juoksenjuoksin

Juoksenjuoksin is a Finnish neologism used in informal discussions of running. The word is formed by combining juoksen (I run) and juoksin (the runner or I ran), and it is used to describe a particular approach to training or a persona associated with it. The term is not listed in standard Finnish dictionaries and is mainly found in online forums, running blogs, and social media since the late 2010s.

In practice, juoksenjuoksin refers to a running method that blends varying intensities within a single workout. Practitioners often alternate relatively fast segments with easier recovery periods in quick succession, prioritizing cadence, rhythm, and perceived effort over maintaining a single, strict tempo. Some users apply it more as a training philosophy or mindset than a formal coaching framework. The term can also describe a runner who embraces this style as part of their identity.

Relation to established methods is informal. Juoksenjuoksin overlaps with concepts such as fartlek, interval training, and unstructured speed play, but it remains a colloquial label. It lacks a precise, universally agreed protocol. In coaching literature, comparable approaches are described with more formal terms, while juoksenjuoksin persists mainly as a humorous or self-descriptive label in Finnish-speaking communities.

See also: juosta, juoksija, fartlek, interval training.