During the week I went for a run at the Botanical Gardens of Melbourne (affectionately known as the Tan track) with my mate and anaesthetist Dr Ian Lack. He’s a super fit triathlete and gave me a few pointers on running. I got back into running just two years ago and this culminated in a desperate finish of a Marathon in October 20014. I certainly didn’t cover myself in glory as I struggled to finish in 5 hours, but at least I could tick it off the list. Whether I attempt another remains to be seen!

After a very nice first lap we finished with some Fartlek and hill work. Fartlek involves increasing speed for short bursts. In our case we did the distance between two lamposts or roughly 25 metres and would then drop back to a comfortable pace. Ian advises me that by doing this, it automatically increases one’s overall pace and fitness over time. Following that we finished with some Anderson St hill climbs.

I recall from my school days how the top runners would shift gear at the bottom of Anderson St and motor up the hill and the less gifted runners like myself would tend to slow down. After doing one hill climb at a gentle pace, I tried to keep up with Ian on the next one. Roughly half way up the hill (200metres), I could feel diaphragmatic fatigue fully kicking and the power leak away completely. Ian skipped away like a mountain goat! Great to watch!

The beauty with Fartlek is that it can be useful for everyone. Elite athletes, amateur athletes, and everyday people for general health and wellbeing. Even an older person who has been out of the exercise habit for years can introduce Fartlek within a walking routine. I wished that everyone had access to personal training to stay in optimum physical fitness. As people get older, it becomes readily apparent when people have maintained themselves or whether they have let themselves go.

Give Fartlek a go!

In Health and Wellness