Fartlek, which means “speed play” in Swedish, is an unstructured training method that blends continuous training with interval training; intensity or speed varies as the athlete wishes. One of the main reasons for the success of fartlek training is that it is adapted to the needs of the individual.
It seems to me that life is a fartlek: continuous, unstructured training interspersed with catastrophes, unexpected changes, and sweet little surprises that vary the intensity of life.
I was introduced to running in my early 30s when our tennis team began running as a form of cross-training. Two years later, I quit tennis and took up running instead. In 2007, at age 47, I ran my first road race – a 10k, followed by a half marathon, a 5k, and a marathon, all within that same year. After that, running became my passion, ending after an injury dictated surgery or retirement. I retired at age 59, shortly after my last race, the Chicago Lakefront 50k. It was my favorite distance.
In 2013, after starting this blog, researching and writing about marathon training, racing and injuries became my favorite pastime. The Anatomy of a Runner posts ultimately became a significant focus for the blog and a topic I’ve enjoyed immensely.
After earning an Outdoor Leadership and Wilderness Emergency Medicine certificate in 2015, I became certified as a Wilderness First Responder, National Registry EMT-B, Wilderness EMT, and Swift Water Rescue Professional. For the next five years, I served on the Board of a non-profit, MedicForce, and served as a proctor for EMT training at SOLO/NOC in the Nantahala Gorge of North Carolina.
In 2020, I went to school again to certify as a North Carolina Extension Master Gardener. I go for long walks these days instead of long runs and work in the garden surrounding our home in the North Carolina mountains for as long as the day allows.
This is the tale of my life.
Marcia Boyle
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The Fartlek 