New sports come with new words. You don’t need a dictionary to train; you just need a few definitions that make the plan make sense. Here’s the plain‑English version of the terms you’ll hear most.
Tempo. A “comfortably hard” effort you can sustain while speaking in short phrases. It trains your engine without wrecking form.
Threshold. The line where breathing becomes difficult to control. Short intervals here teach you to manage effort without falling apart.
Brick. A workout that stacks modalities—like running and stations—so you can practice transitions and pacing under breath.
Transition. The few seconds between stations and runs where athletes either leak time or make it back. Two audible exhales, then move.
Set strategy. How you break big rep counts (like wall balls) into smaller pieces you can hold. Smart plans look conservative and finish faster.
Cadence. Rhythm in your steps, strokes, or reps. It’s a pacing tool, not a metronome obsession.
Posture cue. A short reminder like “ribs stacked” or “short steps” that helps your body find neutral under fatigue.
RPE. Rate of perceived exertion. A 1–10 estimate of how hard something feels. Pair it with splits to learn your body.
Deload. A planned step down in volume or intensity to let adaptation catch up. A deload saves more training than it costs.
You’ll hear more terms as you go—but these few unlock most conversations. When a coach says “tempo brick with clean transitions,” you’ll know exactly what to do.
