With inspiration from another thread.....

What would you do to become a "real" runner? Is the fact that you are out there now, running the streets, mean you are a "real" runner already? What is a "real" runner?

I certainly wouldn`t pay for a personal trainer when I could join a club with the support, Motivation & experience that I could use to become a "real" runner.

Nor would I Dave....in fact I sometimes feel as if I act as a personal trainer at my club! Perhaps I should charge!

If you are out there on a wet winter night........you are a 'real runner'!

Exactly Steepler.

SPOT ON. Why do people have to be good to be called 'REAL'....?

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I hate it when people call us joggers! urrr! i'm not a jogger i am a runner,there is a difference.

There is a difference.

But sometimes you're a jogger, sometimes a runner.

Most of my runs that I do I'm a jogger, easy aerobic effort, not pushing the body too hard.

When you're a runner, you're pushing the body to run fast, but not hard, it should hurt, but not too badly.

When you're a racer, it should hurt like hell!, but you keep your head around you.

When you're a sprinter you give it everything you have with no thought for caution.

I've never been offended when someone calls me a jogger, I know that most of the time I am, there's very few runners in the world who aren't also joggers, and those that aren't also joggers end up being not very good or injured.

In reference to the question, the first time you think " what could I do to be a better runner" for the sake of running, not fitness, that's when you're a real runner using the standard definitions people use of runner and jogger.

What makes you a runner? To have been dedicated to running for over six months in my opinion. I don't mind being called a jogger, but it does feel very 80's and very over-the-hill.

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According to my dictionary: the word 'jog' means 'to run at a gentle pace'. So jogging is running. Some people describe jogging as 10 minute mile pace, or slower - and anything quicker than 10 minute mile pace as running.
Having said that, I'm not sure how I'd define a 'real runner'. I'd guess they'd have to be capable of running a little quicker than jogging pace, someone dedicated enough to run on a regular basis, who knows what their their body is capable of handling, when to run hard and when to ease off, who knows their optimum distance(s) and who's mastered the proper technique and mechanics of running so they can run without constant lay-offs through injuries. In other words, quite experienced.
Cheers!

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Give me the hills!