do you fartlek?

I do fartletks (hate the word, love the workout) once a week (every Wed. for me.) I usually do at least three of them within my 5 mile runs, each lasting 90 secs. I run a very fast pace for that time, around a 6 min per mile pace. I also do them for the last 2.5 miles of the run. That way I know I'm good and warmed up.

Oh gosh, my wife would say I sure do all the time, why she....

Oops, sorry, got confused there for a sec....um, no I don't but I should as I need to build up my speed as evidenced from my running times this weekend.

Max

For about the last month I been doing one fartlek per week, I also do one temp run per week. Since I have added these to my training, my long run has dropped from about an 8'05" pace to a 7'50" while keeping my heart rate the same.

i've done them a lot in the past. I'd always pick a set point in the distance to increace the speed until i got there... Every other telephone pole was usually good enough for me, I think they have a big impact on your ability to change up intensity durring a race (pass that jerk up a head that has no right beating you)

plus they make your training journal much funnier to read....

Yup. I do them and strides and tempo runs. I like the fartleks because they're less structured. I normally have scheduled tempo or strides, and then when I'm just doing a casual run, I always spend the last 10 minutes or so doing fartleks before I cool down. I'm a really, really, really slow runner, so I'm trying to work on speed.

I'm pretty sure (but not TOTALLY sure) that fartlek means run play. Fart (a derivative of the germanic fahren means to drive or to run). But I actually think the term is swedish for some reason... In any case...

Fartlek? Why yes! Excuse me!

Dana

i do it once a week/10days ,it really helps.
if you want more running programs check out this link.
http://www.runnersworld.com/home/0,1300,1-51-54,FF.html?site=Runner...

I try to incorporate them into my running atleast once a week or more if I can. They are a great tool for building up stamina.

I love this work out and do it weekly
(Although I also have heard them refered to as French 4s or French fives as it was the French Olympic running team that introduced them)

3 minute jog
5 minutes at 85-95% of max heart rate

repeat four (or five if you really want to feel it) time

Monty

On my “run” I go from a fast walk to a jog occasionally - :-)

Does that count?