Thinking about hills

[Beachcomber66]

After a lovely birthday Saturday (thanks for all of the greetings!), I decided that it was time to get my running shoes on yesterday and brave the cold wind. Time also to get back to my hill route which I had to leave for 6 weeks or so because of a couple of chest colds. Not surprisingly I found it really tough. I ran the first one and three quarter hills and walked the others. Disappointing, but, with an overall elevation gain of 157 metres with the main height gain being concentrated over a 1k section, hardly surprising. I still had the fun of running down the other side!

It has got me thinking (dangerous). The steepest 1k took me a minute longer to walk than it does to run at my best speed. The problem seems to be that my heart rate peaks out at about 166 and I don't think that is going to change any time soon in a 68 year old! I know that I can get back to running this 5k route, and probably will, but I am beginning to think that, for the future, longer steep hill routes need to be walk runs, and maybe that will open up more scenic opportunities. If I wait until I can run them I will probably wait for ever! Have to face growing up/older at some point I guess!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

So glad you had a fab birthday BC! Next one in 4 years! Did you hear about the family (mother and son .... could be wrong) that both had leap birthdays? Pretty rare I’d say. 😀

I think hills need to be enjoyable and ultimately achievable, otherwise why put yourself through the pain? Your walking stint made it possible yesterday. You know you’re good at them, so if exploring new routes means tackling hills that are overly taxing, heck - walk those! I bet the ones you do run will more than compensate! 🏃‍♂️💪

I’m leaving Ashton Court out of my runs until the weather calms down a bit for that very reason. I love running there, but when it’s blowing a hooley (or it’s too hot!) I simply don’t go there. It’s not fun.

Running is meant to be fun! 😀😀😀

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I know that you are a hill runner too cheeky and we feel the same about walking them. Overcoming tough challenges is great, but making that a prerequisite for enjoying the run ends in disappointment at some stage. It has to be about more than further steeper faster (especially at my age). Maybe 68 will bring some maturity!

I heard about the mother/ child thing; amazing. We found out that a young man in a gents’ outfitters I use was another leapie! We were in there on Saturday so dropped off a 7 year old card for him!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Hahaha wonderful! 7 years old!! 😅😅

I sometimes wish (and it sounds like you do too) that I could cut myself some slack and allow myself to walk some hills. But, like you, there’s always a cloud of disappointment after such a run ........

But it’s ok isn’t it? .......... (help me out here!!)

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

YES!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

🤣🤣

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I think that trying to run my steepish 5k once per week is ok; it helps to build up strength and fitness. Anything longer, with more steep hills, just won’t work and I think that my max heart rate (linked to age) is the limiting factor. No matter what I do, I can’t now improve on my 166 max. I have spoken to some ultra runners about this. Their message is simple; run/walk is an essential part of the deal where I live. These are really fit much younger people. The walk lets the heart rate reduce (quite quickly because we are pretty fit) and gives us the capacity to go on extended runs. I think the “must run it all”, on long runs, is a hangover from C25k which risks spoiling enjoyment and also limits the fantastic range of territory we can explore. So yes Cheeky, I am a late convert, but run walk as part of a balanced diet of all runs is not only fine, it is the best, maybe the only, way of enjoying the wonderful countryside around us 😊

[Granspeed in reply to Beachcomber66]

Like that “balanced diet. Am going to steal that as a mantra. 😊👍

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Granspeed]

you are welcome 😊

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Definitely

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

It'll get pretty boring and demoralising running up and down the same hill, rarely getting over the top! That doesn't sound like good running to me! Strategic walking is perfectly acceptable - there's much more to discover out there! (says the no.1 hill hater 😍).

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Think we are in heated agreement Linda; see my reply to cheeky 😊

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

It’s on a nice little loop with the cafe at the end of it!😊

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

You know, in a strange way I am looking forward to going back to France where there are hills on my doorstep (says the 2nd no 1 hill hater on the forum 😂). When I did my first 10 mile run last year, I did manage to just keep running, but it was barely more than a walk at about 9.30/km up the steepest hill but the joy of running downhill afterwards was so rewarding. No shame in walking, especially if it opens up those gorgeous north east coastal views!

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Holiday hills in Scilly were great; my VO2 max shot up to over 40, but they were more gradual slopes than these local killers! I can manage the local ones at 7.30/k tops. Your French hills must be really steep and long! Got to spend time on my 10k distance sometime soon 👍

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Just checked Strava - 209m and all but about 40m in one hill during kms11 and 12, just as I was starting to feel tired 😩

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Yep, that is rough. Nice run in the opposite direction.

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Yep! Problem with living on top of the hill, though, is that it is always uphill at the end 😬

[Granspeed]

Really took to your phrase in the replies about a “balanced diet” of types of running. I think this extremely wet and windy period has been hard on lots of us, especially following on from December with its darkness and festivities. Altogether put paid to my nicely progressing build up of distance. 😨 And I’m finding it a slog to build back up, with grumbling weather still continuing. So I’m going to refresh my running diet. Permission to walk on the worst hills in order to enjoy new views sounds like a great place to begin. 🤔 Watch our legs, we really are going to do more & better distances! (And so will you, hills or no.) 😄😄

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Granspeed]

Yep. I know how you feel..two chest colds have left me feeling shattered, but I felt better yesterday, hence the crack at my hills. Looking back, I had a couple of niggles this time last year. Ready for some warm weather. In the meantime, I have a dog to walk, cold wind or not!

[Granspeed in reply to Beachcomber66]

Dogs definitely keep one going. Sometimes I think: you would go if you still had the dog. 🤔 It usually gets me out the door. 🤣

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Granspeed]

Molly is 37 kilos; it doesn’t pay to argue! She just sits on your foot!

[Granspeed in reply to Beachcomber66]

🤣🤣

[grumpyoldgirl]

Hi BC, belated birthday greetings, I don't frequent this forum much because, well, marathons 😁 full, half or anything in between. Nice to see so many of you guys have made the move up though. I'll stay where I need to be for now, and contemplating those hills. Rather than running them 😆

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Reply take 2!! Disturbed by Molly who likes to clean her muzzle post tea by attacking my jeans !

Thanks for the greetings 😊

Hope your comeback continues to go well.

There is a bit of logic about where I post; I do flit between forums depending upon the subject matter. Hills felt like technical stuff; I didn’t really have to contend with them until I could run further than 10k because of the lie the land up here. All the replies helped me with my internal debate which was about whether I was attempting the impossible or wimping out too easily! I think I have got my head round it now thanks to lovely VRBs. 👍

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to Beachcomber66]

Makes sense. Not a problem I have, I can't go far without encountering a hill, unless I run along the canal, and that's no fun this winter. So I'm absolutely on the side of getting up them any way you can 😁 (maybe throw a saddle on Molly and ride up?)

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Could try canicross I suppose; think we would end up going where Molly wanted to!😊

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

With those steep slopes they would be straight walks for me Beachcomber66, so any running you manage is great.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

I think that, when/if the weather improves I am up for some long run (as much as possible) / walks (where I have to) on the moor top. End of May will be 2nd graduation runniversary; 10 k in year one, HM and attacking hills year two, moor tops are the next natural progression. Hopefully!! Hope UTS is right and you are fit for another few days skiing! 😊