SPORTS CLICHÉ

During the Game

   It's a game of inches.
The crowd is going wild.
They're feeling each other out.
The fans are on their feet.
Denver draws first blood.
That play electrified the crowd.
It's going down to the wire.
This place is bedlam.
It's a real pressure cooker.
This place is pandemonium.
It's a nail biter.
You can feel the electricity.
It's a nip and tuck game.
They're within striking distance now.
It's a see-saw game.
Now we've got a football game.
We've got a real barn-burner.
It's a whole new ballgame.
The fans are getting their money's worth.
They've scratched and clawed their way
This is an offensive shootout. back into the game.

They're locked in a defensive battle.
These two teams are fighting tooth and nail.
These two teams are going at it like a couple
of heavyweights.
It's a shame somebody has to lose this
game.
They're playing with a sense of urgency.
They dodged the bullet there.

This game has gone true to form. They got a big break there.

What a difference a week makes. That was a missed opportunity.

That changed the complexion of the game.
You can feel the momentum swinging.
That took the crowd out of the game.
That'll give coach Jimmy Johnson a few more
grey hairs.
Coach Jimmy Johnson is absolutely livid on
the sideline.

That really silenced the crowd. He should get an Academy Award for that
acting job.
The crowd is really into it now.
 Good call by the official. That came at an inopportune time.

The officials were right on top of that. That could turn the tide of the game.

You know that score won't hold up. That was the game's defining play.

That was just huge. That set the tone of the game.

Great individual effort. Gut-check time.

You can't teach that. Crunch time.

That was a real heads-up play. You couldn't have written a better script.

That was a gutsy play. This game has turned into a chess match.

That was a textbook play. These two teams are going at it like a couple
of heavyweight fighters.
That was a page right out of the Broncos'
playbook. The Broncos must now pin their hopes on
John Elway.
They diagrammed that perfectly.
They can’t quite put them away.
That's stuff for the highlight film.
That was the big play that capped the rally.
He's having a whale of a game.
They're forced to burn a timeout.
He's having a monster game.
There's a buck-30 left in regulation. (A cliche
He's been the story of the game. way to say there's a minute and a half
remaining in regulation time)
The competitive juices are flowing.
Time is of the essence.
They're playing inspired defense.
The clock is their ally.
That's 14 unanswered points.
The clock is their enemy.
This could be the turning point.

Teams Going Up He runs a squeaky-clean program.

