The ABCs of Running: 26 Running Terms to Know

Written by
Erica Schuckies
The sport of running has a number of commonly used terms that utterly befuddle non-runners. In fact, runner lingo is sometimes used as a way of weeding out the not-so-serious from the dedicated runners.

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?)
Find a
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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race.
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Find a
race.

About the Author

More Articles by Erica »Erica Schuckies
Erica Schuckies is a writer for Active.com. After graduating from Colorado State University, she spent time working in the rodeo industry, followed by three years with Berkshire Hathaway's Business Wire. Erica enjoys fitness, running, hunting, fishing and being outdoors. Follow Erica on on Twitter, Instagram or Google+.