What You Need to Know about Fartlek Training

Let me give you a brief overview on the principle of Fartlek Training.

Training is essential to any sport, but truer with triathlons because of the intense, multi-dimensional aspects of the competition. Not only does your body need to endure through a marathon, but you must then continue on through two other sports and be well-trained in each of them to be successful and reach the platform you are striving for.

Fartlek has been used by triathletes everywhere to boost their running speeds, increase their level of endurance and prepare for marathons and triathlons. This form of training was founded and developed in Sweden and utilizes the concept of interval training.

However, while interval training is more disciplined with set intervals and accelerated levels of intensity, this training method is more relaxed and encourages you to enjoy the training session while still playing around with the speeds during your workout.

This allows for you to be more flexible and creative in your training and find new ways to push yourself each time you run or workout without feeling as if you are punishing yourself.

When you creatively and enthusiastically get to a new speed or break through a speed plateau, you are more excited, remember the experience more and can often maintain that level of speed during competition better because of the positive experience you had during training.

Instead of intervals where you may sometimes be only trying to get through it and not feeling as if you are accomplishing anything or spending enough time at the increased level of speed which can allow for body memory to happen.

Since you, the runner, define how your Fartlek training will look, you have the most control over your speed, intensity, terrain and how you will prepare best for the next competition. The Fartlek methods also allow for flexibility meaning you can use them to prepare individually for each race according to its specific length, terrain, weather predictions and obstacles. This will help you run more effectively, efficiently and successfully.

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