Uphill running

[HeavyFoot]

I used to hate running up hills. It’s not easy hauling my bulk against gravity but after several weeks I’m getting it dealt with. I’m going for stamina rather than speed.

Some things I have learned:

The Toxic Ten is particularly difficult uphill but I’ve discovered the Trot-on Twenty when the legs and lungs discover a sustaining rhythm which you can keep going.

Only look up once a minute: you need to watch surfaces very carefully and it’s a pleasant surprise to see how far you’ve come.

If the route is familiar to you, break it down into do-able chunks: a certain house or bend or tree.

Don’t be worried about reverting to 2-2 breathing.

Use your arms to power you on.

Regard the hill as your friend and not your enemy.

Running back down hill is bliss.

Having extended these uphill runs bit by bit from 20 minutes to 50 minutes, my next target is an hour.

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Absolutely brilliant progress HeavyFoot. Cracking photo👏💪👍

[HeavyFoot Graduate10 in reply to Buddy34]

Thank you B34. That’s the Canigou mountain. Some runners are mad enough to do it in the summer. I’m not that mad yet! 🤪

[Buddy34 Graduate10 in reply to HeavyFoot]

Yet 👍🤣

[Juliet202 Graduate10]

Amazing photo - where’s that ?! (And did you run all the way up ?! !! )

[HeavyFoot Graduate10 in reply to Juliet202]

Oh no!! That’s the Canigou mountain in the eastern Pyrenees. We recently has snow that high. I run in the foothills. Sometimes it feels that high 🥵

[HappyNoodle Graduate10]

Well done sounds amazing I still need to get myself to a hill

[Hidden]

You are making some really positive progress here!!