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Lunch Crunch
Parking Lot Fartlek
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A great variable intensity workout that takes advantage of the asphalt right outside the office. If you’re looking for a way to make the lunchtime walk or run more creative, without straying too far, this workout is for you.
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For: Walkers, Runners, Multisport.
Time: Variable, 30–60 minutes.
Description: A great variable intensity workout that takes advantage of the asphalt right outside the office. If you’re looking for a way to make the lunchtime walk or run more creative, without straying too far, this workout is for you.
Equipment needed: A good pair of running shoes.
This workout crosses cultures with a Swedish training principle, fartlek, mixed with an American establishment, the parking lot. It is ideal for walkers and, depending on the size of the parking lot, runners looking for a new way to challenge the asphalt outside. Fartlek is a Swedish term for “speed play”, meaning you alternate going fast with going easy. You’ll apply this principle as you walk or run through the parking lot.
Here’s How to Do It:
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Change into your walking or running attire, and head out to the biggest parking lot you can find (airport and amusement park lots are ideal).
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Walk or run around the perimeter of the lot at an easy to moderate pace for 10 minutes, gradually increasing your speed every 2 to 3 minutes. Keep your neck and shoulders nice and relaxed as you pick up the pace. Get a sense of the layout of the lot, and note cars that are particularly interesting (dream cars, clunkers, yours).
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Start in the row farthest away from the building, and walk/run at a brisk (not sprinting) pace the length of the row (if the row is very short, say fewer than 20 cars, then go up and down the row). When you get to the end of the row, ease off as you round the corner and walk or jog easily down the next row, or back and forth for short lots.
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As you head into row three, pick the pace up again, this time maintaining it for two rows before reducing speed. Recover for one row again.
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This time go hard for three rows, easy for one row. Now you’ve got the pattern, continue to add a row until you are doing six to eight rows hard with one recovery row, or until you have about 15 minutes left before your lunch time expires.
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Remember the cars you picked out during the warm-up? From where ever you are in the lot, pick a direction and go fast until you reach one of the chosen autos, recover until you reach another interesting car, repeat until you’ve reached all the cars you picked out or you have 10 minutes before you need to be inside.
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Go back to the perimeter of the lot and walk/jog easily for 10 minutes to cool-down.
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