The DEFINITIVE Hobbyjogger vs. Runner Thread

seems right to me. This is the "old school" runner type before the flocks of fitness fad people and soccer moms (hobby joggers) invaded races and drove race fees through the roof with their insatiable demands for more medals, more t-shirts, and more parade like races involving mud, powder, and zombies.

C'mon, it's Letsrun:

1. Everyone faster than me is on drugs.

2. Everyone slower than me is a hobbyjogger.

Done.

A runner is someone who takes running seriously.

El Jefe wrote:

5k under 19 minutes, but this may be too lenient for some of you.

That rules out Ed Whitlock.

Hobby jogger: anyone who is slower than me

PED user: anyone who is faster than me

Also tired of hobby joggers.

Examples from another site that I have frequented--tried to bolster with talk of running and training--but have all but give up:

Frequent references to C25K (couch to 5K) programs

Posters complaining about being 'intimidated' when others talk about tempo runs at 6:50 pace

Drive-by posters with 22 min 5K PRs dropping in a couple times a year saying that they'd "smoke" anyone on the forum, when actually there are many that run in the mid teens

Hooraying fellow 4:30 to 5:30 charity marathoners while ignoring national caliber masters runners

Well he did run a 4:02 1500m when he was younger, so I'm fairly certain he has a PR faster than 19 minutes.

Is it necessary to nitpick the smallest details if you agree with the concept?

I disagree with #4.

Lots of runners compete highly with a reasonable goal of doing the best they can on a race day

So shall we use the term "hobby runner" for the masses that do not make a living from running. No matter your passion and how seriously you take it, if you are doing it as a profession it is just a hobby.

genuine random a hole wrote:

So shall we use the term "hobby runner" for the masses that do not make a living from running. No matter your passion and how seriously you take it, if you are doing it as a profession it is just a hobby.

That rules out Matt Elliott.

Damn, I took you seriously!

Best definition of a runner that I have run across is:

If you care if people call you a runner, you are a runner.

In my mind, the whole runner v hobbyjogger thing is rather played out and as long as people are not taking selfies during a race they should be encouraged to run as they wish.

[quote]El Jefe wrote:

I want some solid lines to be set here, so I think we should try to reach a general consensus.

To be a runner:

1. Run to compete, not run for fitness.

2. Train nearly every day and have a training plan that is geared to make you faster.

3. Have PRs that are not necessarily super fast, but fast enough in the grand scheme of things. 5k under 19 minutes, but this may be too lenient for some of you.

4. Enter races with the goal of hitting either a specific time or place.

Those are four things that I think are pretty important, what do the LRC posters think.

All we need is #1, run to compete! Beyond that it's relative. If you go to a race only because you want to be with other people and or merely to complete the distance ...then you are not a serious "runner".

Why do you people worry so much about "hobby joggers?" Honestly, what's it to you?

Weary wrote:

Why do you people worry so much about "hobby joggers?" Honestly, what's it to you?

Hey, I don't subscribe to this notion of "hobby jogger". At a minimum it should be hobby runner. I should not have made it appear that I agree with labeling people that way. But it's true that many people who pay to run in road races are not concerned about their performance.

Weary wrote:

Why do you people worry so much about "hobby joggers?" Honestly, what's it to you?

Generally, competitive runners are physically slight in every way, so labeling others who run, but to a lesser extent, with the diminutive "hobby joggers" allows them the self esteem they cannot get from their typically feminine physiques. ;)

I agree. I know a few masters runners who due to the natural aging process and slow down of recovery, are unable to train every day. 4 -5 times a week does it for them. #3 wouldn't apply to them for the same reason. But they still hit it the best they can and don't just run...they race.

Oh. Well that explains it. Thanks.

Why are you here?

Whachu tawkin 'bout? wrote:

Why are you here?

I honestly don't know. It's a puzzle.