The strangeness of hills.: Can anyone (Rig maybe... - Couch to 5K

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The strangeness of hills.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate
16 Replies

Can anyone (Rig maybe?) explain why I feel great if I climb a really steep hill (my run a couple of weeks ago had 150 MTs of elevation) but just exhausted when I run on the gently undulating slopes of my normal runs?

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Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2
Graduate
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16 Replies
poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Oooh yes, I would be interested in any reply to this too ....

mfamilias profile image
mfamiliasGraduate

No idea. Maybe the effort required sets off production of endorphins for pain relief, which leads to euphoria? I wish I could feel great running up hills. As they say in the film "When Harry Met Sally", "I'll have what she's having". :D

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply tomfamilias

That could well be it! I feel I'm turning into a masochist...

Pigivi profile image
Pigivi

It could be the fact that when you run on a steady incline - even if steep - you get into a regular pace - while on the ondulating course it's a constant change (I know that too well... on my ondulating course that averages 65 mt of gentle elevation!)

It's like at the start of every run - it takes a bit of time to get into the pace, and I find the same happens when hill-walking

x

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply toPigivi

That might have something to do with it, the shallower ones just feel like a slog don't they?

TurboTortoise profile image
TurboTortoiseGraduate

That makes no sense to me at all Curly!! :-) As far as I'm concerned the steeper the hill, the more gurgling agony I'm in at the top!

AdamB profile image
AdamBGraduate

CG - the answer is quite simple really. When the hill is steep, you can quite happily get away with doing your Julie Andrews impression when you get to the top ;)

If it's merely an undulation, flinging your arms out wide, spinning round and belting out that song at the top of your voice can feel a bit embarrassing, don't you think? Besides, they are already struggling to find enough orchestras to have one at the top of every hill waiting for you, just in case you arrive and burst into song. How are they ever going to find sufficient for all the undulations as well?

RunningForBroke profile image
RunningForBrokeGraduate in reply toAdamB

Yes indeed. The hills ARE alive. Lol! Not to mention "climb every mountain".

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Ha ha ! That is funny, Adam ,snort, Tee Hee ! :-D xxx

AncientMum profile image
AncientMumGraduate

Could it be adrenalin, Curly? We all get a frisson on adrenalin when we're about to embark on a B I G hill that helps us push through, but when we see a long steady gentle incline, we just think Oh no!! xx

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply toAncientMum

Some of the undulations are not even long..

dagshar profile image
dagsharGraduate

Same for me. I think it's just that a really hard effort for a short period of time us easier than having to sustain increased effort over a longer time even if the hill is less steep.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply todagshar

Most of the steep ones are longer than the shallower ones, I guess I didn't make that clear x

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate

It could simply be that you are - just - well - weird??? :)

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply toBazza1234

Ha ha, that's funny coming from you XX

RunningForBroke profile image
RunningForBrokeGraduate

I find that on a steep hill I really start pumping my arms. That really helps with momentum for some reason. I don't bother with smaller hills. Could that be a factor?

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