Week 3

[TGM24]

I've just completed the 3rd run on week 2. I can cope if the run is flat, but still struggle with my breathing up hills. Any tips as I like to run from home which involves hills!

[SC1472 Graduate]

Just take it slow and steady and see if you can make the uphill sections your walking breaks. You could also look around your area to see if there is a 'flatter' way to run. Having said that, if you train on hills it does build up your stamina!

[MuddyJane]

Honestly, most people find hills harder and slow their pace. I always trying tailor my playlist so that the hill songs invoke the fight in me. Imagine how fast you'd do a 5k flat park run if you dis all your training on hills 😉👌

[Hidden]

Slow down. If you try to run up hills as fast as you go on the flat you will struggle with breathing. I read you should keep your feet going as fast but take smaller steps on hills. Seems to work for me. Done some very steep hills in the last few weeks and was taking baby steps, hardly moving forward at all but I got further up than I expected.

[MrsT82]

I have hills whichever way I run. I try and make my stride a little smaller. It does help.

[Hidden]

Hey fellow hill climber we hear you. SC1472 is right to suggest tailoring the route if you can, - C25K doesn't really allow for serious hill management and especially not in the early weeks. But I did mine in the hills, the baby steps approach is a good one, I also tried to deliberately slow my tempo by tiptoe running to reframe my steps. Sounds weird but it worked for me, it was like changing down a gear in the car.

I was given a new tip only the other day by AnnieW55 called 'back stitching' which is to run uphill and target a milestone say a lamppost, then run back down the slope, and then run back up to the next milestone. In fairness, I was asking for tips post graduation but it does make sense that running downhill allow you to get your puff back, before you tackle it again.

Slow steady and small is a pretty good recipe for handling those pesky slopes..

[TGM24 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Start week 3 tomorrow 😁