June 13, 2012

Running vs. Jogging

I just realized I never formally announced the winner of the Special K granola bars giveaway. Sorry! The winner was Cristy R., and I'd already notified her by e-mail. In my final Under Armour post yesterday, there is another $500 gift card giveaway, so make sure you check that out.

A couple of people were curious about what a sponsored post is... it really just means that you are paid (or compensated) for writing the post. Please know that I will never do a sponsored post for something that I don't already like/use/believe in/etc. The Under Armour posts were right up my alley, because I LOVE UA, and I write that all the time without getting paid for it. So if you see a sponsored post that I've written, please know that everything I write is true, and the posts will ALWAYS state that they are sponsored.

The difference between the UA posts and say, the Special K granola bar review, is that Special K sent me the granola bars to try and write my thoughts about them--good or bad, they had no idea what I was going to write, and I told them before they shipped the bars to me that I was going to be completely honest on the blog. I was not paid to write that review, and the only thing I got out of it was a couple of free boxes of granola bars.

So, that is how the reviews/sponsored posts work. It is all pretty new to me, as well. I had no idea that sponsored posts and reviews and all that stuff even existed until a few months ago! I wish I had started a "real" blog years ago instead of my private little Open Diary ;)



When I took the boys to their baseball games yesterday, I was talking to my friend Amber, and she asked me if Noah was doing the football camp at the rec center. I said I signed him up for it, and paid the $30 registration fee, but hadn't heard anything back from them. Well, apparently it started yesterday morning, so Noah missed the first class. I was bummed, because it was only 3 classes total, and he'll only be doing two of them. Oh, well.

The second class was at 9:00 this morning. I actually slept in until 7:15 (that never happens! I'm usually up by 6:00). I decided to hold off on my run until after I took Noah to class. I dropped Noah off, and then took Eli to the library to pick out some books. Since Jerry was sleeping, and I didn't want to leave Eli, I decided to do my run on the dreadmill. I only planned on doing three miles, to hopefully not irritate my knee.

Running on the treadmill is so boring that I always tend to go faster than is comfortable, but there's nothing wrong with that ;) My Garmin battery was dead (having issues charging it, which is making me wonder if I made the wrong decision on trading in my 305!) so I just ran until the treadmill read 3 miles.


My knee started hurting right on cue at 2.25 miles in. I don't think the foam rolling, stretching, and strengthening is helping, but maybe I just need to give it more time. Speaking of strength training, I'm actually liking the swing workouts. It's just so SIMPLE, but I definitely feel that I've worked out my muscles.




Yesterday, Jerry told me about this ignorant guy that he works with, and the things the guy said about running made my blood boil. Jerry told the guy that he had started running, because his wife runs, and it keeps her (me) in shape. The guy said something like, "Well, you guys aren't RUNNING, you're JOGGERS. It's only 'running' when you go as fast as you can, and you don't run fast."

Jerry told him that his pace was about a 9:15 mile (doesn't that make you sick, by the way? He's only run a handful of times in his life, and he's already running the same pace as me. But anyway...) and the guy said something like, "OH, that's definitely jogging."

The only time I use the word "jog" is when I refer to a recovery period after running sprints or intervals. For example, "I ran a quarter mile hard, then jogged a quarter mile"--because I'm referring to the amount of effort I put into it. I despise being called a "jogger", because I'm always working to improve my times and distances. I am a RUNNER. I don't think it matters if my "hard" pace is an 7-minute mile or an 11-minute mile, I'm still a runner when I put forth effort.

A Google search showed that there is a ton of controversy among athletes as to differentiating running vs. jogging. The dictionary defines "jog" in this condition as: to run at a leisurely, slow pace, especially as an outdoor exercise (source). The keyword here is "leisurely"--where you aren't running with much effort. While walking, you always have one foot in contact with the ground [fact]. So technically, you are no longer walking when, for a split second, BOTH of your feet lose contact with the ground; you are running.

That's MY take on the whole issue, anyway :)

53 comments:

  1. I think I would ask for a refund of a third of the fee for the football camp. If they never contacted you to let you know when it started, it is their fault! Same thing has happened to us with our little girl's soccer before, except it was more than 3 meetings. Each new season after, my husband has had to keep calling and emailing for details because they never would notify us. Very frustrating, indeed.

