you shouldn't be, because that's what you were. People USE that term inappropriately pejoratively, but I am not. This is why you are likely offended by it, but again, you shouldn't be.I'd be willing to more appropriately label you as "non-professional elite" and if YOU think that's too good a label, then I could call you "Competitor".Stamp collecting is just another example of a hobby, and in fact, if you do it so well that you make a living from it (I don't know if anyone does or not) then stamp collecting for you would be a profession.I say the scratch golfer in your example is a hobbyist. If they aren't earning a paycheck, then they are a hobbyist.Golfing actually has a way to determine how good they are...the handicap system.The pros make money, both in running and in golf.If we HAVE to use the "hobbyist" label (again, I offered other labels that are better), then I'd be willing to give you a label of "serious hobbyist", but "hobbyist" would have to be there. Again though, I reject the use of "hobbyist" at all because it throws too wide a net.

I'm the original Jobby Hogger. Maybe flaghole the original Thread Hogger can define that!

I'm a former decently competitive runner (14:54 5k, 2:31 marathon) who now just runs 4 miles to and from work each way as my commute. Does that make me a hobby jogger? Are people who drive to work "hobby drivers" and are people who take the bus to work "hobby bus riders?"

MVRunner wrote:

I'm a former decently competitive runner (14:54 5k, 2:31 marathon) who now just runs 4 miles to and from work each way as my commute. Does that make me a hobby jogger? Are people who drive to work "hobby drivers" and are people who take the bus to work "hobby bus riders?"

Flagpole is melding amateur with hobby running. That is his prerogative, although the majority of people in this thread probably disagree with him. Alas, those who disagree either get flooded with a barage of mealy mouth double speak, or their post is taken out.

Fight back! Take back this forum.

A 2:25 marathoner (or equivalent for other distances) running 100 miles a week is not a hobby jogger.

Nor is a masters runner trying to break 4:48 for the mile.

Neither are most kids running 17:30 for 5K xc, trying to make the varsity/travel team.

Everybody knows that the Running Gods set forth in 1971 that jogging shall be differentiated from running by anything slower than 7 minute pace so at the very least, most of us are merely guilty of recrunning.

I used to be a "runner" by the standards of this board but I actually hated it. Few people honestly enjoy running 80+ miles per week. Now, I run 4/5 days per week, 25-35 miles. I don't race anymore, but can easily run 18:xx on 5k tempo runs. I've put on 25 pounds of (mostly) muscle mass since my racing days and look much better than I ever did as a semi-competitive runner. I can go out on Friday night, skip my Saturday run, and not feel the least bit guilty. If it's pouring rain, I'll just skip the day rather than run on the treadmill. As a "runner" I enjoyed setting PRs but hated actually running most of the time. Doing 12x400 at 1500 pace just sucks. As a jogger, I look forward to lacing up and going for a run.

This has become a popular topic especially given that recent article in the WSJ about how people 50 and over could be doing harm to their health if they run long distances and run fast (i.e. faster than 8 miles an hour)

I'm over 50 and have been doing 2 marathons a year for over 8 years. I put in 55-70 miles/week during marathon training. I've been thinking about slowing down but I really enjoy the fitness level that my training provides. Also, now that I'm in the 50-54 age group, I'm actually places first in some of the races I run. The older you get, the more competitive you can be - if you care about competing. Also, I've been able to run injury free so I've been lucky.

The social aspect is a big part of it as well. If I didn't run with a group of guys who like to push the training and the pace, I'm sure I would have cut back a few years ago.

I did both, but now am retired but still running for fitness twice a day, with no aspirations to ever race again. I would now be considered a hobby jogger, simply because I don't run for speed anymore, but I find it hard to refer to myself as a jogger, since I used to be a pro...semantics...