Type of smile you have after finally getting a negative split km!!
At first glance, running seems simple enough. After all, it is just putting one foot in front of the other, right?
And you may keep having that thought — I know I did before I began running — until you get the chance to eavesdrop on a conversation between some runners. Suddenly, your ears are showered in a flurry of words like VO2-max, DNF, and ekiden, and you are left wondering if they are actually talking about running or speaking an archaic language.
So here it is: The Runners’ Dictionary! Composed of some of the most widely used AND mis-used (you will see) terms by runners, this dictionary will help you seamlessly fit into and understand the running community. So the next time that friend of yours is inevitably bragging about his new 10km time again, you can confidently say to his face that unless he ran it with a negative split, held zone 3 heart rate through a progressive tempo, maintained optimal cadence, and didn’t bonk at the lactate threshold, he basically just went for a brisk jog in overpriced shoes.
1. “Kem” (km) (noun, Vietnam-specific)
Actual meaning: Kilometer.
Runner usage: A unit of distance, pain, and pride.
Important: Pronounced “kem” like ice cream. Is not ice cream.
2. Negative Split (noun)
Definition: Running the second half of a race faster than the first.
Runner meaning: Sorcery. A myth. A legend. If you can do this then you are 99% on the way to being the best of the best runners.
3. Strava (noun, the holy scripture)
Definition: A fitness app to track your workouts.
Runner meaning: The only reason we run with phones.
Motto: If it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen.
Unofficial fact: Most runners would rather lose a shoe than forget to press “Start” on Strava.
4. Garmin (noun)
Definition: GPS watch that tracks your every move, breath, and heart rate
Runner behavior: Will stop mid-run to analyze data like they’re in a war room.
Warning: Do not try to talk to a runner until they’ve stopped their watches and checked their running times!
5. Easy Run (noun, boldfaced LIE)
Official definition: A slow, recovery-paced run.
Runner reality: “Just a chill 12 kem at 5:10/km pace.”
Translation: Definitely not chill. They are lying to themselves and to you.
6. Zone 1/2/3/4/5 (Heart Rate Zones)
Definition: Training zones based on your heart rate
– Zone 1: Barely jogging, can hold a conversation, actually feels nice. So naturally, no runner ever stays here long
– Zone 2: Comfortable but slightly smug pace. Best for building endurance. Runners hate it because it doesn’t feel like suffering
– Zone 3: “I’m working but I’m not dying yet”
– Zone 4: You can talk, but only to scream. Used for interval workouts and regret
– Zone 5: You should only be here for 10–30 seconds. If longer, call an ambulance!!
7. DNF (Did Not Finish)
Definition: You started a race. You didn’t finish it.
Runner reaction: Shame, sadness, and a dramatic Instagram post captioned “Proud anyway 💔.”
Reality: Heat stroke, cramps, and seriously thinking of giving up running. To DNF is a rite of passage for a runner
8. Hit the Wall (verb)
Definition: When your legs turn to stone and your soul leaves your body — usually around km 32 of a marathon.
Symptoms: Hallucinations, despair, and walking like a pirate.
Used in a sentence: “I was doing fine until I hit the wall.” Translation: “I forgot to fuel and now my body is revolting.”
9. Ekiden (noun, a team horror story)
Definition: A long-distance team relay race, originated from Japan. Each runner passes a sash instead of a baton.
In practice: Group suffering session. After every ekiden race there is a concerningly high amount of people heaving or outright collapsed on the ground from exhaustion.
Team post-race debrief: “Good job guys! Now next time let’s actually train!”
10. Fartlek (noun)
Definition: Swedish for “speed play.” You sprint, then jog, then sprint again.
Runner feeling: “Oh fun!” until 30 seconds in when you are breathing so hard you are literally about to black out.
11. PR (Personal Record)
Definition: Your best time at a given distance.
Runner reaction: Euphoric, then addicted.
Checklist after PR:
– Tell everyone.
– Act surprised.
– Immediately start training harder to ruin your knees.
12. Trail Run (noun/verb)
Definition: Running through forests, dirt paths, and generally on non-paved roads.
Expectation: Serene connection with nature.
Reality: Mosquitoes, mud, getting lost, and being passed by a 70-year-old with trekking poles.
13. Running With Friends (mistake)
Definition: Group running.
Expectation: Laughs, bonding, shared motivation.
Reality:
– Start: “This is great!”
– Middle: “These people need to shut up and let me run in peace.”
– End: One person lags behind and one person sprints ahead. Everyone lies: “I wasn’t racing.”
14. Cadence (noun)
Definition: How many steps you take per minute.
“Ideal” cadence: Around 180. Because science says so!!!
Runner behavior: Will download apps, read articles, and stress over foot strikes … instead of just putting on their shoes and running.
15. Tempo Run (noun)
Definition: Running at a “comfortably hard” pace for 20–40 minutes.
Runner definition: A pace that feels awful, but you can keep it up long enough to suffer just right.
Reality: You’re too slow for sprinting and too fast for breathing.
16. VO2 Max (noun, flex)
Definition: The maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise.
Runner obsession: The higher the number (typically 50 and above), the more you brag.
Beginner tip: Unless you’re elite, this number means absolutely nothing. Keep running!
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You’re now fluent in Runnish. Use these terms wisely. And remember: no matter what your pace is, as long as you posted it on Strava and told someone about it, it totally counts.
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