Hi all,
I am on wk2 R3 and from the very start of the C25k I have avoided any hills as much as possible! Even a slight incline gets me and I'm worried that this will now hold me back on the programme?
Obviously the further I go through the programme the further I will need my route to be and I can't avoid them for ever!
Is this fear of hills going to have an impact on my progress?
Any advice greatly received! X
if you dont like hills dont do them. They will still be there after you have graduated and you can tackle them then. I ran most of C25k on a pancak flat route and didn't start hill running until a couple of months after graduating, by which time my confidence was up.
I have some slopes where I am and have had to deal with them from early on.
Just slow it down to take on the slope. And as time goes on you feel yourself getting further and further up that slope.
Just slow and steady. And if needs be, slow it down a bit.
Now if your hills you talk about require crampons and ropes then yes, I would avoid them.
No.. those are the best kind of hills 
Thank you both! It is quite hilly where I live... it's actually named The Lickey Hills but there are still routes to avoid these i just worried that I should be doing them from the start to help my progress.
I have taken on 2 smaller hills and although I felt like passing out at the top, I did manage them.
I'll keep on as I am I think until I feel fitter to attempt them!
As Rignold says, they will still be there when you are ready.
I'd concentrate on doing the program however you can then look at the hills if you want to. I ran around a 1.3k route with a steep small up hill and a quite long downhill. I daren't change route or even go round it backwards until after graduation, just round and round till I hit 5k that first time! (And that was a few runs past graduation). Branched out into the neighbourhood a bit now though with a bit more confidence, it will come, just stick with what's working now!
I think the most important thing is to do what you feel comfortable with but also don't worry about repeating a run if you do try to tackle a hill and it proves too difficult, you can always repeat the run after a rest day and alter your route slightly.
I can understand the desire to not be in a position where you have to repeat a run, but really it's all about getting better and stronger and finding your own limits, a few false starts along the way can only help you rather than hinder you.
Great advice as always from you all!
Thank you so much. I will continue as I am 💪🏻
I would say... if you don't need to run hills yet.. don't! Some of us don't have a choice
As and when you will take them in your...errr. stride
OK been there. Avoided hills at start, worried about them, one day felt right to give it a try. Was "running" up one (that slow pace that you thought couldn't get slower- well it can lol) felt unable to keep going, so turned round ran down until felt bit better then started up again. Ran in circles! No problem, I can now go all the way round the park, hills (friend says inclines) and all (still slow on hills) - did Graduation run yesterday. It will not slow your progress just put the hills in when you feel ready. They really do strengthen your legs btw.
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