A Beginning Runner's Primer :: Funny Terms Defined

Every vocation has it's lingo and in running there's no shortage of funny (and confusing) terms to learn...and put into practice.

Here are several of the most common (and confusing) for beginning runners:

Tempo Run – a 20 minute run done at your threshold pace (a pace that is the maximum pace you could keep up for an hour’s run, or 90% of your maximum heart rate.) 

Fartlek – This funny word is Swedish and it means "speed play". In fartlek, workouts typically last about 45 minutes and are easy to do: After a steady warm-up of about 10 minutes, simply pick a landmark and run to it hard, then jog until you’ve recovered. Then pick another landmark, run hard to that, recover and so on.

Interval Training – Similar to fartlek, but usually performed on a track, interval training is great for building speed in long distance runs and for weight loss. Running intervals typically consists of a 10 minute warm-up, then running hard for 400 meters, then easy run/jog for 200 meters. The speed work is usually done 4-5 times with an easy 10 minute cool-down job at the end.

LSD – It’s not what you think. “LSD” refers to long slow distance. LSD is a must for runners who do distance and involves running very SLOW. I’m talking slow here, like 13:00 minute mile slow. Paradoxically, LSD running improves your body’s ability to run for longer periods of time at a faster pace.

Here’s a cool calculator link I found to help you determine your appropriate training paces from Craig’s Running Site.

Now you know!
 

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