Random Sports Definitions and Terms

Hamstring Strain

Micro-tears of the large muscles of the back of the thigh; can be treated by ice and stretching and strengthening exercises


Half-mile

804.5 meters; approximately 2 laps around track


Log

A record of your training and running that helps you stay motivated, monitor your progress and spot trends in your running

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Hash House Harriers

A social club of runners that has been described as “a drinking club with a running problem”; members, called “hashers”, are given colorful nicknames and club runs are modeled after the old English game of Hares and Hounds; the runs begin when one or two runners, called “hares”, set a trail that the other runners, known as “hounds”, try to follow


Intensity

Degree of effort or exertion


Half-marathon

13.1 miles; 21.1K


Minerals

Essential nutrient of body; must be ingested in the correct amounts in the body; aid in the processes which use the other nutrients and compose some of the structures of the body; may be obtained through diet or supplementation; overconsumption can be toxic


Glycogen

The form in which carbohydrates are stored in the body; there are two main stores of glycogen – the liver and the muscles; when glycogen stores are depleted athletes fatigue, “hit the wall”, “bonk”; stores can be maximally filled by eating a high carbohydrate diet leading up to an event

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Piriformis Syndrome

Pain in the buttocks resulting from a tight piriformis muscle pressing against the sciatic nerve; can be treated by stretching exercises for the buttocks


Medial Post

Denser midsole material (often gray) added to the medial (or arch side) of the midsole to provide stability and control excessive pronation


LSD

Long, slow distance; slow running designed to improve endurance


Glucose

Basic sugar; form of sugar into which all carbohydrates are first converted and appear in the blood


Marathon

26.2 miles; 42.2K

Marathon Races :


World Championships

Running and track and field championships held once every 2 years; almost as prestigious as the Olympics


Fast Twitch

Type of muscle fiber (cells which compose the muscles) which contract rapidly and powerfully but fatigue quickly


Heart Rate

Contraction of the heart usually measured as beats per minute


Prep

In the U.S., a high school athlete. From the term “preparatory school,” a school for preparing for college. Slightly different from the IAAF definition of “Junior.”


Midsole

The part of the running shoe between the upper and outsole that provides cushioning and support. Most midsoles are made of either EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or polyurethane foam. EVA is lighter and more flexible than polyurethane, but it is not as durable. It can come in various densities with gray-colored EVA being denser than white. The denser, gray EVA is usually placed along the medial side of the shoe to provide stability and motion control and is often referred to as a “medial post.” Some midsoles have additional cushioning technology such as air, gel, grids, etc.


Aerobic Conditioning

Training that improves endurance


Plantar Fasciitis

Foot injury where there are micro-tears of the arch; especially painful in the morning; can be treated by stretching the arch and calves; massage with hands or rubbing foot on golf ball or shaving cream can; if untreated can lead to heel spurs (spur of bone from the heel bone)


  • “Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it’s all about.” — PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian