Kudos to all you hill runners

[DebJogsOn]

Have a day working from home today so joyously switched this evening's run to the morning. I have a lovely woodland park near where I live but up to now haven't really run there. One because it's really muddy in the winter but mostly because it's really hilly.

However this morning inspired by the sun and the chance of a sneaky morning run I thought I'd give it a go - planning to run a flatish loop around a bridleway. Didn't quite go to plan as I lost the path at one point and ended up meandering down a not too awful downward path and then found myself jogging up what felt like a vertical incline (much exaggeration here on my part but my hills upto now have consisted of the hump backed bridge over the river 😂)

Needless to say I didn't go too fast and at one point felt like I was jogging on the spot I was going so slow😂. So no records today but some running grit added all the same.

And now my legs ache in different places! So at least a bit of variety - just hoping the knees don't pay for it later!

Much respect to all those of you who run on hills regularly!!

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

Hills and woods are great training. They are hard but they are also great fun. Good work

[misswobble Graduate10]

Good for you 😃💪👍🏃‍♀️ A slow climb up a hill, with breaks as needed, is soooo good. Slow and steady, small steps, small steps, small steps is the mantra 💪😃. When you can finally nail that hill in one then that will be a very happy day indeed

Have fun! 🏃‍♀️

[Sandyscroll Graduate10]

Welcome fellow hill runner! It does feel like jogging on the spot initially doesn't it. Fear not! You will get quicker at them. Okay, so maybe I'm still slow, but I have an appreciation for hills now that I never had before. They build strength, speed... and going down them is well worth going up them for! Enjoy. ☺

[DebJogsOn in reply to Sandyscroll]

It was a bit like trying to run up a down escalator - only a lot slower!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

As Ju says... good fun and good for us..or as many folk wittily have said to me.. " Just a hill get over it "!!! xx

[DebJogsOn in reply to Oldfloss]

I did try Floss! Miraculously my knees seem ok (unless they're saving me a nasty surprise for tomorrow) - or maybe I'm distracted by the new muscles making themselves felt in my calves 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to DebJogsOn]

You are doing amazingly x

[Hidden]

I have no choice here if I dont want to run backwards and forwards over the same 100 yards, but sometimes Im running at walking pace uphill if Im tired. It really does develop stamina though, and gets easier and faster.

[DebJogsOn]

I don't envy you Flick!

[Hidden in reply to DebJogsOn]

Honestly, I really like the hills now. I dont find it much harder than the flat bits. At the beginning tbey nearly killed me but now I just lean into them and go at a steady pace.

[DebJogsOn]

My steady was almost still at some points (or even backwards in the mud 😂)!

[Lordi Graduate10]

I run on a flat track mostly but did 10k in Helsinki Central Park last Sunday which although 6:30 pace felt quite tough. I only recently noticed the Strava GAP ( gradient adjusted pace) was 5:30 due to all the up-down-up-down (237m)...so kudos to you hillbillies (Flick, Sandy et al.!)