Health and Wellbeing at RWS

At RWS we recognize that just like physical health, we all have a state of mental health and wellbeing, and we aim to foster a culture that empowers each and every one of us to take action to enhance our wellbeing. 

We believe that wellbeing is unique to the individual and as a company we aim to support people on their personal wellbeing journey. Our ethos is to offer choice, flexibility, and encouragement as we share wellbeing options under three key pillars: mind, body and balance. 

In this edition we want to let you know about fartlek training, which comes from the Swedish word for ‘speed play’, a running workout that mixes up your pace throughout your run. Instead of running at a steady speed, you alternate between periods of faster running and slower jogging or easy running. This helps improve your overall speed and endurance by challenging your body to adapt to different paces. 

Unlike traditional interval training, fartlek workouts are unstructured. There's no set distance or time for the faster or slower intervals. You can base them on landmarks, how you're feeling, or anything else that works for you. This makes it a more flexible and enjoyable way to train. 

Fartlek training offers a number of benefits for runners: 

• Improved speed and endurance: By alternating between fast and slow paces, fartlek strengthens your cardiovascular system and builds both speed and stamina. 
• Race readiness: fartlek workouts help simulate the unpredictable pace changes you might encounter during a race, teaching your body to adjust and respond effectively. 
• Mental toughness: fartlek challenges you to push yourself during the faster intervals, building mental resilience that can be crucial during tough races. 
• Enjoyable training: The unstructured nature of fartlek makes it a fun and engaging way to train, helping you avoid the monotony of running at a steady pace. 

For me this has always been one of the most important trainings when i was preparing a new distance run.