A few days ago I was out with some friends and was introduced to someone new, we had typical small talk and chit chat. Name, age, weather, living situation, work, school…blahblahblah. I found out he works at two GREAT Grand Rapids restaurants, Bloom www.bloomgr.com) and Corez (www.corezwinebar.com), he found out I work at a GREAT running store, Gazelle Sports (www.gazellesports.com). The inevitable question came up about me and my work: so you’re a jogger?

I said: No. I run.

I know that Elsa touched briefly on the jogger/runner question on her last blog (great blog by the way!) but this seems like an issue that comes up quite often in the store or just in casual conversation when talking about the sport.

He said: Wow, okay. I think I hit a nerve.

I was blunt when I answered his question about being a jogger. When I hear the term jog I think of someone giving directions, “turn left at the light then the road will jog to the right a bit…” Some people think that jogging is running slowly, but then i have to ask, what is the standard speed for a runner? A newish employee just finished her first half marathon with a 12-minute pace. I’d say she’s a runner. Key word in that sentence is “finished,” she finished a half marathon, running.

I can tell you that there is a clear difference in a runner’s stride and a walker’s stride. A walker has one foot on the ground all times, which I think can be much harder than running at times. A runner’s stride has what is called a “float stage” where, like in a horse’s canter, both feet are off the ground simultaneously. (Yes, I just compared a runner to a horse, deal with it.) You can run at a slower pace than you can walk, and still be running.

I’m not even going to define what jogging is. I don’t think it has a definition that would be applicable on a running blog, unless I was telling you what the road does toward the end of my favorite running route, the road jogs, I don’t. And if you are out there pounding pavement, you don’t either!

(Off to go take my final final exam!! Graduating Saturday. Sorry, I’m excited, had to let you all know!!)