My Life as a Fartlek

March 15, 2010 at 1:09 am 2 comments

Go ahead. Laugh or gasp or whatever you need to do because it’s true––my life feels like one big fartlek. I recently came to this realization when I recognized that I live life in different gears. Sometimes I surprise myself with intentionality and productivity, while other moments I pray to just get through the day. Fartleks are similar. A running term which means “speed play” in Swedish, farleks intersperse short bursts of speed into a normal run to improve speed and endurance. I was thinking about this yesterday while participating in a 5K event sponsored by my son’s school. I did something I’ve never done before––I interspersed walking with my running. Although frustrated that I walked, I was later pleasantly surprised when I finished under my goal time. In retrospect, I needed a few short breaks to help me finish strong. Although not a true fartlek performance, I like to think of my gear shifting as being quite intentional. I was tired from being out of town the previous two days and actually got sick later that afternoon. My body was telling me to take it easy. Life is like this too. Intentionally mixing in some down time with high performance moments can improve your overall quality of life. So go ahead. Fartlek.

For MOMentous Moms, our core principle this week is intentionality. Ponder the following definition and ask yourself if you focus on the best and let go of the rest? Or, do you tend to look at life as one big race, always trying to run it as fast and as hard as you can?

Intentionality focusing on the best

Intentionality lives life as if she had only one day left to live. She focuses on the best and lets go of the rest. Guided by her God-given purpose, Intentionality is positively driven like a thunderous, yet beautifully cascading waterfall.

See you on the track Tuesday.

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2 Comments

  • 1. Janice Elsheimer  |  March 15, 2010 at 9:47 am

    Debby, what a great comparison: living life and running farteks. Marathon great Jeff Galloway has a lot to say on this subject. I could never have completed 4 marathons (in my 40s) unless I’d used his interspersing-walking with- running method. Nowadays I’m mostly a walker, but when I force myself to pick it up and run for a few minutes off and on, I feel so much better at the end. Running and walking use different muscles. Just as in life, we can burn ourselves out if we feel that only running is worthy; but we can miss the endorphins if we never pick up the tempo at all. As you say, it’s about balance.

  • 2. Teresa Welke  |  March 22, 2010 at 1:18 am

    I love the statement, “She focuses on the best and lets go of the rest.” I will be focusing on what is the best for that day. Thanks for just a few words to help make my upcoming days better.

About MOMentous Health


DEBBY HENRY earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwest Missouri State University. Her first book, A Tale of Two Rats, is based on a nutrition experiment that sparked in her a desire to help families eat healthier. In addition to writing, Debby’s passions include family, fitness, and traveling most anywhere, especially off the beaten path. Debby captured all her passions in her second book, Beyond the Horizon, which chronicles her family’s 100-day adventure across Central and South America and the Caribbean. Debby strives to live beyond the horizon every day however, and loves to encourage others to do the same. By allowing God room to work his plan, Debby is driven by faith that He will grow us to our highest potentials if we summon the courage to follow.

MISSION: shaping a better world — one mom at a time.
VISION: encouraging moms to pursue their passions.

“When Momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.”

We laugh, but MOMentous Health recognizes this truth and serves as a motherly reminder that moms are a momentous force to the health of our world––a force not to be taken lightly.

When we are more intentional in nourishing ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually, we find peace and power in our purpose. We become real. Authentic. And we persevere through life. And while momentous moms embrace total fitness, we also value our highs and lows, giving ourselves grace to be imperfect. It’s motherhood at its best.

Through healthful resources, MOMentous events, and purposeful products, MOMentous Health promotes optimal fitness in spirit, mind, and body––ultimately encouraging moms to pursue their passions.

When Momma’s healthy, everybody benefits.

CORE VALUES (acronym for “shaping”)

● Simplicity–shedding weights
● Humor–rejoicing in goodness
● Authenticity–living from within
● Perseverance–maintaining momentum
● Intentionality–focusing on the best
● Nourishment–striving for balance
● Grace–embracing imperfection