Increase Your Running Speed With Fartlek Training.

If you wish to develope your running speed, fartlek is a good training workout to start with.

Fartlek, developed in the 1930's, comes from the Swedish for 'Speed Play', combines continuous and interval training. Fartlek allows the athlete to run whatever distance and speed they wish, varying the intensity, and occasionally running at high intensity levels. This type of training stresses both the aerobic and anaerobic energy pathways.


Fartlek for Runners


The following are a selection of fartlek sessions:



Watson Fartlek

This is good training for 10k, 5k, 3k and cross country.

•10 minutes warm up jog.

•Stride hard for 4 minutes with 1 minute jog recovery - repeat 8 times

•10 minute cool down jog


Saltin Fartlek

This is good training for 1500m, 5k and 3k.

•10 minutes warm up jog

•Repeat 6 times - Stride hard for 3 minutes with 1 minute jog run recovery.

•10 minute cool down jog


Astrand Fartlek

This is good training for 800m.

•10 minutes warm up jog

•Repeat 3 times - Maximum effort for 75 seconds, 150 seconds jog run, maximum effort for 60 seconds, 120 seconds jog run.

•10 minute cool down jog


Gerschler Fartlek

This is good training for getting fit quickly when combined with steady running.

•10 minutes warm up jog

•Repeat 3 times - Stride hard for 30 seconds, jog 90 seconds. Repeat with 15 second decreases in recovery jog e.g. 30-90, 30-75, 30-60, 30-45, 30-30, 30-15 and 30-15-30

•10 minute cool down jog


Hill Fartlek

•10 minutes warm up jog

•Select a 2 mile hilly course. Repeat 3 times - Run hard up all hills twice before moving to the next hill, jog run between hills

•10 minute cool down jog
 
 
Use these workouts within your training schedule and you should see a difference in your speed pretty soon.