Glossary · Training
Fartlek
Fartlek, Swedish for 'speed play', is a run that mixes faster surges with easy running in a loose, unstructured way. It was popularised in Sweden in the 1930s as a playful alternative to formal track intervals.
Example sessions
A simple fartlek: after a 10-minute warm-up, alternate 1 minute comfortably hard with 1 minute easy, eight times. A landmark fartlek: surge to the next lamp post, tree or junction whenever you feel like it. A pyramid: 1-2-3-2-1 minutes hard with equal easy jogging between.
Why it works
Fartlek builds speed and the ability to change pace without the mental weight of a track session. It suits beginners stepping up from easy running and experienced runners on recovery-heavy weeks.