Avoiding or enjoying hills?

[coggerjogger]

I am new to this group but joined Bridge to 10k because I would like to run more and faster. Do people choose routes that avoid hills? I live in Wales so this would be tricky. My usual 5k route involves over 100m of elevation gain which is my excuse for a slow jog. (I suppose you gain on the way down)

[Gwenllian1 Graduate10]

I live in Wales too so I know what you mean! When I started C25K I made a real effort to avoid all hills because it was difficult enough without them! I drove to somewhere flat and it was probably about five months after the start that I began to have a go at some gentle ones. Lockdown was the big change for me when we had to exercise from home as I live on the side of a steep hill. To begin with I walked up and ran down. Now I can run the lot if I want to although to be honest I am still not a fan of hills. But they do make you a stronger runner so these days I do some routes with ups and downs in them but if I want to run a longer distance than I have managed before I go the coast and run it on the flat for the first time!

[coggerjogger Graduate10 in reply to Gwenllian1]

Thank you. That is helpful. I would like to try to get to 10k so I will take your advice and go to the coast when I am ready to try that and build up in the meantime on shorter runs on the local hills. Good luck wth your running!

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to coggerjogger]

I have just got back to 10k after injury and have now reintroduced my weekly hill run. It is a bit lumpy in the third lap and has an overall elevation gain of 143m. This was week 3; first week I had to walk the summits of the the three worst peaks, last week I ran it all, but really slowly, this week I got within a minute of normal time...that is the nature of of it...a gradual build up, short high steps, and you will improve really quickly. I find it great for strength building, but I limit this route to once per week. The (not) park run and long run cover easier territory; so hills are good as part of a balanced diet in my book. Enjoy them.

[coggerjogger Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

ty helpful

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Well done tackling those hills. By embracing them you will become a stronger runner and it will open up more routes. Happy running 🤗

[coggerjogger Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

ty i will keep on jogging and think of what you said about getting stronger as I slog up the slope.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to coggerjogger]

Don't go to fast, and stretch out the butt muscles after 👍

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

As Grannyhugs says , those hills will make you a stronger runner and the more you run them the better you'll get. Good luck 😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Don’t avoid hills, grow to love them. They’re great fun and the feeling of accomplishment once you’ve run up is second to none. 😀

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate10]

I live in Lincolnshire which is Flat!! No hills anywhere near me at all!! 😆🏃‍♀️😁

[coggerjogger Graduate10 in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Is that good or bad??? I suppose that it would be nice to have a choice one way or the other. Enjoy your (flat) running. I am trying hard to enjoy the hills.