Those pesky hills........let's change our thinking maybe???

[Millsie-J]

Hello all! i am about to move on to wk 8........ Amazing!

I have had some reflection on recent weeks of the programme: Where I usually run is very hilly, no getting away from those pesky ups and downs regardless of route taken. I guess there is a clue in the fact that the school just a 150metres from my house is the emergency relocation centre incase of local floods (lol)😂

Previously I have been thinking them there hills are such a pain. However, I'm now thinking that on the rare occasions that I can find a flattish run, such as my earlier one down the river, the bonus of the constant hill running is gained , and I can run just that tiny bit further. So In future I will embrace those hills (slightly) more than I have previously been doing.

So let's hear it for those hills, a large and load round of applause! Still, I'd rather go down them than up! 🏃🏻😬😳

[davelinks Graduate]

👏 well done! Makes it doubly hard while doing c25k, so best avoided, but in your case embrace them, with the correct technique, shoulder's back, look well ahead, pump the arms and the legs usually follow the speed of the arms, deep breaths, up on the toes very slightly😊

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thanks for the technique tips, I'll embrace those too!

[lightweightkate Graduate]

Really get that - i was worried about the hills around us but now am really pleased I am learning to run on them - such a feeling of accomplishment and yes going down is a fantastic plus!!

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

I did hills for the first time this am - I found going down was rather awkward, I felt just a bit kind of wobbly. Is this normal for the first few times?

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Yes I did at first - I just didn't feel steady and it slowed me right down - davelinks is right - if you straighten up completely and throw the shoulders back and look ahead it starts to feel right. I do look down a bit as I'm on stoney ground and have to look out for trip hazards. I really look forward to them now but it is a different style but then I find that with going up as well - I certainly adopt a different stance up and down hills than on the flat.....

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

Will try it that way next time Running up, I felt sure I looked like Quasimodo I was so hunched over with effort LOL But while darn hard those hills did give me a new sense of achievement and I am now firmly back in the groove

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

LOL - 😂😂 I do the same - the running up method has me bent right over and not looking up as I don't want to SEE the hill in front of me looming large! I'm sure it makes it more difficult ...you are right tho' - when I get to the top I usually have a little "just done it" feel good moment which is great.....😀

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to lightweightkate]

A good source told me to aim for just over the brow, then the down hill feels so much easier you get second wind, result!

[lightweightkate Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Good tip

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Hi Irish John, don't hunch, shoulders back but relaxed, lets you breathe more deeply, I find shorter steps also help going up hill.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

Will work on that J - the short steps are not a problem though, I felt like I was taking teeny ones as it was Those hills are a whole new experience for me

[misswobble Graduate]

Small steps, small steps 😊