fartlek

American  

[fahrt-lek] / ˈfɑrt lɛk /

noun

1. a training technique, used especially among runners, consisting of bursts of intense effort loosely alternating with less strenuous activity.

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fartlek British  

/ ˈfɑːtlɛk /

noun

1. sport another name for interval training

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Etymology

Origin of fartlek

1950–55; < Swedish fart speed + lek play

Example Sentences

This simple approach is a classic form of fartlek training.

From Science Daily

“It always feels like a fartlek out there,” Obiri said, referencing a training system for distance runners in which terrain and pace are varied in an effort to tamp down boredom.

From Seattle Times

Swedish for “speed play,” fartlek workouts use a type of interval training that involves a series of high-intensity bursts with recovery periods between them.

From Seattle Times

It was Pappas’s second mistake of the night, leaving Wang the last speller standing, and “fartlek” as, technically, the championship word.

From Washington Post

Swedish for speed play, fartlek workouts involve picking a goal, such as a tree or light pole up ahead, and speeding up until you reach it.

From New York Times