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    1. *Blush* I think I may have had the camp info from when I signed him up, and I just never wrote it down. Probably completely my own fault, so I won't worry about it!

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  2. I would classify jogging as requiring little effort, as you said. And also anytime running is not the main goal, such as if the activity is being used as a warm-up. Ex: I jogged for 5min before the soccer game.

    Anyway, I don't get what's up with that dude telling Jerry you guys aren't runners! Just sounds like he's trying to tear you down, which is completely ridiculous.

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  3. Love your take on jogging vs running; I always thought I was jogging because I was slow, but now I say running because that's what it is! Slow or not, I am not walking. :)

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    1. Heather HJune 15, 2012

      I agree! I "jog" from the house to the car, but if I dress up and go out to sweat, then I'm "running" no matter how slow my pace. :)

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  4. I hate when I tell people I run and they then refer to it as jogging! It makes my blood boil! I want to tell them if they think its so easy lets see them run around the block. I now correct people...oh you were out jogging...no, I was running I don't jog. Happy I am not the only one!

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    1. Why do you think you get so upset? Are you only running to talk about it and impress other people?

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  5. A friend of mine is a marathon runner, and Ironman...I run, and notice I say run, very slowly and because he told me I am a runner. He said it doesn't matter how fast you are going, running is when both your feet are off the ground, even if only briefly. I think there are two types of, let's call them advanced runners, ones that think they are better than everyone else and if you don't go fast you're not running and the ones, like my friend, that want everyone to run because they know it is good for you and they want to share the joy of running. I might not win any races, but when I go out I'm trying my best to go as fast as I can...and I am running, jogging just sounds like a cop out...

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  6. Maybe your knee needs to properly heal with a break from running? I'm no doctor though :)

    that guys' comments would make me angry as well. I was hesitant to say that i was going for a run, because at 257 lbs, I don't run very fast. That being said, I run as fast as I physically can so for me personally, it's running and not jogging :)

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  7. Have your husband set up a time with his co-worker to do a 20 mile long run with you and after see if he felt like it was running. I agree with Melissa - two feet off the ground is running.

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  8. You may guess from my name that the term "jogger" doesn't bother me. Running, jogging, who cares? While I do think it was rude of your husband's co-worker to insist that the two of you are not runners, I'm not the type to get upset when someone says that I jog instead of run. To most people, jogging and running are synonyms. I like running no matter what anyone calls it.

    If I had to draw a line between running and jogging, I would draw it between the elite runners and the rest of us.

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    1. When the average person uses jogging and running as synonyms, I don't get upset by them using the word "jog". Sometimes family members will ask, "Oh, are you still jogging?" to make conversation, and I don't correct them. But the way my husband's co-worker said it, like we were absolutely ridiculous for saying that we "run", was rude and that is why it irritated me.

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  9. The jogging comment would totally make my blood boil, too! I am recovering from a "cranky" ankle, and when I did 4.22 miles the other day at a very leisurely pace I definitely was doing a slow, easy RUN, not a jog! Thanks for sharing. :)

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  10. I ran my first marathon on June 3rd and have struggled with anything over about 3 miles so far. I finally Googled "Post Marathon Training" this morning and found a great site by Hal Higdon (http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51152/Marathon-Training-Guide-Marathon-Recovery) I was surprised to see he didn't recommend anything over 5 miles for 5 weeks after a marathon. It made me feel a little better, kinda felt like I had lost all my hard earned fitness!

    I like this quote about being a runner:
    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.

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  11. Well, since i still walk quite a bit during my runs, i call it wogging, because i like that word better than wunning...lol. but that is annoying of the co-irker. Who made him a track coach? Sounds like he has a lot of insecurities.

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  12. I like your definition of a runner. I think you might jog to warm up, but even when I'm running slowly, I still feel like I'm RUNNING, not jogging. I don't know. And I agree with the other commenters who said it sounded like he might be insecure. How often does he "run"?

