What Is Fartlek Training? | Running Workouts For Speed & Endurance

Fartlek, or 'speed play', is a type of running workout designed to improved both your speed and endurance. Heather explains what it is, the benefits, and how to include it in your training!

Fartlek, which means 'speed play' in Swedish, is a common type of running training. It involves continuous running with varying intervals throughout. Simply put, Fartlek training is periods of fast running intermixed with periods of slower running. In this video Heather explains more about what Fartlek is, the benefits, and how to incorporate it into a training plan.

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[jamesdunleap]

You're not joking about picking your playlist wisely. I was alternating between hard and easy paces by song once, and hit hard place when Sandstorm cane on. That was a long interval.

[kubagornowicz]

It sounds sounds exactly like my yesterday run training :D

[bencarroll]

Thank you for this video, I have just started a 12 week 1/2 marathon training plan, and was not sure what I was supposed to be doing in tomorrow's fartlek, now I know!

[hankvinson]

I run just to stay in shape and I find that fartlek is simply more fun than a steady, plodding jog.

[adamfergie]

I do this but with flat out sprints, 300m sprint, 300m jog. 5 min warm up and warm down. Its great fun feeling sick begging for it to end. The improvements in the overall running is worth it.

[Spinfxxx]

Fartlek = adding speed by fart propulsion

[dochrishistrange]

thank you helped me for my physical eduction paper tommorow. !🎉🎉

[TheDrMash]

1:53 I saw a cat or something ran towards you and then disappeared into your leg.

[riddlewellness]

Awesome tutorial! I just used this to explain Fartlek training to my 8th grade fitness class. Thank you!

[hanakumench]

Thank you for this! As an ultramarathoner, I am pretty much bored with my slow pace and wants something new, I wanna try this fartlek. Cheers!

[kiwikiwikon]

Thank you for explaining it in such easy-to-remember way. 👍

[dimitrisschild]

.awesome tip....thank's. Hello from GREECE!

[BrothBoss]

Great video, thanks for the education!

[stevenjohnson]

Very clear and brief, excellent presentation. All my questions were answered:)

[michaelcoxfitness]

Just learned about this in your video, I have done something like this before but it was structured I guess a tempo interval. Will be nice to turn and burn when I feel its right. Thank you very informative.

[omkarkibe]

Very nice educative video, thanks GTN! 😀😍👌

[agsmith]

thanks! i like these as a careful way to get some speed in if i want a second weekly workout but rather than using landmarks or music, just listening closely to what my body wants to do often ends up in these seemingly random intervals or progressions!

[robertoramos]

Great explanation, thanks for the video

[bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Bruce Lee

[dunstonmunson]

ah yes indeed, so i was fartlekking earlier then..is this the same thing as interval training?..it sounds to be so..go fast for a bit, go slow for a bit, then fast, slow and so on, i did a 43 minute run of this earlier with more fast then slow mixed in and it felt great, really good workout, great speed work..