Uphill running?

[OwenA]

Hi, where I live and plan to start the C to 5K is very hilly, there are very few flat places to run. As I mentioned in an earlier question, I'm 20 stone and have just begun a 30-minute walk starting with a fairly steep uphill which I'm finding tricky enough... any tips for starting out doing this course on hills?

[pingle Graduate]

I live in a village in a dip but I didn't run up a hill until I was about 3 weeks post graduation. I'd time my warm up walks so that I was always on the top of the hill when the running bits started. Got quite expert at it! One particular hill became quite a bugbear for me but eventually I worked up the courage to run up it (very slowly!) and guess what - it wasn't so bad!

I'd say try to find a flattish bit at first to get you started. The world is full of hills for later when you're ready to tackle them. If you can't avoid them then take it very, very slowly - you will build up stamina gradually. That all said you need to be careful running down hills too - its seems easier but can be hard on the joints. Good luck - C25K is a brilliant programme.

[AlwaysTimeForWine]

I also live in a very hilly area, and while I found a small flat bit it just wasn't long enough and I soon got bored repeating it!

I am now on week 4 and I also time my 5 minute warm up walk to tackle the steepest hill as quickly as possible so I am nearly at the top before I have to start running.

But I also have to run up and down hills as well - just take the hills really slow - almost walking if you need to - but they really aren't too bad!

My theory is that training with hills now is even better as they will never faze us in the future! And if you have no choice then it's better to go slow than not do it at all!

[NewlifeLil Graduate]

I'm also in hilly terrain, but have found enough flat bits (i.e. go towards the beach) to keep me entertained for now. But I know I'll have to go inland soon, for variety. But I will wait til I've graduated... I don't want to lose heart. I do have a couple of 'slopes' to contend with now, and I just go up soooo slowly - probably slower than walking, but then enjoy the gravity help for the next bits - and think of that on my way up. When I go inland I'll walk up for my warm up.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Hills'r'us, you can't avoid them, but if you can walk up them, then in time, you will be able to run up them. I have still got to summon up the nerve to tackle the hill that stopped me in my tracks on my first postgrad run. I've been hill training and it definitely improves your stamina. I altered my routes when I found myself having to run up a hill at the end of my W6 runs. It nearly killed me, but on Saturday I made it to the top, at the end of an 11k run. Pingle's advice about running down hills is also very important to note.

C25k can transform you into a runner, honestly. Good luck.

[waletta Graduate]

Do I remember someone saying take smaller steps & pump your arms for uphill running? I'm afraid I still avoid the hills as far as I can but it's become harder as the runs have become longer.