Hey Runners

gidget1978

gidget1978

Cathlete
Got a question for ya! How would I go about training for a hilly 20K? Im debating racing in a race on Oct 19th but its fairly hilly and ends with a MASSIVE hill! I was talking to a guy today who did it last year and he said that alot of people walked the hill last year. The race is in the city, and I live about 3 hours drive away so I can't actually run the distance before the race. Should I find a hill and keep running it? I know a girl who just finished a HM that was fairly hilly and she hill trained on certain days. Any tips before I sign up?
Thanks!
Lori
 
Do you live in an area where there are hills? I always train on hills because I live on a hill and there is nothing but hills where I live. You can find a hill and do hill repeats once a week or if you live in an area with hills incorporate them into your long run.
 
There aren't many hills around here. Seriously, there are around 3! I incorporate atleast one into my daily runs,while pushing a stroller. I went to my parents house for the weekend, ran yesterday and there was nothing but hills, 8 in total and the run was 14.6K. I didn't think it was that bad. I didn't walk any of the hills and some of them were pretty steep. I wonder if DH would care if I moved home for a month? LOL
How many times would I have to run hills? I know you are saying once a week but how many runs up and down the hill? And if train on the TM when the weather isn't good, what incline should I use?
 
Hey Lori!

Come to my house to run!! LOL Seriously, although I live cornfield land (IL), for some reason all around me are hills!

I try to do at least one hilly run a week. Last week, I did hill repeats, basically fast uphill and recovery jog back down. I try to do 6-8 repeats, it's a REALLY good workout.

If you're using the TM, just try to vary the incline and I would do at least an 8 or so incline for a couple minutes at a time.

Good luck and happy running!

Jess
 
When I was in high school our coach had us run up and down the stadium steps in prep for hilly meets. Most public schools are open to the everyone except during school hours. HTH,
 
The Treadmill hill...

If you have access to a local gym, try the treadmill while you're just starting out on hills. Many treadmills have pre-programmed hill workouts you could try and build up your endurance for actual hills. It's easier to run hills on a treadmill so you might start with that, and then try outside. That's what I prescribe to my clients as a personal trainer.
:)
 
Thanks everyone! I signed up for the race and there is a training program on the website that I printed off. It seems to be a pretty good training program!
Thanks again,
Lori
 
another vote for hill repeats

Hi there! Good luck on your upcoming race! The marathon I did last year was "moderately hilly" with some really big climbs thrown in. I thought "NO PROB!!! I run NOTHING but hills in our town (of course a lot of downhill too!)" but I really should have done at least one hill workout of repeats weekly, I think it would have SERIOUSLY improved my endurance. Or tack on a hill repeat at the end of another workout. Treadmills are great too, but nothing like being outside IMO!!
Best wishes
julie
 
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