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Learning notes:
Different phrases to use when going for a run:
- Do you want to do intervals or go at a steady speed?
- Let’s make sure we warm up first.
- Make sure you get a good stretch in.
- Should we sprint the last stretch?
- I was thinking of taking it easy today.
- I’m still sore from last week!
- This route isn’t just a jog around the block.
- Let’s not drop the pace too much.
- I like to run outdoors at a steady speed.
- I follow a set route.
- I like to take a route near the water.
Practise speaking dialogue from this episode:
Bonus Practice: #84 Going for a run (Med)
SBS English
02:51
Vocabulary:
Fit is to be in good physical health.
A trend is the general direction something is developing in or what’s popular at the time.
Route is a way or path with a start point and end.
To be competitive means always trying to win or do something better than other people do
To keep up with someone or something is to stay close to them or to make sure that you know about them.
To take it easy is to slow down or do something in a relaxed or calm manner.
Sore is painful.
An interval is a pause or break in an activity. In running, to do intervals mean to switch between fast and slower running.
To sprint is to run as fast as possible. A sprint is a section of a run in which you run very fast.
To stretch one’s muscles is to extend or straighten your limbs to prepare them for physical exercise. It can also refer to action of pulling something to make it longer or wider.
A stretch can mean a time when you stretch your muscles. It can also mean a period of time or distance.
The last stretch means the last part of a period or distance.
A steady speed means a speed that stays the same and is neither too fast nor too slow.
To warm up is to prepare for an upcoming activity, usually a physical activity.
A jog is a slow, steady run that is not as fast as sprinting, but faster than walking.
A block is a small square of connecting streets.
The pace is the rhythm or speed in which you run or walk.
Colloquial expressions:
If you have what it takes, you have the necessary qualities for success.
Let’s get into it is another way of saying let's start or begin a discussion, activity or task.
To get/fit something in is to find time or space to do it, even when things are busy
Learning focus:
In the dialogue the friends disagree about how to run, but they do this in a very friendly way without sounding too bossy.
Allan wants to do a steady run rather than intervals, but Claire obviously wants to run faster sometimes. She makes a suggestion:
- Claire: "Should we at least sprint the last stretch?"
Instead of disagreeing with Allan, she suggests a small change using should and adding at least.
- Allan: "I was thinking of taking it easy today."
Allan does not directly disagree with Claire’s suggestion, but uses an informal phrase “I was thinking of doing" to state his preference, which is more friendly. Claire still wants to exercise a little faster, so she says:
- Claire: "Let’s not drop the pace too much though."
Again, Claire does not directly disagree with Allan, but makes a suggestion using Let’s’ and finishes with though, a word that softens it.
Transcript:
(Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript)
SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia.
Ready? Put on those running shoes because today we are going for a run! I’m Josipa and I like running to stay fit and healthy. Well, that’s the plan...but work has been so busy lately that I haven’t had the time to go. I actually enjoy running with friends, so now that you’re all here with me - get ready, get set, go!
See if you can keep up with me! Phew. By the way, ‘to keep up with somebody’ is to stay close to them.
‘Keeping up’ can also mean making sure that you know the latest news about something.
Let me give you another example. Keeping up with the latest fashion trends can be expensive—just like keeping up with new technology can be challenging these days! I like keeping up with the news in the morning, but first I’m going to keep fit. I hope you guys keep up with me today.
Now, everyone has their own way of running. I like to run outdoors at a steady speed and follow a set route. A steady speed means not too fast and not too slow, and a set route is a route that is planned path with a start and end point.
When I go running, I like to take a route near the water – it helps distract me from my sore legs! After a run, I often complain about feeling sore. Sore means painful.
You know who also complains a lot about feeling sore? Allan! He and Claire run together few times a week. In fact, they’re just about to go on a run. Let’s see if we can keep up with them. Hopefully we won’t have to hear them complaining about feeling sore!
Claire
Do you want to do intervals or just a steady run?
