Hills!

[emily-m]

So far I've done pretty much all of C25K on the flat. Ok, so there are some hills in Newcastle (not least the steep climb up from the quayside) but on my usual running patch what I tend to call a 'hill' is mostly little more than false flat, though it's curious how much you can notice even a tiny increase in gradient.

This weekend I was staying in Sheffield, so W8R3 necessarily involved hills. Great big steep proper ones. They're almost impossible to avoid in most areas of the city. I'm from Sheffield so this wasn't a surprise but the old legs still found it a bit of shock. Running round Norfolk Park was a continual up-and-down of slopes of varying steepness, albeit with beautiful autumn leaves and great views out over the city. The 'worst' bit, though, was the sharply hairpinned and *very* steep path back up to the Cholera Monument, which I had to 'run' with tiny steps so slowly it seemed like I was hardly moving, and which I could have walked up so much quicker. You can see the Cholera Monument in the photo, though the weird perspective makes it look almost as if you could walk off into Sheffield city centre along that path! I assure you, there's a sheer drop at the end of there…

The funny thing is, although it was probably the 'hardest' run I've done, it was also one of the most enjoyable. I don't know whether it was the variation of running 'up hill and down dale' or just the pleasure of running somewhere completely different for a change. Or perhaps it was because the hills made me fully embrace my 'inner snail' just to get round. When I looked at the distance, I'd done about 400m or so less than I did on my other two W8 runs. Not that I cared. That's also what running somewhere 'new' perhaps does: it takes away the pressure (however subconscious) to compare, to do 'better' (whatever that means) than last time, and lets you just focus on enjoying the run. 😎

Well then. Back in Newcastle for W9… Graduation beckoning, right? 😉

Happy running this week, everyone. You can do it. 👍🏼

[Reverie1 Graduate]

That's a lovely post, really interesting too! : ) Very well done you for tackling those fears head on, and coming through in style. Lol at connecting with your 'inner snail' too : ))

Hills are something I am trying to work on too: I hadn't realised how much of where I live is set at a gradient - but you really do notice them on a run... Anyway, onwards, and..err.. upwards?! ; )

[emily-m Graduate in reply to Reverie1]

Thanks, it is extraordinary how much you notice even a slight incline!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great run... I’m just the other side of the big hill, it’s no flatter this side!

The hills will do you speed and endurance a lot of good. Must have been good running back “home” and now you go home to complete this plan. Enjoy week 9, and we’ll get ready to cheer you home.

[emily-m Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Cheers, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I did W9R1 this morning, not the greatest run ever but looking forward to the rest of the week.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to emily-m]

They’re not all great, but you’re almost there, graduation one will be amazing

[emily-m Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks, it was nowhere near the worst I've done (still W6R3 by miles) but I wasn't feeling it. Going to work out a variation on the route for the rest of the week because I had difficulty getting across the roads today, which didn't help.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Hills are your friends........they make you stronger.

[emily-m Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

That was my sister in law's advice when I first started this. 'Do some hills!' I'm not sure earlier in the plan I would've appreciated them so much, mind.