Marathon Pundit: Some French uncomfortable with Sarkozy the runner

There was a reason that I couldn't put a finger on as to why I like French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Now I know why--he's a dedicated runner.

But for some reason that probably only the French can explain, not every citizen of the Fifth Republic is comfortable with it.

From the Times of London:

"Is jogging right wing?" wondered Libération, the left-wing newspaper. Alain Finkelkraut, a celebrated philosopher, begged Mr Sarkozy on France 2, the main state television channel, to abandon his "undignified" pursuit. He should take up walking, like Socrates, Arthur Rimbaud, the poet, and other great men, said Mr Finkelkraut.

"Western civilisation, in its best sense, was born with the promenade. Walking is a sensitive, spiritual act. Jogging is management of the body. The jogger says I am in control. It has nothing to do with meditation."

(My note: For more on meditation, scroll down one post.)

Mr Sarkozy’s habit infuriates his critics – and some supporters – because he flaunts it so hard. Le running du Président, often clad in his favorite NYPD T-shirt, has become a ritual, like King Louis XIV’s rides at Versailles. He has practiced it at summits in Brussels and Germany and he is looking forward to a bonding jog with José Socrates, the Prime Minister of Portugal, which took over the European Union presidency this week.