A little tip to help hill running: Now, I may be... - Couch to 5K

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A little tip to help hill running

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate
16 Replies

Now, I may be teaching my Grandmother to suck eggs with this one, but it's been such a revelation to me I wanted to share.

When running up hill, instead of swinging your arms to the back, swing your hands up, towards your face. I'm gobsmacked, it may just be a distraction technique, but it WORKS! Well, it does for me anyway.

Give it a go, I'd be really interested to see if it works for anyone else.

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Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2
Graduate
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16 Replies
Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

Ooh interesting CG! So your palms are facing front? That sounds awkward but hey, I'm going out soon so will try it and let you know 🙂

Did you find this out "by mistake" or was it something you read?

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply toIrishprincess

No not palms facing front, hands held in your normal position, elbows still bent at 90 degrees, just swinging forward more. It's hard to explain...

I've been re-reading Chi running, there are so many useful tips there.

sheps profile image
shepsGraduate in reply toCurlygurly2

That makes sense - it moves your centre of gravity forward up the hill rather than backwards down the hill.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply tosheps

Yes, you are meant to be leaning forward in Chi running anyway

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply toCurlygurly2

Think of it like your arms are swinging like a pendulum, they swing further forward when going uphill, they swing backwards on the flat.

HeleneCorsa profile image
HeleneCorsaGraduate

This made me smile as it's exactly what I do when I run up the stairs of our building three at a time and it definitely gives some 'lift'.

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply toHeleneCorsa

I wish I'd known this years ago....it's so hilly round here and I've struggled for years lol!

HeleneCorsa profile image
HeleneCorsaGraduate in reply toCurlygurly2

I'd never really thought about it in a conscious way but it rang a bell when I read your post. It does make sense though, re Sheps' comment above.

I will have to bear it in mind with some of the hills here - I've been trying to avoid them but there are plenty of hills in and around Rome too.

sjs1969 profile image
sjs1969Graduate

That's so true! i found that helped as i run up my demon gentle incline in the park. Good too and thank you for sharing.

Omg I am going to try this, I have a hill near here we call Cavendish Hill after Mark Cavendish who won a cycling time trial and it is lethal, and I learned about the back stitch method from GrannyHelen57 but this is definitely worth a punt too.

Thanks

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply to

What is the back stitch method?

Curlygurly2 profile image
Curlygurly2Graduate in reply toCurlygurly2

Found it! Run up a bit, run down a bit run up a bit more....I don't think all that turning would help my vertigo lol!

ancientrunner profile image
ancientrunnerGraduate

Will give that a go, thanks.

GingerBohemian profile image
GingerBohemianGraduate

Will try it out this morning. Back at home after travelling on business so am back to the 300mtr gentle bit tortuous slope

Anniemurph profile image
AnniemurphGraduate

Interesting! Wish I'd read this before my run this morning as I could have tried it on the down-up which came at the beginning and the end of my run. It's not too bad at the beginning, but when you've just done 10k, the up bit is tough! I will make a note to try your technique on Sunday. Thanks!

Langley-Loper profile image
Langley-LoperGraduate

Interesting. I changed my usual route last night and introduced a hill and my average speed slowed according to my Strava app. Next time I'll try this technique and see if I can pick up again!

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