Fartlek training is best described as which feature?

• A. Unstructured pace variation
• B. Fixed intervals with set rest
• C. Steady-state running
• D. Low-intensity continuous training

Answer: (A)

Varying pace freely within a run is the hallmark of fartlek training. It’s often described as speed play because you shift between faster and slower efforts in a flexible way, guided by terrain, landmarks, or how you feel, without sticking to a rigid plan. This unstructured pace variation is what makes fartlek distinct: you’re not following preset work and rest intervals, you’re adapting the intensity on the fly.

This differs from fixed intervals with set rest, where every effort and recovery period is pre-determined. It also isn’t steady-state running, which keeps a single, constant pace for the whole session, nor low-intensity continuous training, which stays easy and uninterrupted for a long duration.