Most runners want to get faster. Not everyone can afford to hire a coach, and not everyone has time to train for a marathon, but most runners hope to set new PR’s on a regular basis. This is absolutely possible, but you need to know how to direct your time. Most people have full-time jobs. You probably do, or you’re a full-time parent. Your time is limited; so, you need to know the best most efficient way to spend your running training time.
In this episode, I explain three things that virtually every runner at every level can do to run faster.
Podcast (mfr): Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
For this episode, I’m responding to a question someone asked on Instagram. 
If you’ve never heard of the term ‘fartlek,’ you’re probably laughing – or at least snickering. 
I’m a huge believer in taking into account all elements that might affect your running performance, evaluating it from every angle, not all at once, of course, but I think it’s important to realize that adequate sleep is just as important as the right shoe, and speed work is just as important as the appropriate total mileage. Running drills have a unique effect that you don’t get with any other element of training. Plus, they are great fun. 
While cheetahs are known for their speed, they are sprinters. They can’t hold that speed for long. Humans, on the other hand, can run much farther but not as fast. We can, however, improve our ability to run faster by modifying our speed training to add high intensity interval workouts. 
Okay, if you’ve never hear of the term fartleks, you’re probably laughing – or at least snickering. It is a funny word! If I was talking to 8th graders, they’d be holding their sides and falling out of their desks, laughing. 
Most of the runners I know hope to PR on a regular basis. They know they’re not likely to PR often, but they at least hope to PR every once in a while. 
