As it’s getting warmer, the spring running season is truly starting as more races are coming through. At long last, you’ve been training hard and now it’s time to see how your hard work pays off. If you think you knew running through training, hold on to your horses, there’s more to come. Racing is exhilarating and challenging but it doesn’t come without its expectations and its own terminology. You may hear these before race day and if so great! If not, keep reading, you don’t wanna miss this!
This article specifically pertains to vocabulary that is applied almost universally to all races. (Although there are unique terminologies for trail races but more on that in another article.) The terms will generally be in order of when it would occur, either before, during, or after the race.
Shake Out Run: A short, easy run done around the day before the race. This allows the muscles to get moving a little to loosen up any tight muscles and so on.
Bib: The paper with your race number that you wear on the front of your person.
Corral: Starting area at a race divided into sections for different pace groups.
BQ: Boston Qualifying event.
Taper: Reducing volume and intensity 1-2 weeks before a race (depending on the distance), to allow the body to rest and be ready for race day.
COT: Cut off time/time limit.
Pacer: A runner/group that sets a specific pacing target across a distance. They are meant to be able to run that pace the entire distance. Or approach the race in a manner to help other runners still achieve that average pace.
Out and Back: Running out to a certain point in a route then doing a 180 and going back to the beginning of the course.
Point To Point: A course where the start and end are in two different locations.
Those are some terms to be familiar with before race day in general. Next we’re looking at terms to be familiar with during a race.
Aid Station: Stations along the race route that provide water, fuel and help if needed.
DNS: Did not start a race.
DNF: Did not finish a race.
Ghost runner: Feeling like someone is right behind you while running, even if they’re not.
Banking Time: Going faster in the beginning of a race with the hopes that when your pacing fails, time was “saved up” or “banked” so you won’t end up slower overall (this is not a recommended method to run a race, don’t do this).
Drafting: Maintaining close proximity to the competitor in front of you to reduce your efforts and give you an advantage because it takes less energy to maintain the same effort.
Tangents: Curves/corners, taking them as tightly as possible to maintain as accurate of course distance/route as possible.
Kick/Nos Out: Extra surge of speed at the end of a race, typically done within the last ¼ mile left.
DQ: Disqualified
Now comes post race info!
Shake Down Run: Easy run after a hard workout or race (also called a cooldown).
OA: Overall, the top 3 runners of the whole race between genders.
AG: Age Group. Runners are grouped by age for awards in either 5 or 10 year increments.
Before we let you go for your race, there are a couple of bits of etiquette in racing to keep in mind.
- When going through a water/aid station during a race, do not stop right at the station. Take a cup and step away from the table to avoid interfering with other runners around and behind you. If you have water bottle that needs to be refilled, the same principle applies, get a hold of a volunteer and get them to help you on the side of the course
- Race bibs should always be worn on the front of your shirt or shorts to ensure the RF readers detect them. This is extremely important if you’re looking to place, you could be costing yourself a placement if the bib is on your back.
- While racing hosts and volunteers do their best to help guide runners in the right direction, they are human. Which means you ultimately are responsible for knowing the course.
- Even though you may be in a race and you’re trying to run fast, you’re still expected to be polite. Don’t intentionally block someone who may be trying to pass you, if you don’t like it, run faster.
- This should go without saying, but swearing is heavily frowned upon. Races are meant to be family friendly events that people of all ages can attend. Depending on the severity, it can and will get you disqualified from a race if you have a bad attitude towards officials or other runners.
- NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY: This includes food: meals, fuel or otherwise, clothing, shoes. This is a staple rule.
- This one is a superstition more than anything, do with this what you will. Don’t wear the swag you are given during the race, it’s viewed as bad luck.
There you have it folks! While this list is not exhaustive it should give you all the info you need to understand the racing vernacular. Now, get out there and crush your races this spring!