I have devolved into a hobby jogger - my story

This is the 3rd and final stage of running - abandoning the obsession to reach the end of the race as quickly as possible, and embracing the pleasure of the race itself.

Basically if you were never competitive at whatever level you were competing (HS, college D1, D2, D3, masters, pro, age group), then you are by default a hobby jogger.

If you did meet the above criteria, then even if you get old and injured you are a runner for life.

Nobody is going to call El G or Geb a hobby jogger since they can't even run a 4:00 mile anymore.

I'm married with kids now. I run slower than hobby joggers now, this is true. But that doesn't and will never take away from the fact that I ran with Olympians and have a HS state title to my name. The feeling of winning a state title and qualifying for nationals is truly an unforgettable experience.

Have you guys ever heard of age-grading? I know a lot of people (young people) think it's a load of garbage but as I age (now 54) and slow down, it's one way that I rationalize my decline in my own mind. It's amazing how my age-graded times of today compare with my PR's as a 20-something 30 years ago. I say, whatever it takes to keep you out there is worth a try.

I'm 30 years old and I purposely decided to go from being a local competitive runner (PRs; 2:35:41M, 1:12:32HM, 33:20, 15:54) to what letsrun would call a hobby jogger. I run no more than 20-25 mpw now and most of that is on trails. I do like to do 1 short speed workout a week though because I still enjoy going fast. I gave up logging high mileage and competing because I realized there is WAY more to life than the simple activity of running. Looking back I get embarrassed about the obsession I placed on training and racing just to get those mediocre times. Now, I take a more balanced approach to my health and fitness and include regular weightlifting and basketball into my routine. My body looks better than ever and I don't get injured as much anymore (go figure). My change in lifestyle also allows for more time with family and friends and other interests and no more worrying/pressure about hitting mileage and performing.

Finally. I am a normal human being now.

Great post, thanks.

Next step- no longer reading letsrundotcom message boards?

That are some impressive times based on your mileage.

If you enjoy running I'm unclear on what your problem is.

I'm amused by competitive runners who have contempt for slow or old runners. Who cares?!

Open up your mind to an wide range of experience and ideas. Dropping your contempt for slow runners won't make you slow, if that is what worries you.

Fear is a harsh motivator, and always fails in due course.

Follow your bliss, and don't waste time and energy dumping on others.

formerD1 wrote:

Basically if you were never competitive at whatever level you were competing (HS, college D1, D2, D3, masters, pro, age group), then you are by default a hobby jogger.

If you did meet the above criteria, then even if you get old and injured you are a runner for life.

Nobody is going to call El G or Geb a hobby jogger since they can't even run a 4:00 mile anymore.

It's ok to take some pride in former accomplishments but you seem to do it in a way the demeans others. (to paraphrase your ideas, "One could never demean a previously great runner by calling them a hobby jogger") I never used the slang hobby jogger in a way to demean people. In fact if you are training very hard and trying to break PRs, even though you might be slow, you are still competing with yourself so you are not a hobby jogger.

It really doesn't matter how great you or anyone once were, when you stop competing or training or pushing yourself to your limit you are what I would consider a hobby jogger. Nothing wrong with it either.

I think both El G and Geb would agree with that.

the OSU

You aren't getting good medical advice.

I'm coming up on 48 years of running, and I have to admit that my views on the jogger versus runner issue have evolved considerably over that time...not coincidentally, as I have dramatically slowed.

I once looked at it as simply how fast/far someone went, but now my criteria is this: joggers run for its health effects, whereas runners run because they have to run. The people that are out there in the sub-zero temps, the pouring rain, the snow, and other bad conditions are usually runners, no matter how slow they go.

I hate how slow my runs are now, I hate being passed by most other runners, and I hate that my form has deteriorated significantly, but I still go out every day because I need that fix that only running provides. So the running snobs can call me a jogger, but if they're still running 30 or 40 years later we'll see if their POV changes too.

Yes! Thank you.

I'm proud to have the label as a hobby jogger. I'm not ashamed at all and who cares if you have devolved into a hobby jogger. How do you know if a hobby jogger isn't a millionaire, who is very successful in their life but not an elite runner? Or vice versa? No need to label yourself or others. Be yourself whether you are rich, poor, known or unknown or famous or not famous. Be true to yourself...

No, by definition one evolves during the transition of basement to tarranean dwelling.

Yes. Nice post.

I am THE Hobby Jogger wrote:

I'm proud to have the label as a hobby jogger. I'm not ashamed at all and who cares if you have devolved into a hobby jogger. How do you know if a hobby jogger isn't a millionaire, who is very successful in their life but not an elite runner? Or vice versa? No need to label yourself or others. Be yourself whether you are rich, poor, known or unknown or famous or not famous. Be true to yourself...

I agree and I think I was pretty clear about being unashamed and happy with my new hobby jogger status.

But I do categorize my running differently now because it is different. The way I run and train and my purpose and motivations are quite different than they were when I was running competitively toward testing the limits of my potential.

To be true to myself as you state, I have to acknowledge that.

Why should anybody care? Well all runners will go through this progression. And it's not a bad place to be.

xlev2 wrote:

the OSU

You aren't getting good medical advice.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Stop whining like a baby. The masters athletes will kick your sorry ass no problems. So what if your not running 1:5x anymore? I know guys running

I'm not quite sure where the term "hobby jogger' came from but there's certainly no shame in being one. People do things for a variety of different reasons, but my experience over a long number of years is that folks run, jog, walk and do other forms of activity because it makes them feel good, and is good for them. Competitive runners all decline as they age, most eventually become walkers at some point. Some people never make it past the walking or jogging type of activity, and do that their entire life. I think competitive runners as a whole, tend to look down on these folks as somehow "lesser". This cannot be further from the truth. The older one gets, the clearer this becomes.