Dictionary of Running Terms

I decided to elaborate on a number of terms I use to breakdown my running patterns and ways to describe stages of races or training sessions ... here goes ... please feel free to add a few of your own:

The Float - First third of a race when holding back a little. This is a great feeling and time to look around and soak in the atmosphere.

The Grind - Follows a float when it's time to put the head down, don't count the kms cause it's way too early for that.

Oig Tobahdato - Oh It's Going To Be A Hard Day At The Office (pronounced Oi-ngg Too-bar-day-toe) .... these are the days when the legs won't click into gear right from the very start and are stuck on slow.

Powering or Pounding - Bouncing, pouncey, up tempo bounding, full of optimism ... full speed ahead, turn up the volume and enjoy the ride.

Rocket Shoes - Fast burning surge of running speed from a limited amount of fuel - such as starting a race too fast before finding that breathing is tough and the legs don't want to go anymore.

Blown It - Depressed sinking feeling when the body says you're done but there is still many miles left to go .... there is where I keep turning the legs over until the motor kicks in again ... seems to take awhile, maybe a couple of kms but is forgotten by the time you hit the end

Tourettes - Involuntary vocalisation of profanity ... tends to hit me around the 30km marker of a marathon or the end of a long run ... Can also strike during hill workouts .... not always involuntary.

Close Out - A point where the mind says "Walk" ... "What are a few extra minutes going to matter" .... "You don't want to run anymore" .... but you do .... its towards the end of the race and knowing that you WILL make it is enough to take you home