Starting again...

[Enxo]

Hi!

I hope everyone is triumphing in our current emergency!

I completed C25K in early december however I did it in a rush (running WK9 three days on the trot) and wasn't able to consolidate. This was because I was going into hospital. it took me until the third week of Feb to be allowed to run again. I lost it! I lost momentum and condition!

I've started running again though and after three halfhearted 30 minute runs in Brighton I'm now in hilly Cornwall, looking after my elderly mother, and after a 3 week hiatus, am starting again at 20 min.

Not looking for sympathy but advice on how to takle the looooong hills and troughs?

enzo

[Smelliepoo Graduate]

Take it slow, small steps but keep a rhythm going uphill. Look forward and find something that you are going to check in with yourself before you give up on that hill, and then when you get there find the next point! As for the troughs, take it steady. Don't let gravity take you and do not lean back when running down hill or you will hurt your knees. Enjoy the amazing feeling when you get to the top of the hill and then it is all plain sailing til you get home! (unless you are staying at the top of a hill, in which case just imagine the rewards of getting home! That is all I can ever do!!) enjoy the views and the countryside! 😊

[Enxo Graduate in reply to Smelliepoo]

Hi Smelly!

Thanks for the hello and I hope you are well!

The first uphill climb is actually at the beginning of my 20mins, halfway thereis another looooonger one though but thats where I turn around at the moment (it must be at least a mile long!).

[Smelliepoo Graduate in reply to Enxo]

Sounds like you have the perfect place to start from then!! My run today was to the beach, all down hill, and then back up the massive very steep hill home again!! 🥵 Felt awesome at the end though!! Enjoy the hill, and the run back down again!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Hey good to see you back, just plod slow up those hills and don’t be tempted to sprint down them or you will hurt your knees

Stay safe

[Enxo Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks but I'm already plodding when I get to them!

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Enxo]

Plod slower, if they are steep walk, walking briskly will strengthen your legs and one day you will be able to run them

[Enxo Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

You're so right! I'll mix it up a bit until I can run the whole thing! Thanks for pointing that out!

[Rigpig Graduate]

I only run on hills occasionally and they tend to be long but not that steep. When I have run on steep hills I power walk them as fast as I can and found this really works for me.

[Hidden]

Rushing through the programme and then hospital, the 2 months off and then hills. I would go back a bit, redo c25k in your new terrain perhaps.

I have been running for 3 years now and I don’t think I could come straight back after 2 months

Take it steady and build up slowly

[Speedy60 Graduate]

Lovely to hear from you, Enxo. I find hills really hard. I set myself a challenge this month to conquer a hill near me. I've put it on hold because I thought it was a bit much to run up and down the same hill six times in a row in the current circumstances.

There's a great video on the running channel on YouTube dealing with hills. Basically, breathe, take small strides and keep upright.

Hills are tough, no doubt about that, but when you get home, you'll be smashing all your PBs.👊

Best wishes to you and your parents.

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

Good idea I reckon! And it will be nice to have a change of scenery. I’ll be doing the same when I’m allowed out again, probably from the start at this rate. But on the plus side it will give my still niggley Achilles a rest. Have fun 👍😁

[Enxo Graduate]

Thank you! Great advice from everyone! I had forgotten that it took me 9 weeks to get to 30mins!