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Fartlek
Workouts -- Speed Play for Beginners (and the Advanced!)
Fartlek workouts, fartlek run training
A good introduction to running speed workouts
for beginners is fartlek run training.
Have you fartlekked recently?
I am not trying to be rude here... :)
It's Swedish for speed play.
The principle of fartlek run training is basically
the following :
Just go out there, warm up, and then start running at varying speeds
for varying periods of time and finish up with an easy paced cooling
down.
So, anything goes.
I used to hate it.
I never did it.
I wanted structure in my runs.
I didn't like just going out there and go by the feel of the moment to
see how fast I would go and for how long.
Because, basically, every fartlek workout is different.
So, there is no way to compare two sessions.
And I really needed that.
Why?
I guess I am a very structured individual.
So I'd always try to structure my speed workouts a lot more like:
Run 5-4-3-2-1 minute sessions with 2 minutes of floating in between
(floating = keeping up to moderate speed, so no recovery jog or
walking).
However, in the last few years I have come to appreciate fartlek a lot
more. Probably because I enjoy running a lot more. It's not so much
about competition anymore, about having to run.
Running has become a lot more pure simple enjoyment
for me. Don't get me wrong. I am still hoping to run PB's. But I don't
have to.
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Don't worry : the fartlek has been lab
tested
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So, it has become a lot easier for me to just go out there and enjoy
myself.
Try it yourself.
Leave the watch at home.
After your warm-up, pick a landmark and run there at a high speed.
Float for a while, then pick another landmark and run there.
It's fun to make up your fartlek run as you go along.
Fartlek Workouts - The Key Principles
Keep a few key principles in mind:
Do a good warm-up.
This is a speed session, so you want your legs to be ready for when you
go faster. Run for 5-10 minutes or so at an easy pace to warm up your
legs.
Speed up when you want, for as long as
you want.
I often pick landmarks. E.g. street lights, shops, anything. Try to
make an effort to play with distance and speed. You can bring a little
bit of structure into it by going in a rhytm of three here: moderately
fast, bit faster, almost full-out, then again, moderately fast, bit
faster, almost full-out, etc.
Float, do not slow down too much.
You want to keep the heart rate up for the entire session. So do not
slow down to a slow jog or walk; go back to an easy, but brisk, pace
between the speedier parts.
Cool down afterwards.
It is always good to finish with a bit of light running or walking and
do a few running stretches. Check out that
page, as some of these stretches are really helpful in preventing
injuries.
Enjoy yourself!
OK, Some Structure For Those Who Need It... The
Mona Fartlek
Steve Moneghetti is a famous Australian
marathon runner. He has won several big marathons (e.g. Berlin in 1990)
and has picked up a Bronze in 1986, Silver in 1990 and Gold in 1994 in
the Commonwealth Games marathons and won Bronze in the 1997 World
Championships Marathon in Athens.
In other words, one of the true greats of our
sport.
Mona (in Australia anyone with a name longer than one syllable gets a
nickname!), had that same problem I was talking about before: he
needed structure. His workout is called the Mona fartlek. It
is as follows:
Why Speed Play for Beginners?
The goal of the fartlek workout is to run at
different fairly high speed paces.
The playful nature of fartlek workouts makes it fun and makes you
connect with your body.
And that makes fartlek workouts a good introduction to speed
workouts for beginners: You can decide, based on how you
feel, how much you'll push yourself.
If you start doing structured speed workouts from a running program you
picked up somewhere and you are actually not really ready for it, you
run the chance of getting yourself injured.
With fartleks
the risk is smaller.
So, next time you go for a run, leave your watch at home, enjoy the
scenery and go by feel.
I am sure you'll enjoy it!
By the way, that doesn't mean a fartlek workout isn't a great running
workout for more advanced runners. It's
great for anyone wanting to become a faster runner!
For More Speedy Workout Ideas Check Out These
Pages
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