Do you feel ready to race but, as a newbie, you want to know a bit more about some of the specialist terminology? If you’ve been itching to enter that 10K, or tempted to tackle a marathon, don’t panic about the technical banter on race day. You’ve done the training; now let us gently guide you through some of those terms that you might not be familiar with, in our jargon-busting A to Z

Words: Laura Briggs

A is for... Aid station

Also known as love station, pit stop or checkpoint. If you’re running 10K or more, expect the station to provide the likes of jelly babies, flat coke, squash, bits of fruit, a Mexican wave, and hopefully some gentle encouragement. Sometimes, depending on the race, you might be required to check in at the aid stations so race officials don’t lose you, but can we warn you not to stop for too long? You might never get going again!

Images: stock.adobe.com

B is for... Bling

Bling is a common term for the shiny medal you get given at the end of the race; it comes in all shapes from dragons to cider apples and can be made from metal, wood, or even wildflower seeds. The bling is proof that you completed the run – alongside your Strava record, that is – so hang on the bedpost with pride… you deserve it!

C is for... Chip

Not the edible type, sadly – although you’ll be more than ready for a big portion of fries by the end of the race. No, this time we’re talking about a timing gadget which you’ll either need to attach to your shoelaces before the off, or will already be fixed on the back of your bib number. If it’s attached to the shoelace, remember to hand it back at the end. Once the chip is attached to you, you don’t need to do anything. Just cross the start and finish lines and the chip will take care of the rest!

D is for... DNF

DNF stands for Did Not Finish, and is used for anyone who doesn’t complete the course or doesn’t show up. Despite how it sounds, it doesn’t signify a failure; everyone knows that lots can go wrong when running. It might be that you’re floored by an injury, or things don’t work out on the day. Try to push the disappointment of a DNF aside and focus on new opportunities down the line.