Who needs a spirit level!

[Chris--B]

Since graduating on the treadmill this time I have started my outdoor running mainly in the woods and fields. My route takes me for about 3/4 mile on the road then into the woods, then out the other side and through a field down to the river. At that point I turn up the field and then back to the woods and follow the same route back home. On the way out it feels all down hill at varying degrees.

As I make my way up from the river I can feel the extra effort required in my legs but nothing much to concern me. As I get into the woods it is the quite noticeable that the ground is undulating quite a lot, not constant as I thought on the way out. On the steeper slopes, i can feel my legs begin to burn and the it goes away when the slope levels out. Towards the last 100 yards or so in the woods, the ground in front looks flat but my legs tell me otherwise and its quite easy to tell the slope of the ground. I am sure I could calibrate my legs to be as good as any theodolite.

The last 3/4 mile on the road is a gentle up hill slope with a sharp increase just before the end before it flattens out. My legs definitely tell me I have finished as hit that last slope. Once onto the flat, within a few paces they feel ready to go again, maybe in a few weeks I may give them a chance to see if they are right.

Before I started running, I never really took much notice of the angle of the ground unless it was a really steep. Roads that I presumed to be flat, or an even a constant hill actually vary quite a lot.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

It’s most strange that roads and tracks that seem flat when driving or walking suddenly go up and down when running sounds a good run though

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Up and down? It’s always up round here!!! I don’t know how it’s geographically possibly to only have surprise uphill sections!

I totally agree with your observation-I’ve been caught out so many times like this!

[Chris--B Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I think that it is proven by the fact that space and time in Einstein's universe are no longer flat (as implicitly assumed by Newton) but can pushed and pulled, stretched and warped by matter. Gravity feels strongest where spacetime is most curved, and it vanishes where spacetime is flat. This is the core of Einstein's theory of general relativity, which is often summed up in words as follows: "matter tells spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move". According to Einstein, your weight on earth is due to the fact that your body is traveling through warped spacetime! In other words, as your speed increases, all hills go up, regardless of the direction of travel.

Simple!!!!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to Chris--B]

😂😂😂

I think that must also explain how you can be running into a headwind constantly during a circular walk!

[Chris--B Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Exactly, I think we have cracked it!

[Birra1 Graduate]

That sounds very much like where I run. Be careful if tree roots I went flying over one a few weeks ago. I had a very sore rib and elbow, but luckily my legs were fine and I managed to finish week 9 to graduate.

I did my fourth consolidation run yesterday and all happy about that. No where near the 5k though. I'm on the brink of 4k. Unfortunately later on in the morning I went on to put t my back out at work. I am now walking doubled over and gutted. I so missed my 5k walk this morning and would have been running tomorrow. I'm hoping the running hasn't caused the back to go although I was fine after the run and did my stretches before and after as usual.

And I agree, before I started running the oath I take never seemed "hilly" it certainly does now.

Onwards and upwards as they say.

From one very gutted newbie runner.

[Chris--B Graduate in reply to Birra1]

Sorry to hear about your back. I have found since starting running, I have much less trouble with my mine.I too had a fall a couple of weeks ago. Running along a narrow path with nettles and brambles either side, I lifted my arms up so I didnt get stung and tripped over a bramble. I hit the ground and spent the rest of the evening picking gravel out of my hands and knees. No real damage done luckily.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to Birra1]

Really sorry to hear about your back. Hope it eases quickly. ❤️

[Birra1 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Thank you 💓

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You will probably find in time that you barely notice some of those lesser slopes as your strength develops.Keep running, keep smiling.

[Chris--B Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I am hoping so. The fact that once back on flat ground my legs recover very quickly sounds promising.

[Birra1 Graduate in reply to Chris--B]

That sounds optimistic. As strengthen those almost non existent slopes fade into the distance.Determined to keep on running. 🎽

[Nilsam Graduate]

How true...I noticed local hills (just steep sloping roads) for the first time when pushing a pram. Forgot all about them and rediscovered them when first running. Good to really explore nature as you are doing. Well done.

[Frenc Graduate]

I agree, negligible inclines when walking seem like Kathmandu when running! 🤣