Working core before the main set of this run workout helps prevent injuries, improves endurance, and increase speed.
Since we find that many athletes tend to skip their important core training once the mileage begins to climb, we recommend this core/fartlek brick that incorporates strength training into the beginning of the workout.
With a fatigued core and leg muscles from the pre-set, athletes should focus on their form while doing the main set the urge to fall back to poor running mechanics will be similar to running out of T2 on race day.
Try to keep the fartlek intervals unpredictable by using stop signs, traffic lights, telephone poles, or other landmarks. If you don’t have consistent markers, use a watch for intervals (times below).
Begin with a dynamic warm up to wake up the mind and body.
Warm-up 10 bear crawls 15ft. of butt kickers 10 cossack squats (do these slowly)
Repeat set three times
Strength/Cardio Pre-set 200m hard effort run at a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of 9 right into 10 burpees right into 20 sit ups right into 10 hand release push-ups right into
Repeat set four times at RPE 9, then go immediately into main set
Main Set
30-minute fartlek using landmarks for the fast (at RPE of 7-8 or goal race pace) and the rest (RPE of 3-4), rest should be roughly 2-3x the time/distance of the fast section
If going by time, continuously do 30 minutes of 30sec RPE 7-8, 1:30 RPE 3-4
Cool-down
10-minute jog and stretch