Swedish Speed Play: Get Faster Using Fartlek Training
Not just for Ikea lovers or the faint of heart, Fartlek training is one of the most commonly used workouts in running — and one of the most beginner-friendly! Swedish for ‘speed play’, Fartlek training refers to any type of run or workout in which you alternate periods of faster running with periods of slower running. They’re a great introduction to speed workouts, mostly because each runner gets to decide for herself how hard to push. There’s no need for GPS devices or tracks to measure how far you’ve gone, either — Fartlek training can be as simple as dashing to the next tree down the road! While training can be structured with pre-determined time or distance intervals, Fartlek training is often done based on feel. All you need to know is this — mix in bursts of faster, more intense running with stretches of slower-paced, relaxed running. You have the…
How to Run Faster: An Introduction to Speed Workouts
You’ve been running steadily and consistently and are now looking to take the next step forward in your training. You’re Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi is whispering in your ear that you need to head to Dagobah to train with Yoda. You’ve gotten as far as you can in your base building phase and are ready to get a bit faster. Well, here’s how to run faster — you start to incorporate speed workouts into your training schedule! Speed workout is an umbrella term for all the different types of strength building and faster paced exercises that should, if done correctly, make you faster. They often consist of shorter, quicker runs, also called intervals, broken up by small periods of slower running or rest. The key is to run these intervals much faster than your normal runs, often even faster than your goal race pace (if you’re doing any kind…