What if there was a running club that no longer ran? They sit around talking, wearing their running clothes. They really are proud of being runners.

But they no longer even plan runs. They no longer even look at maps of places to run.

They have scrapbooks filled with pictures of when they used to run. The pictures are faded and fraying.

Sure, some members go out for a jog every now and then. A noble few even do marathons. But most sit around in their polyester track suits and eat cupcakes and drink lemonade.

“We are runners! Running is the best way of life!” They happily exclaim to anyone in earshot.

New people join the club. They’ve heard about this running club. They’ve met all the champion runners in the place. Maybe they will learn some great tips. They are eager to begin running.

Years go by. Nothing happens. Their butts get wider. They start to get really inflexible. But they are in a running club. So they know they will start running. They are waiting for the right time to get started. There are committees about running. There are task forces to plan running.

Others, not in the club, start to notice that they aren’t running. They mention it, quietly at first. Then they get a little bolder. “How come you are a club for runners, and you don’t run?” they say. The runners are shocked. “Heretic! How dare you! We are runners! You can’t talk badly about us! We have rights!”

“Yes, of course you do, but I was just wondering if you were going to go running sometime?”

“We are runners, can’t you see that? We are in a running club. You are persecuting us.”