fartlek
nounUK /ˈfɑːtlɛk/ · US /ˈfɑɹtlək/
Etymology Borrowed from Swedish fartlek, from fart (“speed”) + lek (“child’s play”).
1
An athletic training technique, used especially in running, in which periods of intense effort alternate with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout.
- In an article in Athletics Journal, Paul A. Smith described fartlek as "a continuous overdistance run with numerous faster-paced interval runs interspersed, until the runner feels tired, but not exhausted." Smith claimed that because fartlek existed in the mind of the runner as a form of play, it deemphasized the feeling or perception of fatigue. […] In a typical fartlek workout, you pick some landmark such as a tree or a bush and sprint to it, then jog until you've recovered.1992, Hal Higdon, “Fartlek: A Time-tested Treasure”, in Kathleen A. Becker, editor, Run Fast: How to Train for a 5-K or 10-K Race, Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Press, →ISBN, pages 128–129:
- Interval workouts are typically more intense and structured than strides and fartleks. If you have access to a track, distance is easier to gauge.2025 October 25, Hannah Singleton, “5 Tricks to Make Your Run Faster, Healthier and More Fun”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
- Related terms
- wind sprint