W2R2 - Dying on the hills!

[Penguinita]

I live in a hilly place, so unless I have extra time to drive somewhere flat (as I did for W2R1, which was fine) I can’t avoid running up steep bits. I can’t run up the worst one for more than ~45 seconds without going beetroot purple and feeling like my heart is bursting out of my chest, no matter how slow I go! I had to give up on one run and walk. Does it get easier? Should I repeat this run until I can do it (or find time to run somewhere flatter) - I think that could take weeks! Was feeling quite proud of myself until now!

[Johnnylewis Graduate]

I personally would keep at it. How's your breathing? Try and focus on your breathing when going up the hill and don't worry about how long it takes you. Hills believe or not are good for you.

[Cupoftea5k Graduate]

It doesn't matter how slow you go. Keep going. I think if you can stick with these hills in the early weeks, you will benefit greatly from it. When it gets steep, take smaller steps and keep on your toes.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Run uphill until you can get no further, turn round and run down again, repeating on the next hill.

In time you will get further up each hill.

Enjoy your journey.

[Penguinita Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Great advice, thank you!

[Debston Graduate]

Uphill definitely gets easier. Not EASY but easier. Could you run up (slowly) as far as you can, then pause the programme and walk the bit you just can't quite run up yet? I recently ran up a hill I'd never managed before (I used to turn round prtway up and go back downhill!) and was amazed I could finally do it.

[Couchsurfer Graduate]

Yes, it's amazing how the 'flat' place where I live is basically a series of hills now I've started running around it!

[Penguinita Graduate]

Thanks everyone for your advice! So today I went a lot slower on the downhills and turned round at the end of run 3 instead of waiting for the bell. That meant I’d walked up half of the steep hill before starting run 4, and I made it, and even felt like I could keep going for longer! I feel awesome, thanks for the support! 😀