Help! Long/steep flights of steps? Reset the clock?

[spadgy]

Short version:

I'm hitting some local countryside, finally, and am coming across some significant flights of steps cut into steep hills - 70 steps, for example. My attempts to run up them have not been running, especially meeting them already pretty drained! If I keep moving on the steps, even if I'm very close to walking speed, does that still count as part of my run? Or if I'm 15 minutes into a 28-minute run and I slow right down to climb the steps for a minute or two, should I terminate the run and start the clock again?

Original full post with too much enthusiastic waffle!:

Next run for me is W8R2. I can finally run from my home in town to the countryside, and embracing trails from W7R1 has been transformative for me. I've been happy with all my progress (because I never imagined I could run two minutes - let alone 28!), but still struggled to find a connection with running, or the idea of me as a runner. It never felt like me, and maybe that came at the expense of pleasure and motivation. Certainly, I was appreciating the benefits over the experience of running. Now - after the app commentary in W7 recommended trying a new route, I went for the countryside - now I'm running through fields and woods and hopping over streams and out in the hills and I feel I've found my running! When my trail run ends I'm gutted I have to wait two days to try again! Totally new feeling for me! Maybe it's nostalgia about being chased by farmers decades ago (I was only a little bit mischievous ).

But it has meant finding some obstacles! I live in a very hilly/cliff-packed stretch of the UK's south coast. So, my question...

The other day I improvised a route down a little footpath and at about 15 minutes into my run I found about 65-75 steps cut into a very steep hillside. I ran the first eight... maybe. Then it was more like a grimacing slog. Faster than I'd walk the steps, but DEFINITELY NOT RUNNING!

10-mins later, another 50 or so steps cut into a hill. Already feeling like I'd pushed myself a lot, that was hard!

Strictly speaking, with these long steep flights of steps I'm stopping the run, and starting a minute or two later. Still working hard and moving, but not running.

Does that terminate the run? Does it count if my 25 minute W7 run was '15 mins running + 2 mins slogging up steep stairs + 8 mins running'? Or should I nb restarting?

I wish I lived closer to the countryside, but currently reality is that whatever route I take, I have some monster climbs (after a decent) to get to the countryside. My W7R3 where I first met the steps? Across that run I did 114-metres total elevation (height gained with all my uphills across one run combined) compared to my road runs being more like 50m total elevation, so it certainly isn't feeling more easy going. Not harder than road running - a different challenge.

[sally1993]

Bloody hell you sounds like an athlete 😂 won’t catch me up and down flights of stairs along the cliff face during a run 🥵 . Sorry I cant help with your question - be careful on them stairs though! X

[spadgy Graduate in reply to sally1993]

Ha ha! Well this is in-part your fault, with your app recommendation and encouragement! I mean, while some of the hill climbs have been tough, once up there I'm sort of floundering along little footpaths looking at a nice sea view. Not quite that athletic. Get some monster down hills on wide open tracks too - with not a car or person about. And I really couldn't have done it at all just a few weeks ago. Plus, the climbs are offset by things like three-minutes with me a bit lost in the woods at a crawl, or jogging in a circle around a footpath sign trying to work out which of five options to take!

[sally1993 in reply to spadgy]

😂😂😂😂 this description is brilliant sounds like you’ve got a bit of everything! So glad I was able to encourage you.. probably be your turn soon I start week 4 on Saturday! X