From A to Z, here are 26 running terms you should drop in your next conversation.
A is for Achilles
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A tendon in the lower leg that can be a real Achilles heel for a runner. (See what we did there?)
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race.B is for Bonk
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Running out of fuel mid-run, or hitting the wall. Usually happens when a runner is close enough to the finish line to get a taste of victory, only to have it cruelly ripped away.
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race.C is for Cool Down
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A crucial post-run activity that runners rarely actually do properly. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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race.D is for DNF
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As in, "Did Not Finish." This three-letter acronym is worse than any four-letter word.
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race.E is for Elite
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A person who is paid to run. In other words, every runner's dream job.
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race.F is for Fartlek
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A speed workout of Swedish origin that makes every non-runner chuckle.
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race.G is for Gazelle
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The animal every runner dreams of mimicking during a run. Outward appearances rarely live up to those expectations.
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race.H is for Half Marathon
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A race distance that covers 13.1 miles. A favorite distance for many runners, mainly because it's not a full marathon.
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race.I is for Ice Bath
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An especially uncomfortable recovery method with which most marathoners in training develop a real love-hate relationship.
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race.J is for Jogging
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An alternative term for running that most serious runners despise.
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race.K is for Kick
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The action runners commonly execute in the final stretch of a race, usually to beat a runner they have been neck-in-neck with throughout the entire race.
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race.L is for Lactic Acid
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The substance that builds up in post-exercise muscles and makes sitting, standing and walking (wait, what does that leave?) particularly difficult for runners.
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race.M is for Mile
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The most common method that U.S. runners use to measure their workouts. Used in a sentence: "I've run only one mile??"
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race.N is for Negative Split
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A kickass accomplishment that means running the second half of a race faster than the first. Can be elusive due to the dreaded "Starting Too Fast" syndrome.
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race.O is for Out-And-Back
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A type of race course that takes runners to a certain point, then has them turn around and use the exact same boring route to return to the finish. Because it's so fun to see the same things twice.
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race.P is for Pace
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Pace is the speed at which a person runs; usually expressed in minutes per mile. Also used as a runner's cheesy pick-up line; as in, "Your pace or mine?"
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race.Q is for Qualifier
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Commonly used with the word Boston, which refers to one of the most esteemed marathons in the world. But just because a race is a "Boston Qualifier," doesn't mean it's easy to do—unfortunately.
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race.R is for Runchies
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Finishing a long run and eating everything in sight, including the food you have planned for breakfast, lunch and dinner—the following day.
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race.S is for Starting Line
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The most nerve-wracking location in a runner's life, where thoughts race, muscles tighten and bathroom urges are felt multiple times.
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race.T is for Tempo
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A kind of run that is done at a faster than normal pace. A dreaded workout on every runner's training plan.
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race.U is for Ultrarunning
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Traditionally used when referring to race distances longer than a marathon (26.2 miles). In other words, why?
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race.V is for VO2 Max
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A ridiculously scientific measurement that is used to track the rate at which a runner's body can use oxygen. Requires a Ph.D. to understand.
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race.W is for Wall
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As in "Hitting the Wall." Running out of steam during a run. Also known as bonking, crashing and burning, sucking wind, failing at your nutritional plan.
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race.X is for XTERRA
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A trail running race series with event locations across the world. Also offers an off-road triathlon series for those who are bored with running.
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race.Y is for Yasso
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Bart Yasso is a running Jedi. The Chief Running Officer (yes, there is such a thing) at Runner's World and creator of a runner's workout called Yasso 800s.
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race.Z is for ZZZ's
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Sleeping is one of the most important recovery tools in a runner's training plan. Unfortunately, a good night's sleep seems to be nearly impossible the night before an important race.
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