May, 2001

On one late, rainy, Sunday afternoon run this spring (well, when was it NOT raining on a
Sunday afternoon this spring?), after I had heard someone yell "You're crazy!" at me, and
I'd responded with a "No, I'm a runner", I started thinking.  The rest of the run was spent
splashing through puddles, and writing this article.

10 differences between runner and joggers.

A jogger hates running in the rain because he has to take a shower afterwards.
A runner likes running in the rain because he doesn't have to take a shower afterwards.

A jogger runs 5 days a week, the same route, at the same pace, at the same time of day.
A runner runs 5 days a week, a different route and terrain each time, at different paces, 
whenever she feels like it during the day.

A jogger owns 1 pair of raggedy, old and dirty shoes, shorts, and t-shirt that he runs in.
A runner owns 10 pairs of raggedy, old, and dirty shoes, shorts, and t-shirts that he runs in.

A jogger is too busy watching where she is going to look at the scenery or chat to passersby, 
and so she safely avoids the puddles and big hills.
A runner is too busy looking at the scenery and chatting to passersby to watch where she is 
going, and so she runs right through the puddles and over the big hills.

A runner does speed work and hill work to become faster and stronger.
A jogger does speed work if he is late for his bus, and hill work if he gets lost and ends 
up at the bottom of a hill and home is at the top of the hill.

A runner runs more than 5km at a time because it hurts.
A jogger doesn't run more than 5km at a time because it hurts.

A runner daydreams his way through his run.
A jogger daydreams his way through an extra hour's sleep.

A runner puts on spiked-shoes to run in icy winter conditions.
A jogger puts on skates to skate down the Rideau Canal during Winterlude.

A runner has a wall-full of finish-line photos and race medals.
A jogger has a wall-full of Martha Stewart flower prints.

A jogger runs to lose weight.
A runner runs ...well...umm...because she can.


Keep on running!

Andrew Weston