Some serious hills

[MissUnderstanding]

I drove the route of the 10K I’m doing in June over the weekend and got the fear. I know I can do the distance. There’s a HILL. A super massive one. Time to tackle some of the scarier hills around here.

This morning’s 5k had two stinkers in the first half of the run and it was properly tough. My legs felt like concrete but I kept going. I thought the time would be seriously slow but it was only a couple of minutes over a more sensible 5k without such vertical climbs! I’m going to try and keep at least one run a week a hilly one and hopefully it will get easier.

I was pleased I’d planned the route to end at home so I could grab my wallet, do my cool down walk to the local shop and pick up a take away coffee. I’m trying to support them a bit and it feeds my caffeine addiction. This was a great treat to go with the day 2 stretches from the Kinetic Revolution challenge. Tomorrow’s rest day will feel well earned!

[nowster Graduate10]

It's always acceptable to walk a steep hill, even in a race.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

This is news to me. I guess that shows my running greenness!! My target for this 10K (which will be my first) was just going to be to run all of it and make it to the finish. I might need to reevaluate that. Thanks for the advice!

[Me_time Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I didnt know that either! Hmmm..they may not be as scary then. I still dont like them but walking steep hills is better than running.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Me_time]

I did a 10km race at the end of October last year. The sadist organisers arranged for the 8th km to be all uphill for almost a kilometre. I got about three quarters of the way up before I had to walk. I was not alone. I resumed running when I got to the top and it became flatter again.

That particular climb in Heaton Park has been nicknamed Angina Hill.

[Me_time Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Very apt name by the sound of it. Wow, 1k of uphill! I bet it probably is a walk in the park for u now! You do some serious running!

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Me_time]

I haven't done that one since, though I have run through that park a few times in the last few months.

[sTrongFuse Graduate10]

Well done. We all need to embrace the hills. They don't get easier, we just don't mind the pain as much. My first ever event, a few weeks after graduating C25K, was the Edinburgh 5k Race for Life which involves running up, around and down Arthur's seat - 115m of elevation according to Garmin.

I haven't learned to enjoy hills any more than then, but I'm definitely better at them. Good luck in your race.

Elevation Profile

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to sTrongFuse]

I usually like them but I think I hadn’t expected quite such a steep one with a long, gentle uphill afterwards. I’ve still got plenty of time to train. It’s going to be hills, hills, hills for the next few weeks!That Edinburgh 5k sounds tough but very satisfying to finish. Beautiful place to run.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Your legs will get stronger and stronger over time with hills, coffee after is a great treat

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks you! I’m never shy of finding an excuse for a coffee.

[Cmoi Graduate10]

I suspect that your 10k doesn't actually include a super massive hill, it just feels like one at the moment MissUnderstanding . I find that hills have a habit of shrinking the more you run them.

Also, as nowster says, it's perfectly accceptable, and indeed a good idea, to walk any hills where you'll be faster and/or more energy-efficient walking than running.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

I’m definitely hoping for hill shrinkage! It’s tricky to train on the actual hill because of the potential for being hit by a car (it’s a fast country road with no pavement) but I think I’ve identified some similar ones I can use more safely. There’s no getting past it-it is a proper hill that’s definitely harder than anything I’ve tackled before. Lots of experienced runners round here talk about the HILL but now I’ve got more of a plan for getting up it, I’m feeling a bit less daunted. Thanks for the advice. I hadn’t considered walking.

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

For context, I live in mid-mountain France, and run hills all the time, frequently off-road and often on forest trails. There aren't any pavements within 5k of where I live, so if I'm on the road I just run facing the direction of traffic. Not that there's much of that!

Ignore other runners talking about the HILL. To me that simply suggests they have little experience in running anywhere other than on the flat. Whatever the gradient and distance may be, the more you tell yourself it's difficult, the tougher you'll find it. Try playing it down instead, get in the practice going uphill and downhill, and walk as much as you need to. I certainly didn't run every step of the trail marathon I did!

[HeavyFoot Graduate10]

Oooh! They’re stinkers. Well done 👍

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to HeavyFoot]

It was very satisfying to get to the end!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Living in a very flat part of the world the idea of running up a hill was terrifying to me until I went on holiday to a very hilly island where they were inescapable. I'd listened to a Hill Start NRC guided run a few weeks previously (my performance of this was seriously challenged by a lack of hills) but I learned the theory side - small steps, landing on the forefoot, leaning forward as you go. Tried it and it's surprisingly effective, to the extent that the hill portion of my runs were the fastest of the whole route.What was the name of that 'inspirational' book a good few years back? 'Feel the fear and do it anyway'

(I may be misquoting - good luck )

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thanks! I’m lucky (?!) that there are lots of hills around here so I’ve been forced to get used to them right from the start but it’s a particularly steep one on the course followed by a long slow uphill afterwards. Apparently it’s well known for being challenging around here. I think now I’ve got a plan to make sure I’m properly prepared, it’s not so intimidating. Thanks so much for the tips!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I know the theory but the practice...

[Me_time Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

"Tu Whitia Te Hopo"~ "Act in spite of fear" I have started adapting it more & more recently in all aspects of life. Last year I went skydiving, I have a real fear of heights

[Me_time Graduate10]

That hill sure looks serious! After your comments on my disasterous hilly run post, I have taken a leaf from ur book & started including hills for some extra workout and to take them head on rather than avoid them.

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Well done! 💪👏👏👏 The more you tackle them, the easier they'll become (although I always shy away from hills / slopes unless I have no alternative 😂😂)