(Said when any college team has not
He's a good X's and O's coach. been under NCAA investigation within
the last 5 years)
They're a blue collar team.
They've gone to a youth movement.
They've got tremendous mental
toughness.
They're a dark horse team.
This team is showing flashes of
brilliance.
They're finally hitting their stride.
This team is really starting to gel.
This team is starting to make some
noise.
This could be a sleeper team.
They're a team to be reckoned with.
Everybody's on the same page.
The players have bought into the
system.
They're doing all the little things you
need to win.
This team is not going to sneak up on
anybody.
This team has turned the corner.
This team has raised the bar.
They've gotten over the hump.
This team has finally gotten off the
schneid.
They're loaded this year.
They have a strong supporting cast.
They've added a new wrinkle to their
offense.
This team travels well.
Those players form their nucleus.
He's really whipped them into shape.
He's got them headed in the right
direction.
This team takes on the personality of
their coach.
He must challenge his players.
These guys have been working their
tails off.
These guys have been busting their
butts.
They're finally getting the respect they
deserve.
They've been playing with confidence.
They've got great team chemistry.
This team is like a family.
They've got die-hard fans.
The city has rallied around this team.
You have to respect their quickness.
You have to respect their athleticism.
You have to respect their physicality.
(`Physicality' was invented by college
basketball analyst Clark Kellogg and is
currently spreading to different
announcers)
They do a great job defensively.
They're a multi-faceted team.
They're an offensive-minded team.
They have a high-octane offense.
They have a potent offense.
They've got a lot of depth.
They pride themselves on their defense.
They have a stingy defense.
They have a swarming defense.
They play tough "D".
They play tenacious defense.
They play punishing defense.
They play tremendous pressure
defense.
They play in-your-face defense.
They’ve been on a roll.
They’re over-achievers.
They can go the distance.
They won't be denied.
They strike fear in the hearts of their
opponents.
They’ve come out of nowhere.
They’ve returned from oblivion.
What an incredible turnaround.
They're a real Cinderella story.
They're having a storybook season.
They're having a dream season.
They’re a better team than their record
indicates.
They're no pushovers.
They give you so many different looks.
They have a lot of weapons.
They've got a tremendous ballclub.
This franchise has a storied past.
They're the winningest team in league
history. Winningest?
They can put up big numbers.
They're playing with swagger.
These guys are playing with a chip on
their shoulders.
They're a team of destiny.
They're on a mission.
When a Team is Winning
It's theirs to lose.
No lead is safe.
They can smell blood in the water.
It's been all Denver to this point.
They can't afford to get lackadaisical.
That score gives them a big cushion.
That score sealed the victory.
They've built an insurmountable lead.
They’re off to the races now.
They've answered the call.
They're hitting on all cylinders.
This team is running like a well-oiled
machine.
It's all over but the shouting.
This one's in the bag.
This is just a walk in the park for them
now.
They're blowing the game wide open.
They're going for the jugular.
They're running roughshod over them.
It looks like they're running up the score.
They're putting on a clinic.
Basketball
They match-up well size-wise.
They can really light up the scoreboard.
They play an up-tempo game.
They'll be dancing in March.
They play an exciting brand of
basketball.
They play above the rim.
They move well without the ball.
They live and die by their outside shot.
They need to dominate the boards.
They need to dominate the paint.
They need to dominate the offensive
glass.
They have to pound the ball inside.
They have to block out better.
They have to stop the dribble
penetration.
They score a lot of points in transition.
They've been red-hot.
They've been on fire.
They're shooting the lights out.
They're making a living behind the 3-
point arc.
It's raining threes.
They're shooting well from downtown.
( "Downtown" was introduced by
broadcaster Marv Albert and is now in
widespread use. But why aren't long-
range shooters in the SUBURBS ? )
He can really shoot the three-ball.
He can nail the trifecta.
They're getting some good, open looks.
He's been unconscious.
He's automatic.
He's money.
He can fill it up.
He can bury the three-point shot.
He's a pure shooter.
He has the hot hand.
He's been perfect from the charity stripe.
Well, I just jinxed him. (This is the
follow-up cliche if the `perfect' free throw
shooter misses)
He can really dish the rock.
He's been their spark off the bench.
He gives them good minutes off the
bench.
He provides them with instant offense.
He's a streaky shooter.