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  13. does that guy even run at all himself? cuz only an idiot who doesn't actually know how hard of a workout it is would say something like that. it's such an indivual sport based on your own perceived exertion anyway.
    I am following Jeff Galloway's methods of run/walk. He is an olympic runner who has been running for 50 years ( i highly recommend checking out his books or website. he's awesome!) He never differentiates between runners or joggers. if you just get out there get moving you're good!
    Hope you can figure out your knee pain! That would be so frustrating!

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  14. The definition you gave of JOG contains the word RUN, so it would seem to me that either way... you're running.

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  15. I would say you're a runner, who goes on a 10 mile jog?

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  16. It's always aggravated me when people bring up running vs jogging. I have always thought jogging is just going at an easy pace also. When I first started out, it took me like 13+ minutes to run a mile. I have been running a year and my average pace is 10:30. Some days I am slower, closer to 11. It just depends. I once ran 2 miles in just over 20 minutes and that is super fast for me!

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  17. AnonymousJune 13, 2012

    Yeah, that "jogging" pace starts to feel pretty tough after 5 or 10 miles. That's why no one ever calls it "distance jogging." No, it's distance RUNNING, because at that distance, it's hell at any pace ;)

    He's probably one of those people who has two speeds: running fast and walking. So he'll never understand what it's like to adjust your pace to travel longer distances.

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  18. When I talk to people like Running Man, I totally think, "Oh, how sad. It would be so hard to go through all of life being a giant douche." And then I feel better and am happy that I am not a douche. I'd much rather be known as a jogger than a douche. (Also, I managed to use the word "douche" four times in one comment. I'm pretty sure that's a record.) Forget him and keep running Katie :)

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  19. If his definition is right then only sprinters are runners. Because no one can "run" as hard as they can for any really significant distance. Obviously, we all know we put as much effort forward when we run, but if we ran as fast as our legs possibly could ... we'd be done in .25 miles! What a jerk! I'm excited to watch the joggers in the Olympics ... I be they'd love to know they're joggers. ;)

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  20. don't you hate when people force their opinion on you when they don't have their facts straight.

    I always thought that jogging was a slow run, you know when "both feet leave the ground" but you could walk faster.
    I don't think the guy runs, jogs, or walks or he'd know more about what he's talking about.

    Or maybe he's just a giant douche ;)

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  21. You're right--he IS ignorant! But I know what he said is still annoying. Like others have suggested, I'd challenge him to a "jog" and see how fast he can go! My money is on you.

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  22. Lol...when me and the guy at work had the debate and I discussed it with Katie I had no idea she would actually blog about it. We have discussions like this all the time, usually about less controversial subjects like religion and race:) I told him to run against marathoner and see how he does. He's not really hating, he just likes to argue. But in the end we both agreed that if it gets your heart rate up and you burn calories then it really doesn't matter what anyone calls it except for you.

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  23. Jerry, tell that jerk that you only take advice from marathoners. That should shut him up!

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  24. OMG that pisses me off!!! What a JERK!! I am TOTALLY with you - it's the percieved exertion that distinguishes running from jogging. I only do an 11:30 mile - but that is HARD for me - my heart rate is up to 160 and I'm KICKING MY BUTT. Don't tell me that is jogging!!!!! A few months ago (when my pace was still at like 18 min mile) some lady walked past me and said "have a nice walk". OH MY GOD I was FURIOUS!!! Of course, then I came home and cried. LOL Give Jerry a high 5 for me - that is an AWESOME pace!!! Why do men like to show us up like that? I've worked my BUTT off to lose 40 lbs - my husband started eating the healthier meals that I cook now and he lost 20. AAGGHH!!

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  25. Dr. George Sheehan, a running expert, is quoted to have said "the difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank".

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  26. Ha! I use the same definition for "running." Often when I tell people that I've been running, they are really impressed. So I then let them know that I am only "running" by technical definition - My feet are never touching the ground at the same time. That's okay . . . it still requires tons more effort than walking does at that same pace!

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  27. Sounds like that guy is jealous!!

    It's annoying but who cares what he thinks!! (this is advice I have to give myself far too often!)

    Does Jerry like running now?

