Running vs Jogging

NormInv

No there is no set speed. Go by heart rate. Easy run 70% of max, hard run 85% of max. Simple.

cbeckl

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” - John Bingham

^^This If you aren't walking, you're running! Am I going to win my half-marathon or marathon races?? Never! But I am damn sure I'm runner!

RGv2

I consider myself a runner as everytime I run I'm trying to do better than the last. I'm pushing myself to go a certain distance in under a certain time everytime I step out the door. I'm always racing.

JulieAnn72

For me, jogging vs running is all up to the individual. when i run at my usual pace, i consider that running. Anytime that i purposely run slower than my usual speed, i consider that a jog. That's just me.

I would agree with this. I just started running a bit this week. I went for two runs, but I will say I was jogging, not running as fast as I could. I did this because it's the first time I'm running in a long time, and I didn't want to push it. Also, Map My Run showed my running pace as just about the same as my walking pace!! So I know I wasn't all-out running (although I do walk fast).

Anyway, I think it's individual. I've been jogging this week. I hope to be running in a few weeks, once my body is ready to go a little faster.

dbmata

Is there some magical speed at which jogging becomes running?

Nope.

I went for the world's slowest run yesterday, and I think at the time if anyone had told me I was jogging, I would have punched them in the damn face.

generallyme2

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” - John Bingham

Gotta love The Penguin! As far as I'm concerned, if you're going faster than a walk, you're running.

^^This! If you run, you are a runner. If you are running distances of 10 miles, you are definitely a runner!! No jogger is running those distances.

A jogger to me is someone who will go around the block a couple times just to get out of the house on a nice day.

A runner is someone who commits themselves to it, several days a week, puts in the long distances, and maybe has a goal of entering a race one day or continuing to race to improve performance.

I was a runner from Day 1. I was very slow then, but I was a runner. Now, I'm a bit faster, but never once did I think I was a jogger.

^THIS. I am a runner. Now, that said, even at my fastest, my little legs aren't going to keep up with a 6ft dude. But I don't base running vs. jogging on speed alone. I think it's about effort and exertion and how much that person is putting in. I don't usually run full out speed because I know to pace myself- that's how I got through a marathon a month ago without stopping or walking. So yeah, I'm not super fast but I'm a runner NOT a jogger.

mthr2

A "jogger" is a runner with low self-esteem. :laugh:

Agreed. :happy:

Frankii_x

At my gym there are 3 'autospeed' buttons on the treadmille: 3kmph (1.8mph) which is the 'walk'; 6kmph (3.72mph) which is the 'jog' and 9kmph (5.6mph) which is the 'run'. I think they're technically the bottom level of each but I think they're meant to be the boundaries. I used to do what I felt was running at 7kmph and now I run at 10.5kmph! It's all relative to the speed you feel you're going.

The only time it has ever been an issue for me was at the beginning of my most recent 10km where they didn't have time signs to split people they had 'runners' 'joggers' 'walkers' and I had NO idea where I fell - apparently it was quite easily into the running section haha.

If you feel like a runner - you are a runner in my opinion Who cares what anyone else thinks!

Frankii_x

A "jogger" is a runner with low self-esteem. :laugh:

Agreed. :happy:

I totally agree too! :laugh:

tappae

The other day, I was out running and someone turned onto the path ahead of me. He looked like he was just jogging along, definitely taking it easy, so I thought, "I'll just catch up to him." Turns out, his jog was significantly faster than my run.

Jogging is just a sub-category of running. It's the slow end, and it's individual. I call myself a jogger, because most runners get injured. I do most of my runs at a very easy pace. Still, if I pass you, that doesn't mean that you're not running.

nicarey19

If both feet leave the ground at the same time at any.point in the stride, it's running. If a foot is always in contact with the ground during the stride, it's walking. Speed doesn't matter, only biomechanics. Physiologically, there is no such thing as "jogging".

^Yes! Jogging always reminds me of Anchorman. When Ron says "Yogging, I think the j is silent."

CarsonRuns

I consider myself a runner as everytime I run I'm trying to do better than the last. I'm pushing myself to go a certain distance in under a certain time everytime I step out the door. I'm always racing.

