Every hobby has its own language, and running is no exception. Show up to your first fun run or scroll through a running Facebook group and you'll hit a wall of jargon — PR, negative split, tempo, taper, DNF. It can make beginners feel like outsiders in their own sport.
This glossary fixes that. Here are 25 running terms every Filipino runner should know, explained in plain English, so you can read training plans, understand race announcements, and talk shop with your kada without nodding along blankly.
Race-Day Terms
1. Gun Start / Gun Time
The official start of the race, timed from the starting signal (the "gun"). Your gun time is measured from that signal, whether you were at the front or stuck in the back of the crowd.
2. Chip Time
Your personal time, measured by a timing chip from the moment you actually cross the start line to the moment you cross the finish. In a big, crowded race, chip time is fairer than gun time because it doesn't count the seconds you spent shuffling to the start.
3. Gun Start (Wave Start)
In larger races, runners are released in "waves" or groups to reduce crowding. You start with your assigned wave, and chip time keeps it fair.
4. Corral
The staging area at the start line where runners line up by expected pace — faster runners in front, slower runners behind. Line up honestly so you don't block faster runners or get trampled by them.
5. Bib
The number tag you pin to your shirt. It identifies you, carries your timing chip, and is the star of every finish-line photo. In the Philippines, collecting bibs is half the fun — see what to do with your race medals and bibs.
6. PR / PB (Personal Record / Personal Best)
Your fastest-ever time at a distance. Setting a new PR is the sweetest feeling in recreational running. Every runner chases their next one.
7. DNF / DNS
DNF means "Did Not Finish" — you started but didn't complete the race. DNS means "Did Not Start." Both happen to experienced runners; neither is shameful.
8. Cutoff Time
The maximum time allowed to finish (or reach a checkpoint). Miss it and you're officially DNF, and sometimes swept off the course. Common in marathons and ultras.
Pace and Effort Terms
9. Pace
How fast you're running, usually expressed as minutes per kilometer (e.g., "6:00/km"). Learning to control your pace is the most important beginner skill — see how to pace your first 5K and 10K.
10. Split
Your time for a segment of the race, usually each kilometer. Reviewing your splits afterward shows whether you paced evenly or faded.
11. Negative Split
Running the second half of a race faster than the first. The gold standard of pacing — it means you conserved energy early and finished strong.
12. Positive Split
The opposite: slowing down in the second half. Usually a sign you went out too fast. The most common beginner mistake.
13. Cadence
How many steps you take per minute. A higher cadence (around 170–180) with shorter strides is generally more efficient and easier on your joints than long, pounding strides.
14. Zone 2 / Easy Run
Low-intensity running at a pace where you can hold a conversation. It builds your aerobic base and should make up most of your training. We wrote a full Zone 2 running guide for Filipino runners.
Training Terms
15. Tempo Run
A sustained "comfortably hard" effort — roughly the fastest pace you could hold for about an hour. Tempo runs raise the pace you can sustain before fatigue sets in.
16. Intervals
Alternating hard bursts with recovery jogs or walks (e.g., run hard 400m, jog 200m, repeat). Intervals build speed and power.
17. Fartlek
Swedish for "speed play" — unstructured intervals where you speed up and slow down as you feel, like sprinting to the next lamppost. Fun, flexible, and great for beginners.
18. Long Run
The longest run of your week, done at an easy pace to build endurance. The anchor of any distance-training plan.
19. Taper
Reducing your training volume in the one to three weeks before a big race so you arrive fresh. Cutting back feels wrong after months of hard work, which leads to our next term.
20. Taper Madness
The restlessness, phantom aches, and anxiety runners feel during the taper. Totally normal. Your body is fine — your brain just misses running. Our guide to taper madness explains what's actually happening and how long a taper should be.
21. Base Building
A phase of mostly easy running to build aerobic fitness before adding harder work. The foundation everything else stands on.
22. Brick / Cross-Training
Cross-training is non-running exercise (cycling, swimming, strength work) that builds fitness while sparing your legs from impact. Smart injury prevention — see our guide to common running injuries and how to avoid them.
The Ones You'll Feel
23. Hitting the Wall (Bonking)
The sudden, brutal fatigue that hits when you run out of stored carbohydrate, usually late in a marathon. Your legs turn to lead and your pace collapses. Proper fueling and pacing keep the wall at bay — our full guide to hitting the wall and how to beat it covers both.
24. Runner's High
The euphoric, floaty feeling that can wash over you mid- or post-run, thanks to endorphins and endocannabinoids. It's real, and it's a big reason runners keep coming back — our guide to runner's high and how to chase it covers the science and how to make it happen more often.
25. DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)
The soreness that peaks a day or two after a hard effort — why you feel worst two mornings after a race, not the next day. Easy movement, hydration, and good post-run nutrition help it pass.
Now You Speak Runner
That's the core vocabulary. You don't need to memorize every term today — you'll absorb them naturally as you train and race. Bookmark this page and come back whenever a new one trips you up.
The best way to make these words real is to go run. Browse upcoming fun runs in Cebu and the Philippines, pick your distance, and put the vocabulary to use. Then log your race on RunMate — your gun time, your splits, your PRs — and build a running history you'll love looking back on.
— Norman, founder of RunMate
Frequently Asked Questions About Running Terms
What does PR mean in running?
PR stands for Personal Record — your fastest-ever time at a given distance. A PB (Personal Best) means the same thing. When a runner sets a new PR, it means they just ran their fastest 5K, 10K, or marathon ever.
What is a gun start in a fun run?
Gun start (or gun time) is the moment the race officially begins for everyone, timed from the starting signal. It differs from chip time, which is your personal time from when you actually crossed the start line — useful in crowded races where it takes a while to reach the start.
What does 'hitting the wall' mean?
Hitting the wall is the sudden, dramatic fatigue that hits when your body runs out of stored carbohydrate (glycogen), usually late in a long race like a marathon. Your legs feel heavy and your pace collapses. Proper fueling and pacing help you avoid it.
What is a tempo run?
A tempo run is a sustained effort at a 'comfortably hard' pace — around the fastest pace you could hold for about an hour. Tempo runs train your body to clear fatigue and hold a strong pace longer, making race pace feel easier.
What does DNF mean in racing?
DNF stands for Did Not Finish — a runner started the race but didn't complete it, whether from injury, exhaustion, or missing a cutoff time. DNS means Did Not Start. Neither is shameful; every experienced runner has stories about both.
