Hills first or last

[Hurdygurdyman]

I can do my route front to back or back to front if that makes sense. I have one really big (Yorkshire friends - it's all relative) hill. Either at the beginning or the end. At the moment I'm trying to get it in early and then coast (! Struggle would be closer) through the rest. Which way round do you prefer??

[T2runner Graduate]

For and against for both, do the hill first and push harder towards the end if needed, at the end if tired you may struggle with the hill, but why not just alternate, it would help train the body at different times of the run to have 6o push. If that makes sense.

[HeavyFoot Graduate]

It’s really tough going through the Toxic Ten uphill. As T2 runner suggests, try alternating.

[Hurdygurdyman Graduate in reply to HeavyFoot]

Wow. What's the toxic ten. Sounds fun!

[HeavyFoot Graduate in reply to Hurdygurdyman]

Look on this forum for lots of info on the Toxic Ten. In brief it’s the first ten difficult minutes of a run when the body has to adapt to an anaerobic state. For many, me included, it’s also the period of self doubt.

[Hurdygurdyman Graduate in reply to HeavyFoot]

Ha! Is it easier to endure when it's got a name?

[HeavyFoot Graduate in reply to Hurdygurdyman]

It helps to understand and rationalise the rotten feeling. I read a slogan on this site: The First Mile is a Liar. Very true

[T2runner Graduate in reply to HeavyFoot]

Sorry, but the self doubt, I imagine you running thinking ' do these socks clash with this top'

Strangely I have now got self doubt in the last 10 minutes, since graduation a couple of weeks ago.

[HeavyFoot Graduate in reply to T2runner]

Ha! I know I look a disaster but I don’t care. Self doubt goes along the lines of “I’ve only run five minutes and I’m knackered. I’m never going to be able to finish the .... run...in.... weeks” fill in gaps.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I have always planned longer runs to include the majority or the steeper climbs in the earlier part of my runs.

My home 5k route, though, ends with a steep uphill across a field. If I reverse it, it has an even steeper hill two thirds of way round, known locally as Breakheart Hill. I have run down Breakheart hundreds of times...........only managed to run up it once.

[Hurdygurdyman Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Clue's in the name. Don't mess with Breakheart Hill.

Like you I think I'll keep the climb early in the run for now. Until I star 'enjoying it'!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Hurdygurdyman]

If you are not enjoying it, you are probably working too hard.......slow down, which makes it more achievable and more enjoyable too.

[T2runner Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Before the lockdown I was looking at the park runs in Suffolk, my local run has reviews as you would expect, the one recurring word in them is brutal. If any one knows Christchurch park in Ipswich will know that there flat and Suffolk are never seen together. It is a brutal walk.

[NotPrime]

Wherever they turn up enjoy them!

Did my favourite Sunday run this morning which climbs around 170m in the first 5k descends for 2k then ascends 50m in the next half k before descending again.

Definitely enjoy the 2k descent but find the final 50m climb fun too. Getting the pace and cadence right on tiring legs adds to the interest.

[Hurdygurdyman Graduate in reply to NotPrime]

Enjoy a hill??!? You're in a different league to me... Like your attitude though...must try to cultivate some of that myself. At the moment I'm more likely to enjoy the spicy bun and coffee was I've finished.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate]

Yep.... just go for it, whichever way you fancy on the day. Does different things for you (and to you!!). Lots of hills in this bit of Yorkshire 😊

[Hurdygurdyman Graduate in reply to Beachcomber66]

Must be lovely in the wide open spaces, though too many hills is an issue. Saying that, I did manage to find a completely flat 5k route in the Austrian Alps this winter. Still a bit of the couch in me.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Err... good question! I used to prefer the flat half and then turn round 🤣. I do like the boost that getting up a hill gives me, so I’d probably go for it first... and then my me-coach voice in my head would be telling me that I’d done the hard bit, the rest is easy now.

[Speedy60 Graduate]

You can't make the hill your 5 minute warm up walk? (or 10 minute 😉)

[Getfitok Graduate]

Sounds like where I live. I use it for my warm up/down (literally) walk. 👣👣👣