Is running a hobby?

I’ve thought of “regular running” as a hobby or pastime and I’ve heard people claim that it’s a/their hobby but I’ve realized that regular running can’t be considered as a hobby. It is too intense, soul leeching (with the constant ups and downs) and difficult if pursued correctly and regularly to be a hobby, and if pursued for leisure or for amusement then the irregularity and lack of commitment will take it far away from the realm of being considered as a hobby.

A hobby would be something which is regular yet easy, relaxing, amusing and entertaining like fishing, gardening, collecting stamps, tasting scotch, building model aircrafts or feeding ducks.

Looks do-able. Cardio required only for lifting beer and sandwiches.

Regular running is more like being thrown into an everyday challenge or maybe akin to voluntarily taking up a (hard) lifestyle which ultimately translates into a habit. Every running session seems like an upheaval in an otherwise sedentary life. Maybe the difficulty and intensity of a regular training regimen is the reason why there are so many irregular runners.

Hard and structured training for a full marathon through let us say a weekly mileage of 70-80 kms for several months to just run one marathon does not seem like a hobby per se. Puking your guts out during or after a session of intervals doesn't sound something to eagerly look forward to. Collecting running shoes, certificates and medals without running sounds more like a hobby. Playing football or badminton every weekend sounds relaxing and I’d call that a hobby.

If pursued with intensity then regular running can encompass every aspect of your life. For a good workout, and sustainable and continuous improvements in running, even the smallest of day to day activities have to be monitored in order to synchronize these with your running schedule. Everyday decisions have to be constantly undertaken such as, sleep enough and on time, wake up on time, eat correct, don’t drink that beer, don’t lift too heavy weights, don’t lift weights that light, think less about how hard it is, ignore the pain, let the injury heal, manage office work, learn about running techniques etc.

So relaxing. My hobby is to regularly feel like dying and then question why I do this.

The decisions during a day in order to maintain a good running schedule are endless and to be honest I don’t think it’s as fun as it’s made out to be but for some reason regular runners endure this life and the training. It seems more like a habit and a life choice which attracts a particular mindset, rather than a hobby. It ultimately becomes a lifestyle in which you keep questioning the rationale for engaging in it.

It’s fun but only sometimes and usually when you stop and think about it.