Any runner or group of runners, of any level, can make up a fartlek workout on the fly, or pull out one of the traditional, time-tested fartlek workouts. Fartleks are especially good for injecting a bit of speed work into an easy or long-ish run during the basebuilding phase when it's best to avoid more structured, specific track workouts, saving them for later in the cycle when the speedwork needs to be more specific, more race oriented. This matters because from a psychological perspective, runners will benefit from more carefree, less structured running, fun running, but they still don't want to lose their edge by foregoing all speed work. Enter, fartleks, the perfect means of holding onto speed without going to a track. RunGasparilla.com/name-the-parrot-contest Run Tampa Tinsel Run Gear/equipment mentioned:  Gymboss (wearable interval timer) Simple Interval Timer (iphone app)

MFR 154: Fun With Fartlek Training

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