I think it comes to no surprise to say we are big fans of treadmill running here, and we know that is why many of you come to us. Not only to purchase your NordicTrack treadmills at a great price, but to get tips and advice for your treadmill running!
When I came across this article on Greatist.com titled The Ultimate Guide to Running Lingo, I realized while we were familiar with many of these sayings, many of our readers may be new to the running scene and not aware of their meanings.
Click here to check out the Greatist article and get the full list of all the running terms one could think of, while we thought we’d share some of the basics and most important running lingo to familiarize yourself with. Blogger IRunIEat.com in her post Your Guide to the Runner’s Lingo shared some of her more intimidating running terms she experienced not knowing when first becoming a runner that we will also share below:
Going The Distance-
400 Meters: One lap around the track.
Mile: 5280 feet or about 1609 meters (four laps around the track).
5K: 3.1 miles.
10K: 6.2 miles.
Half-Marathon: 13.1 miles.
Marathon: 26.2 (grueling) miles.
Mastering The Basics-
Form: It’s all about proper form when it comes to running. Not only is this going to help you to runner faster for longer, but it will also help you to reduce your risk of any injuries. “Try to keep the upper body tall yet relaxed and swing the arms forward and back at low 90-degree angles.” Be sure to check out our video from yesterday’s post, How to Run: Do’s and Don’ts, to learn the key elements to proper running form.
Foot Strike: As stated from the video as well, try landing on a flat foot, or your mid-foot and not your heels or tip-toes. You should be using light steps that land right under your hip, this way you causing lighter impact and hence fewer injuries.
Pace: When a runner is talking about “an 8-minute pace” they are simply stating the time it takes them to clock in one mile. Runners will usually average this out when they run multiple mile runs.
Strides: Greatist identified strides as “simply the forward steps taken while running.” Strides are also referred to as “short sprints”, they are short and fast but controlled runs of between 50 and 200 meters. Runners are running at a “comfortable sprint” pace. Blogger IRunIEat stated, “strides are used both in training and to warm up before a race. These are incorporated in a training plan to build speed and efficiency.”
Cadence: A runner’s cadence, also known as stride turnover, is the “number of steps taken per minute while running.” The Greatist article stated that “the fastest and most efficient runners have a candence of around 180 steps per minute.”
PR/PB: PR stands for Personal Record, while PB stands for Personal Best. These two simply refer to your times in which you finish your runs, especially referring to races.
Suffering The Injuries-
Runner’s Knee: This is the most common injuries among runners, also known as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). This pain is located on or around the kneecap and many runners will describe the feeling as if your knee is “giving out”. It usually results in overuse of the knee, so be sure to take rest days between runs, and even more so if your knee starts to bother you.
DOMS: This stands for Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness. This is a common discomfort and usually occurs between 24 and 48 hours after an intense run. It is what makes walking up the stairs the next day a little more difficult than it was the day before your run.
Bonking/Hitting the Wall: Happens in marathons often, runners feel as if they cannot go one more step. Their body is completely depleted of glycogen stores and they become very fatigued. This is why many runners “carb load” before races to ensure their glycogen stores are full.
Chafing: Unfortunately most runners will experience chafing sometime in their running days. This occurs when the “sweat and fabric rub against the skin while distance running and can cause painful irritation and rashes.” To prevent chafing coat up EVERYWHERE with Vaseline or Bodyglide before your run. Also wearing moisture-wicking clothing (non-cotton attire) during your runs will help keep the sweat away.
ITBS: This is a very painful injury to the IT band; this band runs from your hip, down your thigh, across the knee, and through the shin. Unfortunately this injury will actually leave many runners on hold from running for a while. Be sure to stretch your muscles before and after every race. Also using the foam roller after your more intense races to prevent and relieve these muscles. Be sure to check out one of our previous post, How To Foam Roll Like A Pro for some tips to help you foam roll with the best of them.
Hopefully these helped you to learn more of the ever so popular “runner’s lingo” so you won’t feel left out with your new found running friends!
Did we miss any of runner’s terms you are still unsure of?
Share some of your favorite runner’s slang we might have missed!
