Competing geographies of recreational running: The case of the “jogging wave” in Sweden in the late 1970s

Recreational running encompasses more than one type of exercise. Different running practices offer different, even opposing, conceptualisations of the role of the environment. As illustrated in this paper, historical studies can uncover and explain these variations. By studying the clash between two practices in Sweden in the 1970s - the newly translated idea of North American jogging and an already established tradition of fitness running - this paper qualifies the difference between them and illustrates how they assembled competing geographies. The paper argues that current planning would benefit from acknowledging this multiplicity because different forms of running offer complementary strategies for inclusivity.