They can't get their shots to fall.
They can't buy a basket.
They can't find their range.
They've been ice-cold.
The free throw shooting has been
anemic.
They've been throwing up bricks.
He just threw up an air ball.
There's a lid on the basket.
That shot barely drew iron.
He lost the handle.
They need a timeout to stop the
bleeding.
They've got to knock down their free
throws.
I question their shot selection.
They have to find an answer for Reggie
Miller.
It's been a game of runs.
Now's the time to run some clock.
They need a defensive stop.
It's a two possession game.
Ten seconds is like an eternity.
This game has turned into a track meet.
This game has turned into a free-throw
shooting contest.
He's been quiet so far.
They've got to take it to the hole.
They've got to take it to the rack.
The big guy is really sweeping the glass.
He can really sky for those rebounds.
He's a force on the inside.
He can spot up for the open J.
That's his patented jumper.
He shoots a rainbow jumper.
They're really banging in there!
They have to body-up on the big guy.
Ree-jected!
Nothing but net.
Drained it!
They've got numbers!
Great no-look pass.
Count the basket!
Coast-to-coast!
He nails the buzzer beater!
He got away with a walk. (The cliche
way for an announcer to suggest a
player traveled with the ball)
He got hacked.
That was a smart foul.
That was a ticky-tack call.
That was a good piece of officiating.
(Used exclusively by analyst Billy
Packer for many years...now seeping
into the mainstream)
The refs should let them play.
Pre-game,post game, half-time
analysis
A tie is like kissing your sister.
You win as a team, you lose as a team.
It's been a tale of two halves.
Turnovers will be the key.
The intangibles will be the key.
Statistics can be misleading.
Statistics tell the whole story.
That's the key statistic.
That's the key to the game.
You take what the defense gives you.
This is always a tough place to play.
We don't play these games on paper.
Both teams are playing at a high level.
We've got an intriguing matchup. (Used
most often to describe first-round games
in the NCAA basketball tournament)
We've got the league's best offense
against the league's best defense --
something's got to give
These two teams don't like each
other.
There's been a lot of trash talking.
There's no love lost between these two
teams.
There's bad blood between these two
teams.
When these two teams get together you
can throw out their records.
It’s gonna be a war out there.
It's going to be a battle of the titans.
It's going to be a battle of epic
proportions.
This is a game for the ages.
This is a pivotal game for them.
This is their watershed game.
They're coming off a heartbreaking loss.
A win today snaps their four game
losing streak.
This game is for the bragging rights.
They're the sentimental favorites.
They match up well.
He gets the most out of his players.
There are no easy games in this league.
The season is a marathon - not a sprint.
Bad calls even out over the course of a
season.
On any given day any team is capable
of beating another team.
Good teams get better down the stretch.
They really have to take it to them.
They have to play with their ears pinned
back.
They need to turn up the intensity.
They have to step up and make plays.
They have to come out of the locker
room fired up.
They're loaded for bear.
They have to go out and take care of
business.
They can't let the crowd faze them.
They have to get after it.
They have to rise to the occasion.
They have to leave everything on the
field.
They have to stay hungry.
They have to keep the continuity.
They can't look past these guys.
They can't take these guys lightly.
They have to avoid a big letdown.
They have to come together as a team.
They have to believe in themselves.
They have to play within themselves.
They have to play like they're capable of
playing.
They have to step up their offensive
production.
They have to get the big guy involved in
the offense.
They'll have to find a way to contain
John Elway.
They'll have to find a way to limit what
Elway can do.
They can't expect to shut Elway down
completely.
They can't be intimidated.
They must control the tempo of the
game.
They have to dictate the tempo.
They have to stick to their bread-and-
butter offense.
They should stick to the fundamentals.
They have to eliminate the mental
mistakes.
They have to dig deep.
They have to suck it up.
They have to crank it up.
They have to turn it up a notch.
They need to step up to the next level.
They must capitalize on their
opportunities.
They have to take advantage of their
opportunities.
They have to bend but not break.
They have to stretch their defense.
They have to shore up their defense.
They have to pull out all the stops.
They should just go out there and have
fun.
They're playing for pride.
They're playing the role of spoilers.
They went 80 yards in the ensuing
possession. (Game analysis rarely uses
the simple words `next' or `following'.
