Huffin n puffin up dem hills! 😰

[MutleyShuffle]

Decided on a different route for today's run (w8r1) as fed up of the busy park I usually run in, so did a route in and around some nearby woods and quiet roads. Beautiful setting but boy oh boy it's much tougher on hills! One of my hardest runs yet, the first time I've kept peaking at the time hoping it's time to stop! Talk about tomato face, that was HARD! Think I'll brave the crowds again next time, hills can wait until I've graduated!

[Flaraflarkin Graduate]

Well done MutleyShuffle 🙌🙌 I've been lucky in avoiding hills so far..... but i did end up a lovely shade of aubergine last night! 😂🍆

[MutleyShuffle Graduate in reply to Flaraflarkin]

😁

[Juliapal Graduate]

I thought you were rapping

Well done for conquering the hills!

[MutleyShuffle Graduate in reply to Juliapal]

Ha ha! Thanks 😊

[Nictwit Graduate]

Hard but you still did it. The hills will not defeat you!

[AnnieW55]

Hills are hard but will build your stamina and some of us have no choice but to run them. Just take them slowly (is there any other way) and use a shorter stride going up. I learned to do this, and still do it on occasion. Go up to one lamp post or marker and run down to bottom then run up two and down one then repeat (up two, down one) until you get to the top. The going down bit gives a bit of recovery time ready for the next run up bit.

[WalkingWithLabradors Graduate in reply to AnnieW55]

That sounds like a plan Annie! I’m going to do that. 👍🏻

[AnnieW55 in reply to WalkingWithLabradors]

One other tip which came, I think, from Irishprincess is that when running uphill increase the angle of your arms, at the elbow, from 90 to around 45 degrees (like punching upwards) it seems to help.

[MutleyShuffle Graduate in reply to AnnieW55]

Yes I did them very very slow, but was still panting and wheezing! 😁 How about coming downhill? Should you keep your stride short? Worried about hurting my calves

[AnnieW55 in reply to MutleyShuffle]

Don't go downhill hell-for-leather. At least as a new runner. Keep your legs under you - no over striding, or lengthening too much as that will help to avoid injury. Lean forward from the hip and look ahead not down at your feet. This tends to be what I do.

[MutleyShuffle Graduate in reply to AnnieW55]

Thanks Annie

[Rua8 Graduate]

I salute you! I do a route that completely avoids hills because I worry I would keel over before the end of the session. Well done for giving it a go!

[MutleyShuffle Graduate in reply to Rua8]

Thank you Rua8! I think I will go back to hill avoidance for now, plenty of time for such "challenges" after graduation!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Tomatoes are great..hills are.. err character building.. As you move on, there will be plenty of hills... but very, very well done indeed

[MutleyShuffle Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Aw, thanks 😊

[Sarararara Graduate]

Well done on tackling a hill- they make you realise ‘easy’ running on the flat is!

I graduated on Monday and my new challenge is to do hills- it’s going to take time to figure out pace and stride length going up and down. Whole new adventure!

[MutleyShuffle Graduate in reply to Sarararara]

Thanks Sararara - if I'd realised how hilly the route would be I probably wouldn't have done it! Will go back again in the future though, it's a lovely quiet route. Congrats on graduating! And good luck with your hilly adventure!

[Hidden]

Well done.

I avoided hills until 2 weeks after my graduation run. Thought I needed to get some mikes in the legs before I made it anymore harder than it originally was? 😂

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

*miles

[MutleyShuffle Graduate in reply to Hidden]

A much more sensible approach!! 😁