PUBLISHED 05/05/2008
Dear Miles,
When my family and friends come to a race to cheer me on, am I supposed to stop and say hi, or can I just keep running?
—Rachel Y., Boise, Idaho
When you're in a race, your job is to run. When you spot your supporters en route, pump your fist or give them a shout-out so they know you appreciate their presence, but there's no need to pull over. Unless you're looking for an excuse to take a breather, express your gratitude at the finish line or with a phone call the next day. After all, your family and friends didn't come out to see you stop. They came to see you run. Give 'em what they want.
Dear Miles,
I'm new to the sport. Why do so many runners dislike being called joggers?
—David B., Boone, North Carolina
Jogging implies that you lack passion and commitment, that you're out there on the road in $130 running shoes simply for show, that you could take the sport or leave it (and often do leave it). Ask any runner, and he or she will tell you that we run with passion, we run to push our limits and to live healthier lives, we run races not because we think we'll win but to be members of a larger community. Most important, whether we clock six-minute or 12-minute miles, we don't jog—we run.
