Runner Terms

Below I have listed some terms you may read in articles, blogs and books that I've consolidated for your reference.  Lots of terms are shortened or made into acronyms, so I found it useful to know these terms so I didn't sound like a total idiot while talking to other seasoned runners.  I know there are tons more, but these are the most frequently used that I've come across.  Let me know if there are others that should be added!

LSD – long, slow distance/ long steady distance

LR – Long Run

PR – Personal Record

PB – Personal Best

AG – Age Group

MP – Marathon Pace

FF – Fast Finish

GMP – Goal Marathon Pace

BQ – Boston Qualify

C25K – Couch to 5K program

MHR – Maximum Heart Rate

RHR – Resting Heart Rate

HRM – Heart Rate Monitor

CR – Course Record

USATF – USA Track and Field

DFL – Dead %$#! Last

DNS – Did Not Start

DNF – Did Not Finish

MPM – Minutes Per Mile

TM – Treadmill

SFX – Stress Fracture

EIA – Exercise Induced Asthma

ROM – Range of Motion

ITBS – Illotibial Band Syndrome, Common overuse running knee injury

MPW – Miles Per Week

GA – General Aerobic

Fartlek “speed play” – burst of speed during your workout. No set distance or speed

          rules, should be informal in nature.

Hill repeats – Runs up a hill at a fast pace to build strength

RICE – Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate

Runner’s Trots – Gastrointestinal problems on the run

Stitch – Side cramp, usually on the right side

Bonk – Run out of energy, or “hit the wall”

Kick – “finishing kick”, running harder at the finish line, final sprint

Foot Strike – How your foot initially hits the ground as you run. (Heel, midfoot,

          forefoot)

Pronation – inward roll of the foot during running stride

Overpronation – Foot rolls inside too far during running stride

Supination – Outward roll of the foot during running stride

Splits – Your time in a race/workout at measured intervals

Negative Splits – running the second half of the race faster than the first half

Positive Splits – Running the first half of the race faster than the second half

Taper – Runner cutting back on mileage before a big race or marathon

Elite – Super fast runners who usually finish before your wave starts in the race 

          They usually don’t pay for their shoes because they get them sponsored

Chip – or “timing chip” is an item strapped to your shoe that measures finishing 

          time when you cross the  finish line mat

Bib – Is your race number; should be worn on the front of your shirt or shorts

Chute – Roped off area after the finish of a race where officials can tear off part of a 

          bib or order the runners as they finish

Corrals – Divides participants based on their past performance or expected 

          finishing time

Waves – Staggered start when different corrals depart at different times 

          to accommodate participants within limited race course confines.

Road Kill – Runner who has been passed by a faster runner during a race. 

          (Who hasn’t been?)

Ghost Runner – Someone who is on your heels and about to pass you, can be a 

          pace motivator

Sub – To run under indicated time amount (sub-20 5K = running a 5K under 

          20 minutes)

Fuel Belt – Belt you wear around your waist that has holders for bottles of fluids 

          and fuel

Singlet – Light weight tank top like jersey worn by runners

Toebox – Front portion of a shoe’s upper where the toes are placed