Is downhill running cheating: Week 6 run... - Couch to 5K

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Is downhill running cheating

Zion1995 profile image
11 Replies

Week 6 run 3 completed. I honestly never thought I would get this far. I wasn’t worried at all about my run today. I set off with the positive mindset of knowing that I could do it. I found it so much easier. The mind is sometimes the biggest obstacle to tackle.

I feel as though I am cheating a bit though because part of my run is downhill. I do have to run up hill to get to the downhill. My route is probably an equal mix of up hill and down hill running.

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Zion1995 profile image
Zion1995
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11 Replies
AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

No it's not cheating, congratulations on completing run 3 of week 6, you are now OFFICIALLY a RUNNER, onwards and upwards to week 7 which are all 3 /25 minute runs 🏃🏾.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Well if it is... cheating. then most runs I have done during my 8 running years have had cheating on them :) I am surrounded by up hill routes! To get back home I have to run down them!No... it is not... a run is a run,

Huge well done you ! Runner! On you go...uphill, on the flat and down too:)

BrokeyNotSoBusted profile image
BrokeyNotSoBustedGraduate

Not cheating but do be careful. Running down hill you have gravity moving more against you leading to harder impacts and potential injuries. Generally run slower on the downhill and i noticed on quite steep hills some walkers and runners actually try zig-zagging their way down to decrease the gradient against their stride (I get how walkers do it but I'd be worried about my ankles as a runner)

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

I do hope not… the first 8 miles of my big run this month will be downhill, and I’d hate to have to add another 8 on at the end to compensate for that 🤣

Slow down hills will help to strengthen bones, especially in the knee… just take them nice and easy.

Great run… I avoided the uphills throughout the plan (and they still gave me my badge). You got this now.

Vespina profile image
VespinaGraduate

Definitely not cheating. Especially if you’re going uphill to get downhills on the way home. Lots of research shows downhill can be harder so celebrate your hard work and take it steady for the next few.

Great job on week 6. You’re doing an amazing job.

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate

Not at all! My normal short run starts with me doing my warm up walk up a hill, then most of the run is downhill. There are some little climbs, but the general direction is down.

Shropsrunner profile image
Shropsrunner

No it’s not cheating at all. Downhill running can be just as hard if not harder than uphill. For example I have knee issues which means I find uphill much less painful!

KayBee1000 profile image
KayBee1000Graduate

I heard Michael Mosley on Radio 4 the other day, saying that studies had found it was more beneficial to your health to walk down stairs than up them - maybe the same applies to running down hills? 😂

My philosophy is that getting up and moving is better than sitting down,it doesn’t matter if you’re walking, running or dancing, on the flat, uphill or downhill - so no, I don’t believe running downhill is cheating.

It sounds like you’re in a great space mentally, and you’re right - often a lot of the obstacles we face to running (or eating healthily/exercising in general) are mental ones.

Keep it up, you’re doing great!

Reggit profile image
ReggitGraduate

Nope, most of my longer C25K runs where generally down hill - it’s quite hilly where I live . I felt guilty for a while about the elevation decrease making it easier - once I’d completed the program and built up distance I made that route circular (it’s about 6k round, so couldn’t do it on couch). Now my fitness has built considerably (finished couch about 2 years ago) I’ve recently gone back to that route and I’m absolutely positive it’s the hardest of all the routes I do!

So definitely not cheating!

SkiMonday profile image
SkiMondayGraduate

Congrats for completing week 6!

I think your question about downhill running has been comprehensively covered by other replies. I'll just add that, on my long run yesterday, although the downhills offered a welcome speedup at the start, they were hard work towards the end when I was tired. Besides, you generally have to "earn" your downhills by going uphill.

Zion1995 profile image
Zion1995

Thanks everyone. I think I am just in such disbelief that I have got this far. I’ve just completed week 7 run 1 and it’s was even more enjoyable knowing that I am not cutting corners with my downhills.

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