Allan
I prefer to keep things steady, but let’s make sure we warm up first.
Claire
OK, make sure you get a good stretch in. Should we at least sprint the last stretch?
Allan
I was thinking of taking it easy today. This route isn’t just a jog around the block!
Claire
Haha yeah, I’m still sore from last week! Let’s not drop the pace too much though. Try to keep up!
Do you think Allan has what it takes to keep up with Claire? To have what it takes means to be good enough to do it. She can be very competitive, that is, she’s always tries to win or do something better than other people do.
And we can try to make our English better by learning the phrases from their dialogue. Let’s get into it. Claire first said,
Do you want to do intervals or just a steady run?
So, we’ve already heard that the word steady, in this context, means running at a comfortable speed – not too fast, not too slow. But what does Claire mean when she says intervals?
Intervals are pauses or breaks during an activity. In running, intervals mean switching between running fast and running more slowly or walking.
For example, you might run very fast for 30 seconds, and then run slowly or walk for a minute before running fast again. If you do that, you’re running intervals. Allan then said,
I prefer to keep things steady, but let’s make sure we warm up first.
Allan doesn’t want to change the pace of his run, but he does want to ‘warm up’ before he starts running. And no, he’s not feeling cold.
To warm up, in this context, means to do some light exercises to stretch your muscles and get them working a little bit before you start a using them for something a little harder. In general, we can say we are warming up for something if we are getting ready or preparing for it.
For example, I always warm up my voice with some singing exercises before I record an episode so that my voice is a little bit freer. Claire then said,
OK, make sure you get a good stretch in.
If you want to get something in, you want to find time or space to do it, even when things are busy.
For example, I often say, “I’d like to get more reading in this week”, meaning, I’d like to find time to read more this week. Whether I do it or not is another story!
When Claire told Allan to make sure he gets a good stretch in, she was basically telling him to take the time to stretch his muscles properly.
To stretch means to extend or lengthen your muscles or body. It can also refer to action of pulling something to make it longer or wider. Claire then asked:
Should we at least sprint the last stretch?
The last stretch? The word a stretch can also mean a continuous area, like a stretch of road or a stretch of water.
But when we say the ‘last stretch’ we talk about the final part of a task or activity.
If at work someone asks about a long job that you have been doing and you have nearly finished, you can say: “I’m on the last stretch before finishing my presentation.”
Claire asked Allan if they should sprint the last stretch – the last part of their run. A sprint is a short, fast run. I often sprint to catch the bus in the morning if I am a little late.
You can also use the word ‘sprint’ whenever you’re putting a lot of effort in over a short period of time, usually so that you can finish it quickly. For example, I’m currently sprinting to finish reading the book before my club meeting tomorrow.
Allan replied,
I was thinking of taking it easy today.
If you’re taking it easy, you’re not working too hard, you’re having a more relaxed day.
You can also say ‘take it easy’ to someone if they’re being too serious or pushing too hard, and you think they should be more relaxed. Allan continued,
This route isn’t just a jog around the block!
A jog is a slow, steady run. So jogging is not as fast as sprinting, but it’s faster than walking.
A block is a section of a street typically with a road on each side. It’s a part of a neighbourhood or city, usually with several buildings on it. I’ve heard this word many times in American movies. Have you? Back to Claire,
I’m still sore from last week! Let’s not drop the pace too much though.
Poor Allan. Seems like he won’t be taking it easy like he hoped!
Claire says she is still sore from last week’s run, which tells us it was pretty tough because she’s in pain, but she’s still determined to get a good run in today as well!
Claire also said she doesn’t want to ‘drop the pace too much’ meaning, she doesn’t want to run too slow or take it too easy. Pace is the rhythm or speed in which you run or walk. And if you drop it, then you go more slowly.
Maybe Allan should’ve chosen to run intervals!
A big thank you to our guest MP Singh. Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan voiced the characters of Allan and Claire, and Professor Lynda Yates was our educational consultant.
