My daughter Hannah tells me that she is fluent in English, Sign Language, Latin and “Running”.  When she told me that I understood the first 3 but, “Running” – as a language?  She tells me that even though she is not a runner (and has no desire to be, she is a dancer) that she can speak “Running”. Think about it, when you have conversations about running with your friends do they have that glazed “deer in the headlights” look in their eyes, like they can’t understand what you are saying? Do you have to explain what you mean when you tell your friends “I have to stop at the store for GU and beans for my speed workout in the morning so I can reach my next PR”?

  • PR
  • GU
  • Speed work
  • Intervals
  • Chip timing
  • Marathon
  • 5K.10K. Half marathon
  • Garmin
  • Asics, Saucony, New Balance, Brooks, New Balance, Adidas, Hoka
  • Minimalist shoes
  • 4 mil vs 8 mil shoe drop
  • Nip guards
  • Bibs
  • Bling
  • Wicking material
  • Team “11” and chafing
  • Black toenails

And that is just a partial list.  No wonder our non-running and walking friends look at us with that glazed look.

We do have a language all own and when we first begin running or walking we have to learn the language. Luckily, runners and walkers are very intelligent and we have good teachers who share their knowledge with us. Before we know it, we are fluent and are ready to “talk the talk” and we become the teachers to the next newbie. You didn’t realize when you began this journey that one of the benefits would be learning a new language did you?

Now, the next time someone asks you if you speak any other languages, you can say YES – I speak “Running”!