Announcers strongly prefer `ensuing' to
sound more scholarly)
The final score was not a true indication.
The game was a lot closer than the final
score indicates.
It's easy to be a Monday morning
quarterback.
When a Team is Losing
That's gotta hurt.
They look out of synch.
He's seen enough. (Usually said when a
baseball manager pulls a pitcher or
when a basketball coach calls a timeout)
They're making a lot of un-forced errors.
They appear to lack consistency.
They have to generate some offense.
They're not playing to win - they're
playing not to lose.
They're back on their heels.
They're on the ropes.
They have to get back into their
offensive rhythm.
They're going to have to make some
adjustments.
They've got to go back and re-group.
(Individual players are often encouraged
to re-group, which makes as much
sense as 110 percent.)
They'll have a lot to discuss at halftime.
They must maintain their composure.
They have to get back on track.
They have a tough road to hoe. (The
sports world has distorted the original
cliche by replacing "row" with "road".
How do you hoe a road?)
They have to circle the wagons.
Their play is very tentative.
They don't have their heads in the
game.
The Broncos left their game in Denver.
They've gone to the well once too often.
They're not out of it yet.
They're still hanging around.
We've still got plenty of football left.
They have to slowly chip away at this
lead.
They won't go quietly.
No need to panic, there's plenty of time
left.
Never say die.
They can still try the "Hail Mary".
Well, stranger things have happened.
It ain't over 'til it's over.
It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings.
You can feel this one slipping away.
Looks like we'll have another team fall
from the ranks of the unbeaten.
That score makes it respectable.
That's too little, too late.
This game is getting out of hand.
When it rains it pours.
That really took the wind out of their
sails.
That could be the knock-out punch.
That was the back breaker.
There's the dagger.
That sealed their fate.
That's a nail in the coffin.
A lot of the faithful are heading for the
exits.
Warm up the bus.
Their defense is getting shredded.
The wheels just fell off.
The roof just caved in.
Lights out.
They're self-destructing.
They ran into a buzz saw.
They're getting an old-fashioned
woodshed whippin'.
The rout is on.
This is a real shellacking.
This is a train wreck.
This is turning into a real laugher.
This could get ugly.\
BADMINTON TERMINOLOGIES
Alley - side-extension of the court by l½
feet on both sides that is used for
doubles play.
Back Alley - Area between the back
boundary line and the long service line
for doubles.
Backcourt - the back third of the court,
in the area of the back boundary lines.
Baseline - Back boundary line at each
end of the court, that runs parallel to the
net.
Bird or birdie - another name for the
shuttlecock
Carry - An illegal tactic, also called a
sling or throw, in which the shuttle is
caught and held on the racket and then
slung during the execution of a stroke.
Center Line - Line perpendicular to the
net that separates the left and right
service courts.
Clear - A shot hit deep to the
opponent’s back court.
Court - Area of play, as defined by the
outer boundary lines.
Drive - A fast and low shot that makes a
horizontal flight over the net.
Drop - A shot hit sohly and with finesse
to fall rapidly and close to the net on the
opponent’s side.
Fault - A violation of the playing rules,
either in serving, receiving, or during
play (see common faults listed below).
Flick - A quick wrist and forearm
rotation that surprises an opponent by
changing an apparently soft shot into a
faster passing one; used primarily on
the serve and at the net.
Forecourt - Front third of the court,
between the net and the short service
line.
Hairpin Net Shot - Shot made from
below and very close to the net with the
shuttle rising, just clearing the net, and
then dropping sharply down the other
side. The shuttle’s flight approximates
the shape of a hairpin.
Halfcourt Shot - A shot hit low and to
midcourt, used effectively in doubles
against the up-and-back formation.
Kill - Fast, downward shot that cannot
be returned; a "putaway."
Let - A legitimate cessation of play to
allow a rally to be replayed.
Long Service Line - In singles, the
back boundary line. In doubles a line 2
l/2 feet inside the back boundary line.
The serve may not go past this line.
Match - A series of games (at U.S.
Olympic Festival-’93 it is three out of
five), to determine a winner. Midcourt -
The middle third of the court, halfway
between the net and the back boundary
line.
Net Shot - Shot hit from the forecourt
that just clears the net and drops
sharply.
Push Shot - Gentle shot played by
pushing the shuttle with little wrist
motion, usually from net or midcourt to
the opponent’s midcourt.
Racket - Instrument used by playerto hit
shuttlecock Weight:About3 ounces.
Length: 27 inches. Made of: Ceramic,
