staging

6 Fartlek Workouts for 3 Training Phases

Another fartlek workout particularly effective during base building is one where random pick-ups are tossed in throughout the run. The late ZAP Fitness founder Andy Palmer used to tell me to run 15 or 16 minutes worth of pick-ups during a long run; however, he gave me no details on the length of these pick-ups or the length and time of the recovery other than, "mix it up with some longer and shorter pieces." This is a truly "by feel" fartlek, and is a great one to execute as you are getting started.

More: Base-Building Tips for Runners

Transition

After the requisite 6 to 14 weeks of standard base building, you should look toward your competitive season. With that change comes a change in the type of fartlek work you should do. Fartlek sessions become more overtly strength-based and more designed around current (and future goal) fitness. Here are a couple of ZAP Fitness standards:

#1 – Descending Tempo Fartlek (a.k.a. the "savage fartlek" from 8:19 steeplechase runner Jim Cooper):  

  • Begin this session with a 6:00 piece at roughly your anaerobic threshold, or close to half-marathon pace 
  • The recovery is half of the time of the piece (in this case 3:00) 
  • Run a 5:00 piece slightly quicker than the 6:00 (with the rest now being 2:30)
  • Run a 4:00 piece a touch quicker (2:00 rest), 3:00 pick-ups (with 1:30 recovery), 2:00 pick-up (1:00 recovery) 
  • Finish with a 1:00 piece. The final two pieces of this fartlek should be working into the current 5K fitness range.
  • For more advanced, higher-mileage athletes, begin with a 7:00 piece and go all the way down to 1:00.

More: How to Increase Anaerobic Threshold

#2 – Downcycle Fartlek: Also known as progression pieces, these are pick-ups that begin a bit slower and finish faster. My favorite is one we execute throughout the year at ZAP:

  • After warming up, run a 2:30 pick-up beginning with the first 30 seconds only 5 to 10 seconds faster than your normal training pace. Each subsequent 30-second block should be a touch quicker than the previous with the final 30 seconds (from 2:00 to 2:30) being at or slightly faster than 10K fitness or race pace.
  • Recover with 90 seconds jogging easily
  • Run another 2:30 pick-up the same way.

I recommend running two sets, or a total of four pick-ups, which will take 16:00, including recovery.

More: 3 Progression Runs to Reach Race-Day Success

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About the Author

Pete Rea

ZAP Fitness is a Reebok sponsored nonprofit facility that supports post-collegiate distance runners in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. ZAP puts on adult running camps during the summer, and is available for retreats all year. The facility has a state-of-the-art weight room, a bio-lab for physiological testing and a 24-bed lodge. Coaches at the facility include two-time Olympic trials qualifier Zika Rea, Ryan Warrenburg and head coach Pete Rea. Visit zapfitness.com, check out ZAP's Facebook page for more info, or call 828-295-6198.
ZAP Fitness is a Reebok sponsored nonprofit facility that supports post-collegiate distance runners in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. ZAP puts on adult running camps during the summer, and is available for retreats all year. The facility has a state-of-the-art weight room, a bio-lab for physiological testing and a 24-bed lodge. Coaches at the facility include two-time Olympic trials qualifier Zika Rea, Ryan Warrenburg and head coach Pete Rea. Visit zapfitness.com, check out ZAP's Facebook page for more info, or call 828-295-6198.

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