Running vs. Jogging

I will never forget a conversation I had with a former colleague a few years ago. We had reconnected at a funeral and I was telling him about my new love for running. He asked me about my pace, something I was very apprehensive to share, but I did anyway. And he said, “Oh, so you’re jogging.” Wait, did he just say the J word? Which led me down the path of questioning whether or not I was a runner. Maybe I was a jogger. But reality kicked in and I defended my rights as a runner that, no, I am in fact running. And, yes, I am a runner, damn it!

Why is that word so offensive and why would anyone believe that pace determines whether you are a runner? Many of you know that I love the ultra running world for that reason. We embrace the slow long running pace. I have even been able to find humor in the word jogging. I recently heard the term “hogging”. A hybrid of the words hiking and jogging for what trail runners do. And it’s kind of true. But it took me a while to get to this level of comfort.

One of the things I have learned in my Yoga Teacher Training is that in doing yoga it’s not about mastering the pose, it’s about the embodiment of the pose. What’s the difference? A great example is Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog). If I am doing this pose and want to match the masters, I end up with straight legs, strained hamstrings and a rounded back. When I bend my knees and send my hips up, heels reaching (not touching) the floor, my back is able to obtain the length and clarity that is intended in this position. If you can embody the pose you gain the benefits. When you don’t, you not only get a different feeling from the pose, you also risk injury.

Running can be looked at in the same way. If I try to run too fast for my body, I end up changing my form and gait and am now putting myself at a higher risk of injury. I am also not honoring my breath as I move into a fight or flight breathing pattern. It’s not about running the 5/7/9 minute mile, it’s about putting the shoes on and being able to run. If you can do that or start the journey to get to a place where you can do that, you gain the same benefits.

This is not to say that it won’t be hard and that you shouldn’t work hard. It is hard, it is uncomfortable. Your muscles will be working, it may even feel painful. But why not gain the benefits from the practices at all levels. I am also not saying that you can’t master the yoga pose or the fast (I’ll let you define) mile. That is what training and regular practice are for. That can be a goal to work towards to make your workouts interesting. However, the feeling from the run or the yoga practice is why I continue to return to it. The benefits go far beyond the perfect shape or speed, the benefits go to the inner core of who you are. And, most importantly, instead of getting stuck in the narrative of I can't do it the way they are doing it, just try and feel free to ask for help/modifications when you need it. I promise any good instructor or coach wants everyone to do what they are teaching because they want to share the benefits.