Fun with Fartleks and a 2nd 5K

[Instructor57]

second run after graduation , and 2nd 5K.

i wanted to have a bit of a play on this one to give me something to think about so i decided to have a play with Fartleks (well, mini Fartleks) 😁

its a great way of varying pace without the rigid structure of time !

once i had set off running i picked a point in the distance and decided to run to that point at a slightly faster pace but without using time or looking at my watch, this was purley based on how i felt (the best guide imho) sometimes it's too easy to get tied up in numbers and stats!

once i got there then i slowed down again ! simples !

i did this several times throughout the run and then also a few reverse Fartleks , slowing the pace down between two points !

it was good fun and the time and distance just melted away .

for me, it's an interesting and less rigid way of introducing intervals , albeit in a mini way for me today , i really just wanted to explore the concept and to run another 5K.

Mission accomplished, and quicker than last time ! 😬

[Birdlady64 Graduate]

Sounds like fun and congrats on another 5k 😁👏👏👏

I might try that next time....

Just got back from my run and tbh I struggled a bit in the humidity this morning with my pace markedly slowing each km. It was 21 degrees at 6.30 I'm not made to run in that weather..

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

yes, i was out about 6:15, very sticky , i wouldn't wanted to have gone much later

it was fun as you just make it up as you go along , 😂

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

👍Will defo give that a whirl.

[Jools2020 Graduate]

Sounds like you enjoyed it! So you just kind of played it by ear, sped up and slowed down again. Sounds interesting! 👏👏👏👍

[Jools2020 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Oh, and well done for the second 5K! 👏👏👏😀

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Thank you ! 👍😬

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Jools2020]

Absolutely, Fartleks means 'Speed play' in Swedish (apparently) 😂

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Lovely post and well done on your run!🙂Fartleks are great - I often mention them on these forums when someone wants to work safely on their pace.

I love that the word ‘Fartlek’ is Swedish for ‘speed play’ - perfect description!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Sandraj39]

Thank you !

i first heard about them on a post from Irish-John , and thought that sounds fun 😬

so thank you John 👍

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you I57 -glad to know they worked for someone

[MontyMooDog Graduate]

Sounds good and well done on your 5K 😁👍

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to MontyMooDog]

Many thanks 😊👍

[Chokka Graduate]

Well done!

A brilliant post ... fartleks were suggested to me yesterday & I thought it was a typo (🙄😂🤣).

I might give that a go!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Chokka]

haha, i know , its a great word isn't it 😂

it's good fun as its intervals but with freedom !

[Hidden]

I’m very impressed Instructor 57... I knew nothing of all this...

There’s more to this running lark than I realised!

You’ve explained it beautifully and very well done on your 2nd 5k ⭐️⭐️🏃⭐️⭐️

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you chrissie 😬

i had never heard of it until i read about it on someone else's post .

google it, it's an interesting concept , as well as a fantastic word haha 😂

[wobbles_when_runs Graduate]

Sounds like a great way to mix things up.

Years ago when I had a PT he got me fartlek training using lampposts. Sprint to one, walk to the next. I absolutely hated it! 😣

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to wobbles_when_runs]

Haha, difference is I was in charge ! Not a PT 😬👍

[wobbles_when_runs Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Absolutely and that is the key. Glad you enjoyed and are experimenting with other styles 👍🏻

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to wobbles_when_runs]

I like the non structured structure 😂

[PlymBorn]

I like that idea .... breaks it up about, changes what could become monotonous... I might try this!

And well done on a second 5k 👏👏👍... we now expect nothing less from you !! 😂

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to PlymBorn]

Ha!

No pressure then 😂

Sorry to disappoint, but there will be a few shorter ones coming in the mix 😂

[Whippetywhip Graduate]

I think I'll follow your lead and try that soon. Want to do increase speed and stamina but in a way not tied down by too many instructions and data. What you describe sounds perfect!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Whippetywhip]

Yes absolutely

You can just do your own thing 😬

[BexJogs Graduate]

This sounds so much fun! I'm excited to graduate and get on to playtime, haha!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to BexJogs]

Yeah, playtime in BIG SCHOOL is fun 😬😂

[Roxdog Graduate]

Well done, sounds like you enjoyed it!

I did some fartlek running yesterday on my short run of the week. 6.30 am in the park. I don't usually enjoy the short runs as much as the long ones, but noticed recently that I can speed up significantly at the end of my long runs.

So yesterday I took this rather unstructured approach of running different speeds for 20 minutes. I was on one if my less inspiring routes, but had great music and really enjoyed it.

Before I got injured I was doing some interval running with my marathon running colleague, which was tough, but my general speed and stamina was at an all-time high at that point!

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Yes, it was fun, gavr me something to think about other than watching my watch 😂

[Tinytears60 Graduate]

This sounds fun .... I suppose you could say I did it .. at the end of my run...

well done on another 5k Ian👏👏

A good day! 👍