3 fun fartlek workouts to help you get both fit and fast

Fartlek, a Swedish word meaning “speed play,” is a fun and unstructured way to build endurance, speed and mental toughness. Unlike traditional interval training, fartlek workouts blend bursts of speed into a continuous run, mimicking the unpredictability of racing, and adding an element of play to your runs while making you stronger and faster. Whether you’re training for a marathon or just want to mix up your routine, here are three fartlek workouts you need to try.
The landmark fartlek
Perfect for runners who love variety, this workout ditches the watch. Keep it spontaneous and adjust based on how you feel.
Warm up with a 10-minute easy jog
Pick a landmark (tree, lamppost, etc.) and surge at a fast pace until you reach it. Recover with an easy jog until your next chosen target. Repeat for 20-30 minutes.
Cool down with 5-10 minutes of easy running