I’m not a jogger
Even if looks like I’m jogging
Apparently some people object to the word ‘jogging’. They believe it is used as a pejorative, to mean something along the lines of ‘running, but you suck at it’. Which is a bit weird when you think about it: we don’t have separate words for ‘driving but you suck at it’ or ‘presidenting but you suck at it’.
‘Jogging’ and ‘running’ describe the same basic activity: moving faster than a walk. But somewhere along the line, jogging picked up a whiff of something unserious, outdated, or even slightly embarrassing. Say you’re a runner and people nod with respect. Say you’re a jogger and you might get a condescending smile at best.
I am comfortable calling myself a runner now but I wasn’t always. Jogging definitely felt like something easier to claim, and for many people probably seems more accurate. But I no longer care what other people think, thank goodness.
These two photos show me (well, my disembodied legs):
Running a half marathon (21km) in 2 hours 15 minutes, at the peak of my physical prowess, and weighing at least 20kg less than I do now.
Running a 7km trail run in 1 hour 15 minutes.
In both photos my body is doing the same thing: moving faster than a walk.
The point is, you can call me what you like. It only matters what I call myself.