I just got back from vacationing in Northern Georgia with my family. I am trying to get back into the running habit and build my mileage back up (we all slack now and then!) so I didn’t want to not run on vacation.
The problem is, we were vacationing in the mountains. And I am so not talking Aspen here … it wasn’t that commercialized. I mean we were on a dirt road that went to the side of the top of a very long windy mountain. Sure, the view was fantastic, but I didn’t notice that so much as I am trying to run up a 14% grade on a dirt and gravel road.
It was ROUGH. But, then, I have never really run on flat ground. I wasn’t a runner when we lived in Florida. And South Carolina and here in East Tennessee we are definitely familiar with hills. The only full marathon I have done was in San Francisco for goodness sake. But, these weren’t hills, they were MOUNTAINS.
I definitely didn’t set any new distance or time records but the hill workouts were great for my quads and gluts! And, I remembered how much I love to run down steep hills. You feel like a kid again. I love to just let go and let gravity do the work. If I am on a long run, I will often use this opportunity to loosen up my joints and run in silly patterns or shake out my upper body.
Next time you are stuck on a horrid uphill and you think there is no way you are going to make it to the top, just remind yourself: For every uphill there is a downhill! You can get there!
Running hills also has other benefits. After all, to race well on hills you have to train on them! They also help burn more calories and build more strength.
Some of the best advice I have gotten on running hills is this: run into the hill, not up it. And also to keep your EFFORT the same, not to focus on your tempo.
Here is a link to a great article on famous hills in U.S. races if you want a challenge! http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244–12853-0,00.html
I love running up hill… but downhill kills my knees. Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Running downhill also jars my ipod out of my arm holder thing pretty bad. My dog loves downhill though… she apparently finds amusement in thinking how bad I would be hurt if I fall.