graphite, or boron frame; beef-gut string.
Cost: $60-$175 (unstrung).
Rally – this occurs when the players hit
the bird back and forth several times
before one side scores a point
Serve or Service – players put the
shuttlecock into play for points by
“serving” it to opponents, hitting it over
the net into a special part of the court
near their opponent
Service Court - Area into which the
serve must be delivered. Different for
singles and doubles play.
Short Service Line - The line 6 l/2 feet
from the net which a serve must reach
to be legal.
Shuttlecock - thje name for the object
that players hit, made of a ball of cork or
rubber with a crown of feathers in an
open conical shape.
Smash – when a shuttle is floated high
into the air, a player has time to unleash
a powerful overhand shot straight to the
floor of the opposing court
Wood Shot - Shot that results when the
base of the shuttle is hit by the frame of
the racket. Once illegal, this shot was
ruled acceptable by the International
Badminton Federation in 1963.
SWIMMING TERMS
Freestyle – most people know that
there are four strokes in swimming, and
most of us know them as front crawl,
backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke.
However, once you start swimming
more regularly, you will hear the word
freestyle used a lot. In swimming
terminology freestyle is the official name
of the front crawl stroke used more
commonly at a competitive level.
Dolphin kick – the dolphin kick is
usually used for the butterfly stroke, and
the start and turns in a race, as it is very
fast. It involves a whipping motion with
the legs, keeping your feet together,
similar to how a dolphin swims. This is
considered one of the hardest parts of
any stroke to learn, but there are plenty
of things you can do outside of the pool
to help speed you along.
Tumble turns – these are underwater
somersaults used in backstroke and
freestyle that allow swimmers to push
off from the wall for the next length.
These may seem like a tall order to a
novice swimmer, but they are fairly easy
once you have mastered the technique.
Body roll – body roll refers to the
rotation of your body from side to side. If
you are swimming freestyle, your body
should be tilting on its side to a 40-60%
angle, but your head should remain
straight in the water until you go to
breathe.
Bilateral breathing – bilateral breathing
is used in the freestyle stroke and
involves breathing on both sides of the
body. This helps to create smooth and
even strokes. It also helps to develop a
good body roll. This is essential to swim
great freestyle. Usually you breathe
after a set of three strokes, alternating
with breathing in on the left stroke on
the first set, and then on the right on the
second.
Swimming drills – when you start to
become more confident, you may be
asked by your teacher to do swimming
drills. This is swimming terminology for
simple exercises focusing on a
particular part of your technique. If you
are struggling to get the timing right on
your breaststroke kick, for example, you
might use a float to hold up your front
end and then focus all your attention on
the kick to help you improve it.
Glide – you may hear your teacher
telling you that you are gliding too much.
In swimming terminology gliding is when
you are coasting along with a pause in
your stroke. When swimming, you
should always be moving. If you have a
moment where you are not being
propelled through the water at all, then
you are losing speed and creating more
work for yourself as you accelerate
again with the next movement. Gliding
should be kept to a minimum and a
stroke should be as continuous as
possible.
Body position – if you are told that you
need to raise your body position, this
usually means that your hips and legs
are sinking too low in the water, which
means you are not streamlined and your
body has increased resistance through
the water. Try to keep your body as flat
as possible in the water, and as close to
the surface as possible.
TABLE TENNIS
American Grip - See Seemiller Grip  Counterloop - To loop a loop.
Antispin - An inverted rubber sheet that
is very slick so that spin does not take
on it. It usually has a very dead sponge
underneath. It is mostly used for
defensive shots. Also known as "anti."
Backhand - A shot done with the racket
to the left of the elbow for a righthander,
the reverse for a lefthander.
Backspin - A type of spin used mostly
on defensive shots. When you chop the
ball, you produce backspin. The bottom
of the ball will move away from you.
Blade - The racket, usually without
covering.
Block - A quick, off the bounce return of
an aggressive drive done by just holding
the racket in the ball's path.
Blocker - A style of play where blocking
is the primary shot.
Chop - A defensive return of a drive
with backspin, usually done from well
away from the table. (See backspin.)
Chop Block - A block where racket is
chopped down at contact to create
backspin.
Chopper - A style of play where
chopping is the primary shot.
