The other day when I was running in River Legacy Park, a popular mountain biking trail, a mountain biker approaching me on the trail called back to his buddy, "Jogger!" I appreciate the consideration; I certainly don't mind mountain bikers being aware of me an not running me down.
However, his calling me a jogger irked me a little. . . . I wanted to holler back at him, Hey, I'm a runner! I may not be moving very fast, but I am a runner! I read Runner's World and Trail Runner magazines! I'm a member of North Texas Trail Runners. I sometimes shop at Fort Worth Running Company.
So what is the difference between running and jogging? Here's what I found:
Merriam-Webster has two relevant definitions of jog: "a : to run or ride at a slow trot; b : to go at a slow, leisurely, or monotonous pace."
And it defines run thus: "to go faster than a walk; specifically : to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step."
I do go faster than a walk, and normally both feet leave the ground in each step, but there's no denying that my pace is often slow, leisurely, or monotonous. So by definition, I jog and I run. Jogging is running slowly. Running is like jogging, only faster. I guess I need to get over it and admit that I'm a jogger. And sometimes a runner.
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