How fast do you have to go to be "running"?

MeanderingMammal

Char231023 wrote: »

I say any pace that is faster than you walk.

My last Ultra I was down to 4mph by the last 4 miles. I'd still say I ran that race.

Personally I don't see pace as a differentiator. No need for faux snobbery

girl_inflames

I start jogging at about 5mph on the treadmill. 4.2 is more of a fast walk for me. I think it's all relative to the person though!

Spliner1969

I walk a 5k 6 days a week in the mornings, sometimes further. I jog part of it, and walk the rest. With previous back injuries, knee injuries, and the sad fact that I pretty much sat on my *kitten* for 20 years, I've had to re-learn running. I walk up o 4mph, and jog up to 6mph, but I can't do a full 5k running the whole way. I really don't think speed has much to do with it. I'd love to do a 5k in under 30 minutes, but I am going to have to be in much better physical shape than I am now, and even then my previous injuries may never allow me to do it. So congrats, and keep on keeping on no matter the speed. Walking for fitness is fine too, do what feels good to you. I think my average 5k speed is just under 40 minutes and that's with a mixture of jogging and walking.

Char231023

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

Char231023 wrote: »

I say any pace that is faster than you walk.

My last Ultra I was down to 4mph by the last 4 miles. I'd still say I ran that race.

Personally I don't see pace as a differentiator. No need for faux snobbery

I think you miss the whole point of my post! I was saying as long as you are running you are a runner, it doesn't matter how fast you go!

I not sure what you mean by "faux snobbery".

MeanderingMammal

The latter point was more about the 10 min mi bull upthread

GaryRuns

I run quite a bit, but only because I enjoy it as my cardio and so I'm not particularly fast or trying to get fast. I did a marathon back in May and I had to walk a couple of miles. I still "ran" the marathon and have the ink to prove it damn it! lol.

Seriously, if you aren't walking you're running. Simple as that. You and your body know the difference and call yourself a runner if you are out there trying. Be proud to join the rest of us idiots who do it!

GottaBurnEmAll

I'm a slow runner and always will be a slow runner. I cling to something someone once posted on one of these discussions a few years back. She said "running is a gait, not a speed." I thought that was so succinctly perfect. I've never forgotten it. It's what gave me the courage to call myself a runner. Running snobs would say I jog. I don't really care. I'm old and riddled with arthritis. I'm doing my body's best and have worked hard to be able to run every day. It's been a long time coming because I've wanted this badly.

arditarose

I don't run but if I'm ever caught on a treadmill, the point where I go from walking to running is....5. Whatever that means lol.

divcara

I like that description @GottaBurnEmAll ! And that's awesome you run every day!! Very inspiring. Yes, I would call that running!

pondee629

GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »

I'm a slow runner and always will be a slow runner. I cling to something someone once posted on one of these discussions a few years back. She said "running is a gait, not a speed." I thought that was so succinctly perfect. I've never forgotten it. It's what gave me the courage to call myself a runner. Running snobs would say I jog. I don't really care. I'm old and riddled with arthritis. I'm doing my body's best and have worked hard to be able to run every day. It's been a long time coming because I've wanted this badly.

We have different definitions of "old" ;-) BUT similar definitions of "running".
Keep on truckin'

momofamadhouse

You guys are so encouraging! Thank you all for you input. I'll definitely work on distance over speed for a while. Yesterday my run was horrible. I couldn't get into it mentally or physically and finally just gave up and walked the rest of the way. I can't figure out why that happened. It's been going so well and I almost always make progress every time I run.

autumnblade75

jessiruthica wrote: »

I agree with all of this. I identify as a runner, even though in my running group I'm the slowest one by quite a lot. The whole "both feet off the ground" thing is right. Personally I don't like the word "jogging". It feels a little pejorative to me. Like if it's only a hobby, you're a jogger, but if you're serious about it, then you're a runner. Poos to that. I run. I'm a runner.

If you're serious enough about running to consider "jogging" an insult, you're probably a runner.

divcara

You guys are so encouraging! Thank you all for you input. I'll definitely work on distance over speed for a while. Yesterday my run was horrible. I couldn't get into it mentally or physically and finally just gave up and walked the rest of the way. I can't figure out why that happened. It's been going so well and I almost always make progress every time I run.

Those days happen! Just get back out there, like pulling off a bandaid, so you don't wait and get anxious about going out again. Sometimes we just have off days like that. Don't sweat it! You still got up and went for it. You'll get it back!

cricket490

I remember years ago someone told me that running a marathon was tough for a fast runner but imagine if you were a slow runner. It is much harder to be on your feet for 4-6 hours while running a race.

If you run, you are a runner no matter the pace.

jimswmn

I jokingly refer to my pace as wogging, walk/jog, faster than the person sitting on the couch.