This may sound counter-intuitive, but this is not the way to become a better, faster runner. You have to slow down to get faster. The base level is aerobic fitness, which you gain by running at 75% to 85% of Max HR. Going balls out every time you run will end up hurting you in the long run, literally and figuratively.

blood6338

I know someone who says "the difference between a runner and a jogger is an entry form".. works for me!

I read somewhere (which I can't find now of course) that as soon as you start timing yourself or training for a race then you are a runner. Personally though I feel it's just two words meaning the same thing. It really has nothing to do with the speed of the runner or the distance. I know there are people that run 100 mile ultramarathons and there is no way they maintain an 8 minute mile but I'm not going to tell them they aren't a runner because they didn't run at a certain pace.

dbmata

I consider myself a runner as everytime I run I'm trying to do better than the last. I'm pushing myself to go a certain distance in under a certain time everytime I step out the door. I'm always racing.

This may sound counter-intuitive, but this is not the way to become a better, faster runner. You have to slow down to get faster. The base level is aerobic fitness, which you gain by running at 75% to 85% of Max HR. Going balls out every time you run will end up hurting you in the long run, literally and figuratively.

What's up. I knew my half dead zombie lope yesterday was going to make me a better runner.

billsica

I never jog.
I stopped jogging the day I became a runner. I walk or run. I can run incredibly slow when I have to.

Mama_Jag

If I would differentiate, when I "jog", it's easy. Conversational pace, and when I am done I feel like I got a good, easy workout. "Easy runs" are more like jogs IMO.

My faster effort workouts are "runs". The labored breathing, pushing harder, sore the next day, etc.

I usually just call everything a run though - it's either easy, long, tempo, interval, etc.

CarsonRuns

I consider myself a runner as everytime I run I'm trying to do better than the last. I'm pushing myself to go a certain distance in under a certain time everytime I step out the door. I'm always racing.

This may sound counter-intuitive, but this is not the way to become a better, faster runner. You have to slow down to get faster. The base level is aerobic fitness, which you gain by running at 75% to 85% of Max HR. Going balls out every time you run will end up hurting you in the long run, literally and figuratively.

What's up. I knew my half dead zombie lope yesterday was going to make me a better runner.

You better believe it. My easy run pace is over 3:00 per mile slower than my 5K pace.

RunningRichelle

I view the difference between running and jogging to be a very subjective one.

Some people say the difference between a runner and a jogger is a race entry, some say it's a certain speed.

I'm slow as hell... Just did a half marathon with a 12:30 minute/mile pace. Some may call that jogging, but to me that was running and I loved every minute.

My advice- don't worry about if you're considered a runner or a jogger. Focus on paying attention to your body and enjoying your time running/jogging. The point is that you're moving your body and making it stronger.

tappae

I consider myself a runner as everytime I run I'm trying to do better than the last. I'm pushing myself to go a certain distance in under a certain time everytime I step out the door. I'm always racing.

That's how I used to run, but I've learned in the last year that it's not the best way to improve. Now, I do most of my runs at a "jog" effort. This allows me to run farther and more often with less risk of injury, which has increased my aerobic fitness exponentially. About one year into this new training method, my "jog" is faster than I was racing over long distances.

shutupandlift13

You can walk at a 4mph pace or you can jog/run at a 4mph pace, its a different type of movement though. Jogging/running have that "hop" in them.

Labels are for the birds anyway... some people wouldn't consider me a runner because I barely finished my half marathon in under 3:00:00, that's a 13:00/mi pace, super slow. But its faster than the guy sitting on the couch, so I'll go ahead and call myself a runner.

grimendale

I would probably qualify it based on heart rate. Above about 150, on average, is a run for me, between 120 and 150 is a jog and less than that is either a walk, fast walk or slow jog. The speeds usually cited tend to correspond with these values for me, so it works out.

LoosingMyLast15

i just ran my first half marathon and i finished in 2:53. i ran it i did not jog it. i finished 1900 out of 2384. i RAN faster than 484 people.

CarsonRuns

I would probably qualify it based on heart rate. Above about 150, on average, is a run for me, between 120 and 150 is a jog and less than that is either a walk, fast walk or slow jog. The speeds usually cited tend to correspond with these values for me, so it works out.

When I run at a 9:30 pace, my HR is below 110. Is this a jog or a run? It certainly isn't a walk.

sabified

Haven't read any of the other posts so don't know what other opinions are- but basically I call myself a runner because that's my goal and I'm working towards it. Might not be there yet but I'm moving my feet with that in mind.

