Trails and hills

[Stentrunner]

I’ve now completed two runs in Wk4. With a history of arthritis I avoid roads and pavements, and usually run on tracks through the woods behind my house, but for wk4:1 I ran in a local park for the first time. The park was a flat run, mostly on grass, and I was reasonably comfortable - much better than I expected.

Yesterday I did Wk4:2 on my usual tracks. Boy, was it hard! I checked when I got home, and my usual route is downhill at first with a drop of 100m over the first 1.5km, then a climb of 100m over the 2.5 km home. I was warned that trail running was going to be harder but I hadn’t realised just how much.

So... should I switch to a flatter route, or persevere with my usual one, maybe taking it easier uphill?

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

As you have already done it i’d stick with your hills but don’t push too hard, slow down a bit and you will get stronger

[Roxdog Graduate]

I think You could mix up the routes a bit. If you're doing a session on hills I would just slow it right down and take little steps.

[Rennur Graduate]

I keep to a relatively flat route.

I don't think I could cope with hills until I am well past graduation.

But you seem to be dealing with them well.

I guess it means that when you do switch to a flat route you will be flying!