Closed Racket - If the racket's hitting
surface is aimed downward, with the top
edge leaning away from you, it is
closed.
Counterdrive - A drive made against a
drive. Some players specialize in
counter-driving.
Counter-smash - To smash a smash.
Crosscourt - A ball that is hit diagonally
from corner to corner.
Crossover - A style of footwork that
require you to cross your feet.
Dead - A ball with no spin.
Deep - A ball that will not bounce twice
on the opponent's side of the table if
given the chance.
Default - Being disqualified from a
match for any reason.
Double Bounce - A ball that hits the
same side of the table twice. The person
on that side loses the point.
Down-the-Line - A ball that is hit along
the side of the table, parallel to the
sidelines, is hit down the line.
Drop Shot - Putting the ball so short
that the opponent has trouble reaching
the ball. Done when the opponent is
away from the table.
Flat - A ball that has no spin, usually
traveling with good pace. A shot where
the ball hits the racket straight on, at a
perpendicular angle.
Flip - An aggressive topspin return of a
ball that lands near the net. (A short
ball.)
Footwork - How a person moves to
make a shot.
Forehand - Any shot done with the
racket to the right of the elbow for a
righthander, to the left for a lefthander.
Free Hand - The hand not holding the
racket.
Handicap events - An event in a
tournament where points are spotted to
make the match even. Can be singles or
doubles.
Hard Rubber - A type of racket covering
with pips out rubber but no sponge
underneath. It was the most common
covering for many years until the
development of sponge rubber.
High Toss Serve - A serve where the
ball is thrown high into the air. This
increases both spin and deception.
Hitter - A style of play where hitting is
the primary shot.
Inverted Sponge - The most common
racket covering. It consists of a sheet of
pips out rubber on top of a layer of
sponge. The pips point inward, so the
surface is smooth. This is the opposite
of pips-out sponge, where the pips point
outward.
ITTF - International Table Tennis
Federation. The governing body for
table tennis in the world.
Kill shot - See smash.
Let - If play is interrupted for any reason
during a rally, a let is called and the
point does not count.
Loaded - A ball with a great deal of
spin.
Lob - A high defensive return of a
smash. Usually done with topspin or
sidespin.
Long - See deep.
Long Pips - A type of pips out rubber
where the pips are long and thin and
bend on contact with the ball. It returns
the ball with whatever spin was on it at
contact and is very difficult to play
against if you are not used to it.
Loop - A heavy topspin shot usually
considered the most important shot in
the game. Many players either
specialize in looping or in handling the
loop.
Looper - A style of play where the
primary shot is the loop.
Match - A two out of three or three out
of five games contest.
Open Racket - If the hitting surface of
the racket is aimed upwards, with the
top edge leaning towards you, it is open.
Penholder - A type of grip used mostly
by Asians. It gives the best possible
forehand but the most awkward
backhand of the conventional grips.
Pips - The small conical bits of rubber
that cover a sheet of table tennis rubber.
Pips-out - A type of racket covering. It
consists of a sheet of pips out rubber on
top of a layer of sponge. The pips point
outward, the opposite of inverted.
Playing Surface - The top of the table,
including the edges.
Push - A backspin return of backspin.
Usually defensive.
Racket - What you hit the ball with. The
blade plus covering.
Racket hand - The hand that holds the
racket.
Rally - The hitting of the ball back and
forth, commencing with the serve and
ending when a point is won.
Rating - A number that is assigned to all
tournament players after their first
tournament. The better the player the
higher the rating should be. The range is
from about 200 to about 2900.
Rating Events - An event in a
tournament where to be eligible you
must be rated under a specified amount.
Receive - The return of a serve.
Rubber - The racket covering.
Sometimes refers only to the rubber on
top of a sponge base.
Rubber Cleaner - Used to keep the
surface of inverted rubber clean.
Sandwich Rubber - A sponge base
covered by a sheet of rubber with pips,
with the pips pointing either in or out. If
pointed in, it is inverted sponge. If
pointed out, it is pips out sponge.
Seemiller Grip - A grip that is often
used in the United States. Named after
five-times U.S. National Champion
Danny Seemiller who first developed it.
Many coaches consider it an inferior grip
and outside the U.S. it is almost
unheard of. Also known as the American
Grip.
Serve - The first shot, done by the
server. It begins with the ball being
thrown up from palm of hand and struck
by the racket.
Shakehands Grip - The most popular
grip. It gives the best balance of
forehand and backhand.
Short - A ball that would bounce twice