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  28. Oh man, this made me hot too!! "You're only a runner if you run fast?" WTF? That is so subjective! I totally agree with your description of running. OK, so I'll admit that there are SLOW runners (me) and there are FAST runners (my hub) but neither of us are joggers! Except maybe when I JOG to the mailbox or JOG across the crosswalk before the light turns red or JOG to the ice cream truck... Oh dear, I've said too much.

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  29. What a jerk face! Let me guess- He says HE is a runner. Psh.

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  30. Just another airbag that loves listening to himself speak. Jerry must look forward to seeing him EVERY DAY!

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  31. My husband's cousin once admonished his wife for saying they jogged. "Honey, joggers get mugged in Central Park. We're runners!"
    Here's your definitive list:
    Runners...
    run in the rain, snow, heat, humidity, and cold.
    enter races and try to make a personal best.
    train for longer and faster times.
    change their mind-set and start thinking about fueling their body and buying running gear and where they can run next.
    aren't afraid of sweat.
    Runners RUN.

    Joggers...
    wear matching jogging suits.
    run in a pack.
    still smell nice when they're done.
    can talk on a cell phone while "working out."
    Joggers JOG.

    People who run their MOUTHS aren't athletes.

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  32. That guy would make me so mad! I never call what I do jogging. It always feels like running due to the effort I put in. Even when I am out for a slow run - that's what I call it NOT jogging. Jogging just sounds so lame.

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  33. I'm curious if the guy has ever been a runner? Usually those who have not are the ones who talk such bullshit. Now that I've stopped and read all the other comments...you JOG to cross the street before the light changes, you JOG down the block to the mail box, if you're a soccer mom you may JOG back to the parking lot to get your daughter's socks (been there, done that...lol). You RUN the distances you, the author of this blog, run. Jogging is leisurely, can hold conversations without any effort while moving. Running is pushing yourself within YOUR limits. Some people RUN an 18 min mile, others a 9 min mile. You, ms blog author, have RUN a marathon so the ignorant douchebag can stuff that in it his pipe and smoke it.

    I also agree to say that it's only running when you're going as fast as you can is incredibly subjective and therefor wrong on a number of levels. Who says I'm not going as fast as I can when I'm doing a 14 min mile? How does he know I'm not? Go as fast as you can...for how long? 1 mile? a 5K? a full marathon?

    Sounds like a guy with an inferiority complex to me. He's either never been a runner or, if he happens to be a runner, feels inferior in his abilities?

    Douchebag!!

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    1. LOVE your response! Thanks for the laugh! :D

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  34. AnonymousJune 14, 2012

    By the way I'm sitting here eating ice as I type this. I, too, am a severe ice addict!!! Can't get enough of the stuff!! We have to make it in ice trays at the house we're at in England right now, so of course my own ability to make it and freeze it in two trays isn't keeping up with me, but the electric ice-maker when we were in Hawaii before this couldn't keep up either. Only there I had a chest freezer in the garage to keep my bagged ice, and here I have to sacrifice PRIME freezer space (which I'm currently filling with food for when my baby comes) to keep bagged ice on hand - and yet I do it!! Mine is DEFINITELY a result of low iron (I know you said in your post that mentioned this that your'e not iron deficient) , as it only happens during pregnancy and has gotten progressively worse with each pregnancy - until this one, when I reversed the trend by really working on iron intake between baby 5 and 6. This time my urge to eat it didn't start til around 7 months, when, ever since baby #2, it's been one of the first signs to me that I'm pregnant (the day I take the top of my iced coffee from Starbucks and start downing the ice is the day I realize - what the heck? I'm eating ice! I'd better go buy a pregnancy test!!)
    Anyway- about the jogging- I was just asking myself this question yesterday before reading your post as I was schmucking along at 12 min/mile pace (I'm 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow with number 6), and I KNEW it was running, because it was hard work!! And even when you think you see someone else out there going sooooo slowly, you never know what they're up to - jogging or running - because you don't know where they're coming from. Back in Hawaii where I saw people out running every day, at any hour of the day, I saw LOTS runners. And I always (in the past - before I ran pregnant with baby number 5) assumed those guys I saw out running in their official Navy PT gear, "shuffling" along in pairs or small groups were just jogging. I always judged them thinking - man - you have 2 legs!! Pick it up! What the heck are you doing out there if you're just going to jog along like that! You're putting us runners to shame!!!! But now I think instead - who knows what that guy has been through lately? Maybe he just finished an intense leg workout in the gym and powerlifting is his real love, and he's just doing this because it's required. Or maybe he's overcoming an injury. Or maybe he's pregnant. Oh maybe not hahahaha :) Anyway, you get my point :) I try not to judge other people on what their motivation is and stick to what I know about myself -- I know I'm working hard, and that I'm a runner. And a very motivated one at that even if I'm running 11-12 minute miles!! :) :)

