Fartlek Training
Types of training and training methods
Fartlek
Summary/overview
Farklek training was originally developed half a century ago to help runners improve both their speed and their endurance. In Swedish it simply means “speed play”. The overall concept is quite similar to high intensity interval training in that there are periods of light effort and periods of intense effort. It is a running workout in which you mix jogging with running hard.
Which types of training are best suited to different sports?
It is mainly used by runners but can improve endurance and speed of sports such as basketball, football, soccer. This form of aerobic conditioning used where there are frequent changes in the predominant energy system.
Which training method(s) would be most appropriate? Why?
It is most appropriate for sports that having frequent changes in energy systems because it trains the body to efficiently change from aerobic to anaerobic energy systems. For example a typical training method (astrand) of Farlek is:
Jog- 10 minutes
Run hard-4 minutes
And repeat 3-4 times
This training method is efficient for runners because it trains for both endurance and explosive starts.
How would this training affect performance?
By continually changing from slower training to high burst of intensity, it places more stress on the athlete’s energy systems, which the body will adapt to after time and will improve their speed and anaerobic threshold. It also helps to improve max VO2. An athlete can improve anaerobic and aerobic energy systems by changing variable e.g. distance, pace, length of
Fartlek
Summary/overview
Farklek training was originally developed half a century ago to help runners improve both their speed and their endurance. In Swedish it simply means “speed play”. The overall concept is quite similar to high intensity interval training in that there are periods of light effort and periods of intense effort. It is a running workout in which you mix jogging with running hard.
Which types of training are best suited to different sports?
It is mainly used by runners but can improve endurance and speed of sports such as basketball, football, soccer. This form of aerobic conditioning used where there are frequent changes in the predominant energy system.
Which training method(s) would be most appropriate? Why?
It is most appropriate for sports that having frequent changes in energy systems because it trains the body to efficiently change from aerobic to anaerobic energy systems. For example a typical training method (astrand) of Farlek is:
Jog- 10 minutes
Run hard-4 minutes
And repeat 3-4 times
This training method is efficient for runners because it trains for both endurance and explosive starts.
How would this training affect performance?
By continually changing from slower training to high burst of intensity, it places more stress on the athlete’s energy systems, which the body will adapt to after time and will improve their speed and anaerobic threshold. It also helps to improve max VO2. An athlete can improve anaerobic and aerobic energy systems by changing variable e.g. distance, pace, length of