on the opponent's side of the table if
given the chance.
Smash - A putaway shot. Ball is hit with
enough speed so opponent cannot
make a return.
Smother Kill - To smash right off the
bounce. Usually done against a lob.
Speed Glue - A type of glue that can be
put under a sheet of table tennis sponge
to make it faster and spinnier.
Spin - The rotation of the ball.
Sponge - The bouncy rubber material
used in sandwich covering. It is used
under a sheet of rubber with pips. It
revolutionized the game and ended the
hard rubber age in the 1950's.
Stroke - Any shot used in the game,
including the serve.
Topspin - A type of spin used on most
aggressive shots, with an extreme
amount being used in the loop shot.
When you topspin the ball, the top of the
ball moves away from you.
Two-Step Footwork - The most popular
style of footwork.
Umpire - The official who keeps score
and enforces rules during a match.
Underspin - See backspin.
YOUR OFFICIAL
GLOSSARY OF
RUNNER’S TERMS
BANDIT: these cheaters make their
way into a race without registering
or paying an entrance fee
BEER MILE: a race that consists of
one beer (12 oz, minimum of 5%
alcohol by volume) consumed every
¼ mile. Penalty laps are given for
vomiting.
BLACK TOENAILS: A runner’s
badge of honor, or just plain gross?
You decide. Discolored toenails on
runners are a result of impact and
pressure on the toe. Sometimes if
you’re lucky, they fall completely
off, too!
BONK: when you officially deplete
of energy to run any farther
BUCKET LIST: a race or event that
you really want to do in the future;
“that’s a bucket list race for me”
CHUB RUB: thigh chaffing from
skin rubbing together
CODE BROWN: desperately in
need of a place to have a bowel
movement; this may or may not end
in an unfortunate accident
CROP DUSTING: the act of
passing someone on the course
while simultaneously eeking out the
results of last night’s 15 bean and
pasta dinner extravaganza
DRAFTING: Letting another runner
do all the work. A race strategy
where you tuck behind another
runner and allow them to suck and
block the wind while you cruise
through the miles, waiting for the
perfect moment to break free.
DREADMILL: treadmills get this pet
name since they’re an often-loathed
piece of gym equipment for runners
forced indoors due to weather or
time constraints
FARTLEK: Swedish for “speed play,” and
that is exactly what it’s all about. Unlike
tempo and interval work, fartlek is start out too fast and within the first
unstructured and alternates moderate-to-hard minute, you’re short of breath and
efforts with easy throughout thinking, “What’s wrong? This hurts!
Why can’t I breathe?”—chances are
FITNESS LEAK: urine leakage caused by you’re hypoxic. Basically your lungs
high impact activities; most common in
aren’t yet keeping up with your
women affecting at least 25%
heart and you don’t have enough
FOMO: fear of missing out
oxygen pumping through your
system. Back off the pace until you
FUEL: When going long, runners warm up and catch your breath.
have to fill up their tank! Running
nutrition comes in all kinds of forms,
INTERVALS/REPEATS: For this
including energy gels, chews, bars,
type of training, short, fast bursts—
and even jelly beans. Others prefer
usually in the 200 to 800 meter
to chomp on pretzels or sugary
range—are alternated with slower
candies like Swedish Fish! Just
running intervals. They can leave
remember, it’s important to eat
you prone to despair and saying
around 100 calories after an hour of
evil things about your coach, but
running.
they are very effective for building
speed and fitness.
GARMINBRAG: a photograph of a
GPS watch face uploaded to
JUNK MILES: running at an easy
Facebook, because actually typing
pace inserted into a program in
how far or how fast you ran would
order to reach a weekly or monthly
be narcissistic
mileage total rather than for any
specific benefit
GHOST RUNNER: someone real or
imagined who is on your heels
KICK: the final push runners give at
during a race or run
the end of a race or training run
GOING BARKLEY: bushwhacking it
LEAP FROGGING: continually
through an unmarked section of
passing and being passed by the
land
same person(s) during a race
HAMMER/DROP THE HAMMER:
LONGGONER: a run you knew
running hard at a challenging
right from the first mile was going to
section or at the end of a run or
suck in every way imaginable
race
LOTTOSTALK: the process of
HYPOXIC: You know when you are
checking your e-mail every five
so excited to go for a run that you
minutes to see if you won a lottery
spot for the Chicago, NYC, or
Marine Corps Marathon
LSD: NOT the hallucinogen. LSD is
an abbreviation for “Long, Slow
Distance,” which refers to the
practice of running longer distances
at an “easy” pace
MARATERNITY LEAVE: a sick day
utilized the Monday after a
marathon, solely to avoid walking
up the stairs of your office building
MOUNTAIN GOATING: walking or
running uphill in a crouched position
using hands and feet to climb
NEGATIVE SPLITS: running your
