Definition of a hobby jogger

Trick question. There are only runners and non-runners.

There is no Dana only Zuul.

rsg wrote:

Someone who doesn't make it a lifestyle. Someone who runs for fitness rather than goals.

I am terribly slow these days, but I am extremely competitive in my mind. I cannot win races anymore, but I am always looking for a better time than the last one. I hate to lose any race, but know it is inevitable. I look for age-group wins these days, and hate not achieving that goal, even at my slow times.

If that makes me a hobby jogger, then so be it. I think I am just a slow runner who is trying to get back to better racing days.

knowItAlll wrote:

There is no Dana only Zuul.

Made my day.

/EOT

Chances are if you text while running you are a hobby jogger.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-544--14205-0,00.html

From the above article linked:

"I have that app on my iPhone, Runmeter. That's awesome. It is a distraction, but I have to have my phone with me in case my kids need something. It annoys me when people text me. If they text me, I'll text, "Can't text now. Running."

So you can run and text?

Yes. People are impressed.

That's a great skill.

Yeah, without getting hit."

hardcore from the 80s wrote:

I am pretty pi55ed off I can't wear my headphones at a couple races I have signed up for. I think I am going to get some battery powered speakers so they are pretty loud and carry one in each hand.

Heresy!!!!

Arch-Bishop Nikon wrote:

A picture is worth a thousand words. Basically it is someone who doesn't take racing seriously.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamnebraska/6408941805/in/set-72157628131685853/

End of thread.

Excellent.

Add anyone who jumps up and down, hollering and waving to the camera at the start of a marathon, or stops to take photos en route.

This is accurate.

These hit on many of them. Add the use of "mary" and "half mary" and more interested in gear/bling than actually running. No interest in athletics, the sport of running (wouldn't know the difference between Angela Bizzari and Alberto Salazar other than gender). Little or no concept of time or relative performance--a 28:45 5K by C25K Betty is WHohoo0000! While, no concept of what it takes to do 14:20 to 15:20 as a nth tier college runner. Thinks 3:10 (male or female) is elite.

This one is so true with some. I have been acquainted with one such runner for a long time--has a 5K PR about 15 sec faster, but I might was well have run 2, 3, 4, 7 min slower.

No matter how slow a "runner" might be, they still have an interest in who won the race and with what time. Hobby joggers are barely aware that there was a race for first place.

Mrs. M wrote:

There should be more classifications:

Elite - obvious, have sponsorship

Sub-elite - striving to be elite, may have some small sponsorship

Runner - does 50+ mpw, often wins local races, wins age group in larger races

Hobby Runner - does 30-50 mpw, might win age group in local races

Hobby Jogger - does @15-30 mpw

Weekend Warrior - only runs when the weather's perfect

Ha. I don't even make the bottom bracket. To die. In the rain.

If just calling an RD and mentioning your name can gain you entry into any sold out race, you are not a hobby jogger.

tom petty and heartcrackers wrote:

hobby jogger a person who:

1. runs less than 5 times a week.

2. enters races for the social aspect of it.

3. follows any kind of "couch to 5k/10k/marathon program

4. wears an Ipod during a race.

5. admires Dean K.

6. has vibrams

7. thinks you can get in "race shape" by going spin class

8. puts 13.1 or 26.2 stickers on their cars that literally walked either

I think that's close enough.

Anyone who admires Dean K and dr. Kip Litton

I agree with the definition that you just know one when you see one.

I'd add that typical characteristics of a hobby jogger are water bottle belts, walk breaks, no appreciation for the competitive aspect of the sport and never owned spikes or racing flats.

Hobby joggers have also never had things thrown at them or heard "run Forest run". Never.

I'd say once a runner always a runner. You can't descend to hobby jogger.

The problem with spikes is that there are no lockers at my local public running track, so someone would run off with my running shoes.

Where does this need to belittle and insult others come from in runners? Do you really feel that special because you think you are fast? Unless you just won the Boston Marathon or an Olympic gold medal, there is always someone faster. "Hobby jogger" is a silly term used by arrogant jerks. Look, unless you are a professional runner, you are doing this for fun and the challenge and nothing else. That makes you a hobby jogger. That means 99.9% of us on this forum are hobby joggers. Regardless of your weekly mileage, regardless of your PRs. If you are not a professional, you are a hobbyist. Get over yourselves, folks.

Hobby jogger= runs for fun or to stay in shape.

Runner= races/competes for a goal of becoming a better runner.

A hobbyist, or hobby jogger, to begin with is a non-professional. But even if one is paid (or sponsored) they're really still a hobby jogger until they have the respect of top tier runners. Warren Buffet could pay me 250K a year to compete, but that would only make me a paid hobby jogger in the eyes of Gebrselassie, Tanui, Tergat, et. al.

There are many reasons a hobby jogger might be sponsored, the primary of which is they are popular and can move product to wannabees who are in the same demographic. That doesn't make them a real runner yet.

So a hobby jogger is someone who is not paid to run, or who though paid lacks the respect of real runners.

If you're still not certain, you can rest assured you are a hobby jogger if you are any of the following:

1. White

2. American

3. Reading this

Now get out there and hobby, until you have to get a real job, which won't be long.

Maybe a better name is needed than the term hobby joggers. Perhaps something similar to "Fred" that is the cyclists equivalent to hobby joggers.

ffggff wrote:

Maybe a better name is needed than the term hobby joggers. Perhaps something similar to "Fred" that is the cyclists equivalent to hobby joggers.

Yeah, I agree - because the Olympics was supposed to be about amateur athletes (hobby joggers). So I proudly would wear the moniker of "hobby jogger" in that sense.

Anyone else out there running, whatever they weigh or carry as luggage, I don't give rats ass unless they are in front of me.