That being said, I did notice the other day that according to my treadmill, 4mph is jogging and 6mph is running. There are buttons on there that say it, lol. I generally run between 4 and 5.3mph, so now getting up to 6 is a speed goal I'm working on- not because I think that's what "running" is, just because it's something to move up to.

When it comes to running, I think you can call yourself a runner as long as you're progressing towards your goal... from all the people I've spoken to, I've noticed seasoned runners tend to be forgiving of this as well

fooninie

It's just a term that we've adopted. In the 80s, it was called jogging...now it's called running. The variance is now running vs sprinting. (amateur vs elite athlete for example)

Slow or fast, you are a runner!

daj150

I always enjoyed this question. So much fun history behind the word jogging. My favorite answer is that the difference is intensity and purpose. For example, you may jog to warm-up for a race, but regardless of what your pace is for a race, you are "running" a race. Or, you may like doing a quick cardio workout before you do your main exercise, such as lifting, so you take a jog on the treadmill or outside to get the blood flowing.

Some people say breaking 8 min / mile is when you go from jogging to running; this is mainly because sports tech companies such as Garmin set this arbitrary number, and lots of people have picked up on

Some other thoughts are that jogging is a leisure activity in which you don't want to walk, but want to move faster and are doing it "just because." Whereas running is something that you do because you want to race or have some specific exercising goal.

Either way, I have always used "running", but I honestly didn't hear many people around me ever say "jog", so to each his own.

Remember, KEEP MOVING!!

RobynLB83

I think it's around a seven minute mile for me. Not so much a set speed as whatever speed your gait turns from jogging to running. There is a distinct difference. I call myself a runner even though I usually jog. My cruising pace is around a 10 minute mile. I jog to relax and get outside, not to get a workout, and although I've been running / jogging or whatever for over 16 years, I've only entered two races in my life.

I call my running "the old man shuffle" because it's how old men jog. Slow as a snail with the prototypical jogging form: arms bent at 90 degrees, arms move straight forward and straight back, torso and hips frozen dead center, almost painfully short stride. You want to scream: walk! just walk!

I'm going to try to bring jogging back, it's the ****. I'm also working on a new form of running. It's a combination of ultra/ultra light backpacking and trial running. You carry gear for the day: food, sunblock, water, bathing suit, water tablets, climbing shoes, map, etc., and go out for day long wilderness runs that incorporate rock climbing, swimming, or whatever else you're into. I haven't thought of a name yet.

Vansy

For me, jogging vs running is all up to the individual. when i run at my usual pace, i consider that running. Anytime that i purposely run slower than my usual speed, i consider that a jog. That's just me.

I agree. I think it's all relative to the person. I consider myself a "jogger" right now merely because my pace is WAY slower than what I ever used to run. I think you can be a runner at any speed, it's relative to you specifically.....some pro marathoner would consider a 8:00/mile pace jogging/easy whereas I consider that running.

Doodlewhopper

I consider a jog an easy lope.

But most will agree that the difference between jogging and running is dependent on the size of the dog chasing us!


"Jogging presumably acquired some of its less-favorable overtones when Bill Bowerman went ‘jogging’ in New Zealand with Arthur Lydiard and subsequently wrote the book titled, yes you guessed it, “Jogging” in 1966 proposing this recreational form of running as the solution to many social ills and health problems.

It would seem that during the first running boom of the 1970’s ‘jogging’ was just a way to describe running for your health with no particular competitive inclination. I think this is where jogging starts to get painted with a negative patina. It came to be seen as a slower, lower effort, non-competitive version of running.

It seems “Jogging” was originally intended to be a subset of running; a less strenuous, less serious form of running. It was running for the non-competitive masses.

Dr. George Sheehan is famously quoted as saying that the difference between runners and joggers is a race number. The thought being that as soon as it becomes a competition – you are running. This is one of the most common responses I got when I polled my virtual running friends with this very same question."

http://www.runrunlive.com/the-difference-between-running-and-jogging

davemunger

A jogger keeps running (or "jogging") in place when he/she reaches a red stoplight. A runner just stands there looking annoyed.

This may sound like a joke, but it's true: A runner is interested in moving forward at a particular pace; a jogger is just interested in moving for some period of time. Both are completely valid; it's all about your attitude and why you are doing it, and has little to do with speed.