Hill interval training - jolly hard work -but I am sure the pain will pay off.

[suzybenj]

I am in the process of extending my distance and improve my endurance. I am up at the 10k mark - but not necessarily speedy or confident runs. I have done one race 1hr 19 mins and one 10k solo - 1hr 16mins. I want to get as close to an hour as possible and complete it comfortably. Hark at me - only started running in April!

So this last few weeks i have been putting in some speed sessions and trying to improve on my hill running to improve stamina. Speed is fine, but hill running I am easily defeated. So twice this week i went out on two hilly routes - not difficult in Devon. My approach was to be speedier and in terms of running up the hill - run until I ran out of steam and then jog on the spot to get my breath back and then onward up those hills. Tuesdays was fine - hills (inclines ) perfectly manageable. Today's much tougher long inclines- I used the same tactic and i managed to get up all the hills and ran my fastest 5k to boot. How does that work?? I have shifted from 7. 5mins per k to 6.45 min per k.....maybe all this running is paying off after all.

Anyway- I am jolly pleased it seems to take me twice as long as anyone else to improve - but improving I am. So good luck to all you runners out there - this programme has taken me this far and given the confidence to tackle other running challenges.

So I am raising the bar again - I have another 10k race sunday - I am aiming for at least 1 hour 15 mins - or better!

[lycranotlikely Graduate]

Well done Suzybenj! I'm still running but not far and not fast at the moment. I'm waiting for an op which should apparently make me feel exceedingly well again! Only problem is I haven't got a date.

[suzybenj Graduate]

Thanks Lycra - Good to hear from you. Sorry you are out of sorts - but hip hooray you can still run. The date will come round soon enough and then you all be speedy Gonzlycra

[ju-ju- Graduate]

You are amazing you have come so far in such a short amount of time... Well done

[suzybenj Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks for the support JJ. BTW - well done on your own achievement of 10k to the hour- salute to you my friend.

[dottiemay Graduate]

What a great plan for running up them there hills! That's a great achievement.

I have to admit I find hills to be killers, but when I was out yesterday I had to run up several short but steepish inclines, and I found them relatively not-difficult! However, I don't have any 'real' hills...except one very steep one, (198 m) which is a country park and which I failed miserably at the other week when I tried!!

Will give your plan a go next time I attempt it!

[suzybenj Graduate in reply to dottiemay]

Great go for it - I certainly felt a huge sense of achievement for heaving myself up the hills. And to be honest they seem less daunting now. But will I ever really like hills - probably not