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    1. I always try to remind myself, at least they're moving. Many people are not. Whether it's jogging, running, shuffling, speed walking, whatever....at least they're moving.

      Way to go on running while pregnant!!

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  35. I hate the running v. jogging debate because in my mind, there isn't a debate. It doesn't matter if it takes you 7 minutes or 22, a mile is a mile is a mile.

    People who focus on nomenclature are insecure individuals who want to belittle your accomplishments. But remember, if they're trying to bring you down, it's because you're above that.

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  36. Totally on board with Kathy McElhaney's comment for how I define running - love that quote! I also agree with Crista, that a jog is something you do to cross a street or fetch something you forgot in the car - no real intention. Anytime I run on purpose for exercise, I am running and even though I've been doing it for just under two years and fairly slowly, I consider myself a runner. I also like Jodi's comment - about always thinking of your next run and new gear, constantly setting running goals, and running in all conditions because you need it. Running is intention and heart.
    Oh, and how sweet is Jerry to comment and kind of defend his coworker?!

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  37. I can totally understand why this irritated you and I agree, you're a runner. I don't understand why some people make such an effort to belittle someone else. Really what are you getting out of telling someone that what they're a jogger and not a runner?

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  38. WHO DOES THAT!??!!!?!?!?!?!?!?! How unbelievably RUDE!!! That is all!

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  39. What an idiot! I've been running for over a year and on my VERY best days I may hit a twelve minute mile but my pace is usually 14. I am a runner. I work hard at it. By this guy's standards I must be a slow walker......

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  40. Hmm, according to the description I am a jogger. But the word Runner just sounds so much cooler :). I don't care what others want to call it, I like it and it's what I call it that matters to me.

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  41. Yes, they should just be synonyms. You know? I should stop apologizing for saying that I run, when I'm just a new, slower runner...

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  42. AnonymousJune 14, 2012

    Yeah, jogging IS running. There are subsets of running, like spriting and jogging. Both both are running (moving yourself in a manner at which some point neither foot is in contact with the ground).

    If you run 13 minute miles but that's as fast as you can go, it's running!

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  43. I'm glad you brought up the topic of "jogging vs. running!" When I first started "running" back in February - I was so slow, in fact, I could actually walk faster than I ran - but I was putting in a TON of effort. At the time, I said I was "jogging" because I felt my pace was just far too slow to be considered running. However, somewhere along the way - probably 2 months ago or so - I decided I was indeed running and therefore stopped writing down "jog" in my exercise journal.

    I'm up to 4.5 mph comfortably for long distances (I run 6+ miles once a week and 4 miles once a week as well as a 2.5 mile run/2.5 mile walk interval between those days). I know this pace is really slow for the average runner and most people would call it jogging - but for me (currently at 229 pounds) - this is what I'm able to do, and I believe I'm running. I can go about 5.5+ mph but only for about a mile... but I'm working on it, little by little.

    Truthfully, at this point in time - I don't really care if someone calls what I'm doing jogging... all that matters is what I believe I'm doing. Jackasses will always make asinine comments - it's just what they do, so I mentally laugh at them in return.

    RUNNERS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES - AS WELL AS SPEEDS! :D

    (sorry for the above "yelling" - just felt the statement really needed emphasis)

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  44. AnonymousJune 22, 2012

    I "run" a 14-15 minute mile. I've been "running" for a couple months now and hope to "run" in a 5K in September. I am VERY slow, I know I'm slow, but that's the best I can do right now. Most of my runner friends can run 8-12 minute miles. They can walk fast that I can "run". But I still consider myself a "runner!".

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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