second half of a run faster than the
first half.  You also are considered
to have run negative splits if each
mile is faster than the previous
NEONTINO: a runner dressed in
head-to-toe neon clothing.
Reserves the right to yell “Are you
blind?!” at inattentive drivers and/or
mountain bikers
NEWBIE: a newbie, or beginner,
often learns the basics of the sport
by training for a short race, like a
5K. Remember, everyone started
here!
OUT AND BACK: when a course is
out a ways and back to the same
spot
POINT TO POINT: when a course
starts and finishes at different
locations
QUAD BUSTER: long downhill
stretches of running
QUESOTHERAPY: A proven cure
for post-run grumpiness, involving
salty tortilla chips and melted
cheese in a carefully measured
dose of “all-you-can-eat.” For
maximum effectiveness, combine
with beer supplements.
RABBIT: someone who goes out
with the intention of setting a fast
pace but then often drops out; a
rabbit may be sanctioned by the
race to pace elite runners
ROADKILL: a person sitting or
laying alongside a road or trail
during a race
RUNCATION: planning a vacation
around a race
RUNCHIES/RUNGRY: the hungry
sensation produced by running, this
is followed by a short temper if food
is not quickly obtained
RUNCRASTINATION: putting off
unwanted tasks to go for a run or
think about running
RUNFIE: runner’s selfie. Taken
before, during, or after a run. Term
coined by Run, Selfie, Repeat
RUNHOLE: a term assigned to a for an extended period of time, or
runner who talks incessantly about annually participates in the same
running and neglects friends and race
family for training and races. Term
coined by Run, Selfie, Repeat SWAG: the cool gear that you get
RUNNER’S HIGH: Most runners for showing up at a race or expo
experience a state of euphoria and
pure bliss known as “the runner’s TAPER: the period in which a
high” either during or after a run. It runner is cutting back on training
might just be the reason runners and mileage to rest before race day
run—and maybe why they’re so
crazy, too.
TEMPO: for a tempo run think
about snappy leg turnover at a
SANDBAGGER: A person who sustainable speed, like half
publicly downplays their training, marathon or marathon pace
bashes their (often new) gear,
questions their physical ability and
THE WALL: the figurative obstacle
then proceeds to push the pace on
that runner’s need to break through
a group run or smoke a race.
in order to find a 3rd or 4th wind.
Sandbagging is not to be confused
Often shows up after bonking.
with being humble.
THRESHOLD RUN: When you
SHINNING: the act of kicking,
want to test your lactate threshold
tripping over, and/or walking into
and dry heave when done. They
furniture while sleepily dressing in
are generally shorter and faster
the dark for your early-morning
than tempo running and can be
workout
broken down into painful repeats
with only enough rest to not die (30
SNOT ROCKET/FARMER’S to 60 seconds).
BLOW: ejecting snot from your
nose by closing one nostril with a
TRAIL MONEY: toilet paper
finger and blowing forcefully out of
the other
WIZARD STICKS: trekking poles
STICKY: covering your car with
running related stickers COMMON ACRONYMS
PR: personal record, your speediest
STREAKER: keeping their clothes
time at any given distance
on (usually!), a streaker is a runner
PB: personal best, not peanut butter
who runs consecutively every day
CR: course record, fastest time run 10k: 6.2 miles; 10,000 meters
on that course 15k: 9.3 miles; 15,000 meters
NR: national record, fastest time in Half Marathon: 13.1 miles; 21.1k
the country run at any given Marathon: 26.2 miles; 42.2k
distance Ultra marathon: any distance greater
WR: world record, fastest time in the than 26.2 miles but typically
world run at any given distance referring to a 50k race or beyond
DFL: dead freaking last, an 50k: 31.1 miles
unofficial race place and point of Tri/triathlon: a race which involves
pride among back-runners swimming, cycling and running
ITB: iliotibial band, that pesky fascia Sprint (750m swim, 20km bike, 5k
band from your hip to the knee run)
FKT: fastest known time Olympic or standard (1.5k/40km/10k)
MUT: mountain/ultra/trail, a type of ½ Ironman (1.2 miles/56 miles/13.1
crazy runner miles)
DOMS: delayed onset muscle Ironman (2.4 miles/112
soreness, an epidemic among long- miles/26.2miles)
distance runners
DNF: did not finish, the label
slapped on your results when you
do not cross the finish line
LSD: long, slow distance, not the
drug (sorry)
BQ: Boston qualifier, any marathon
that’s certified to award you a ticket
to the coveted Boston Marathon
based on your time
DISTANCES
100 meters: shortest common sprint
race held outdoors
200 meters: 1/2 lap around a
standard track
400 meters: 1/4 mile, one lap around
a standard track
800 meters : 1/2 mile, two laps
around a standard track
1200 meter : 3/4 mile, three laps
around a standard track
1500 meter : .93 mile, metric mile, 3
3/4 laps around track
5k: 3.1 miles; 5,000 meters