Okay so I am really getting into a serious relationship with running. During races, I always make it to a point to chat with other runners. In that way I get tips from them. However, some runners would normally use jargon that make me go like “Say what now?”
And since I am really serious about this whole thing, I checked sites online for running jargon. I found a site online (Hillrunner) which has a comprehensive list of jargon that every beginner like me should know. I thought I should post it for reference purposes.
Types of Runs
Cool down (“warm down”), is slower running at the end of faster running.
Cutdown is the opposite of a ladder or an interval workout of decreasing interval lengths.
Cruise intervals are runs designed to help you learn to deal with the accumulation of blood lactate; they are sometimes called lactate threshold.
Easy run (“recovery run”) is a run at an easy pace done for recovery purposes or just simply enjoyment.
Fartlek is Swedish term ("speed play") for workouts where you vary the pace of your running – a mix of slow, moderate, and quick paces at different intervals.
Hill repeats are runs up a hill at a fast pace to build strength.
Intervals is a system of training using repeated short distances at greater than or near race pace.
Jogs usually refer to slow running done to recover between intervals.
Long Runs (long, slow distance) are typically 25-30% of your weekly mileage or so and are usually done once a week.
Ladder is an interval workout of increasing interval lengths.
A pyramid is a combination of a ladder and a cutdown.
Repetitions are a form of repeats that are faster and shorter than intervals with full recovery between.
Strides are short, controlled bursts of running of 50 to 150 meters designed to improve efficiency, work on form, etc.
Tempo run or raining runs, usually 30 to 45 minutes in length.
Warm Up is a period of slower running prior to faster running.
"_______ pace runs" refer to running your predicted or expected race pace.
Physiological Terms
Aerobic means using oxygen to generate energy.
Aerobic capacity or VO2Max is the maximal amount of oxygen that a person can extract from the atmosphere, send to the body's tissues, and consume to produce energy.
Anaerobic means generating energy without oxygen. Lactic acid in working muscles is a byproduct of anaerobic energy generation.
Anterior is front.
Heart rate reserve (HRR or HRres) is the difference between HRmax and RHR (HRmax - RHR = HRR).
Lactate threshold (LT), is the level of intensity at which anaerobic energy generation begins to rise and the resulting generation of lactic acid in working muscles causes blood lactate to rise and muscle efficiency to fall off significantly with fatigue.
Lateral is outside or facing the side of the body.
Maximal heart rate (HRmax or MHR) means the maximum heart rate that can be reached while running.
Medial is inside or facing the middle of the body.
Posterior is back.
Running economy is a measure of the amount of oxygen used to run a given pace.
Resting heart rate is your heart rate when you first wake up and before rising.
vVO2max is the velocity or pace at which a person reaches VO2max.
vLT is the velocity or pace at which LT is reached.
Common Runners’ Abbreviations
AR - American Record.
AR - American Record.
BQ - Boston Qualify; the Boston Marathon requires runners to meet a certain time standard based on gender and age.
CR - course record.
DNF - Did Not finish.
DNS - Did not start.
FE - forum encounter, which is an “offline” meeting of two or more forum participants, often at a race.
FX - stress fracture.
PR and PB - running your Personal Best or setting a Personal Record.
LSD - long slow distance or long steady distance.
FF - gradually picking up speed during a training run, such as an LSD, until nearing race pace at end.
GA - general aerobic, which means running slower than vLT.
GMP - goal marathon pace.
HRM - heart rate monitor.
ITBS - illotibial band syndrome, a common overuse running knee injury.
MHR - maximum heart rate.
MP - marathon pace.
MPM - minutes per mile.
MPW - miles per week.
NRR - “not running related”.
PF - plantar fasciitis.
RICE - rest, ice, compress and elevate.
RHR - resting heart rate.
RR - race report.
TM - treadmill.
USATF - USA Track and Field.
WR - world record.
XC - Cross Country
Common Running Complaints
Bonk (“hit the wall”) means to run out of energy.
Bonk (“hit the wall”) means to run out of energy.
Illiotibial band syndrome (ITBS) is inflammation of the illiotibial band, which runs on the outside of the leg from the hip to just below the knee.
Plantar Fasciitis is an often chronic problem of the foot that can be very painful.
Piriformis Syndrome means a pain in the bottocks.
Runner's Knee is a condition called Chondromalacia patella. PFS (Patello-Femoral Syndrome), which is the kneecap (patella) rubbing on the front of the thigh bone (femur), is another form of Runner’s Knee.
Runner's Trots refer to gastrointestinal problems on the run.
Shin Splints is pain anywhere between your knee and your ankle.
Stitch is a side cramp, usually on the right side.
Stress fracture is a hairline crack in a bone.
Stitch is a side cramp, usually on the right side.
Stress fracture is a hairline crack in a bone.
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Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon.
Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon.
More Stuff
Bandit is someone who runs in a race who hasn't registered.
Bandit is someone who runs in a race who hasn't registered.
Chip refers to a little device you tie on your shoe that measures finishing.
Couch to 5k or C25K is a beginners running plan.
Cross training or XT is another aerobic exercise such as swimming, cycling, cross country skiing used to complement running.
Cross training or XT is another aerobic exercise such as swimming, cycling, cross country skiing used to complement running.
Cushioned refers to a shoe designed for a neutral foot that does not overpronate or that may supinate.
Doubles refers to doing two runs in the same day.
Elite refers to those really super fast folks who usually don't have to pay for shoes because they get them sponsored.
Foot strike refers to how your foot initially impacts the ground as you run.
Ghost Runner is someone (imagined or not, as the case may be) who is on your heels and about to pass you.
GU is a type of energy gel.
Junk miles are runs at an easy pace done in order to reach a weekly or monthly mileage total rather than for any specific benefit.
Kick (“finishing kick”) means running harder at the finish line.
Master is an athlete 40 years of age or older.
Motion Control are shoes that offer the most overpronation control.
Negative splits refer to running the second half of the race faster than the first. The opposite of negative splits is positive splits where you run the first half faster than the second. Even splits is running essentially the same time (within 2-3%) for both halves of the race.
Overpronation is where your foot rolls over to the inside too far during the running stride, which can lead to an injury, such as ITBS.
Out and back means a course you run out a certain distance, then turn around and run back.
Pronation is the inward roll of your foot during a running stride.
Rabbit is a runner who pushes the field to a better time then drops out of the race before the final laps.
Road Kill is a runner who has been passed by a faster runner during a race.
Splits are your times in a race or workout at several measured intervals
Split shorts are higher cut running shorts often used in racing.
Stability refers to a shoe designed for an average arched foot; it offers some degree of control for overpronation.
Supernation is where your foot rolls to the outside during the running stride.
Taper is where a runner cuts back mileage before a big race like a marathon or even a shorter race.
Ultramarathon is simply any race that's longer than the marathon.
Wicking fabric (“tech shirt”) refers to technical fabrics that draw sweat away from the skin.
10% Rule is a general guideline that says don't increase your weekly mileage by more than about 10% each week.
