Thursday, March 27, 2008

To Fart or not to Fart -- Speed Play



Fartlekking is one of the best ways to improve your endurance, whether you're a beginning or and advanced runner. Read this Austin, Tx. article on the Fartlek technique.
Watch any group of kids during recess at school and you will see a modified fartlek going on. They jog for a while, sprint, then jog some more, sprinting to the bathroom and then jogging back to the tetherball court. Without knowing it, they are getting in a great workout--and thats the key to fartlek. It keeps the mind fresh, while the body is hard at work. Fartlek is a far less structured type of speed training. I believe that the saying "to race fast, one must train fast", is really true. Get out there and start Fartlekking!!

3 comments:

Doodlestreet said...

Hhaha...fartlecking...I could get so much mileage out of that term...
I saw SO MUCH of that from those kids at the Spirit Run! You're right! The race was wonderful! Thanks for asking about it-- I ran like a snail, but I sure enjoyed seeing all the kids. This is a quick breakdown of the scene:

Mile 1, they were 'fartlekking' all over the place ...left, right, forward and back...I think they even were going straight up...

Mile 2, this is all I heard.."How far is it nowwwwww" (whine..whine...)

Mile 3...silence...they were being dragged by the hand...

Mile 3.4, with finish line in site, a FARTLEKKIN' bonanza!

GB said...

I fart all the time.... Oooooh, you meant speedplay! ;) Great post, Kelly!

kelly said...

Thanks, gb!! Boston is getting closer. Are you feeling ready? Your training sounds like you are. I can't wait to read your race report.