Question for runners -- doing hills

[aveggiegirl]

Hello all you expert runners! My question is about running hills. Are you supposed to run up the hill landing on the ball of your foot or are you supposed to let the entire foot hit? I just started doing Cardio Coach a few months ago and never really did too many hills before that. I don't want to injure myself.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[RapidBreath]

Thats a really good question

I had never really thought about it. I use the whole foot.

I don't always use the whole foot off road because the soft dirt can give away if it has rained and the dirt is moist.

 

[janie1234]

I never thought about it either. I do find my upper body leaning forward a bit more. Hills are tough so I concentrate more on my breathing to get me through it.

 

[marnapril]

i use my whole foot when doing hills, but i tend to land and push off my toes when running steep hills. i try very hard to never land on the balls of my feet because it can lead to bruised or broken sesamoids (little bones under your big toe) which is painful.

 

[JeanneMarie]

Another hill runner who has never even thought about it. Maybe you're over analyzing? Just go run!

 

[maddiesmum]

I agree that I never really think about it, just do what comes naturally, but I will say that the body does lean towards the incline and there is a tendency to land further forward on the foot, it's not the typical heel-strike of flat plane running.

And no, ball-of-the-foot running is not advised for the long term, but short bouts of it when ascending a hill are perfectly acceptable and natural.

Are you doing sharp inclines for sustained periods of time or short bursts?

Clare

 

[aveggiegirl]

Thanks everybody! I appreciate all of your responses. You're the best!

Maddiesmum - I would have to say that I am doing several short bursts but I doubt that my incline is very sharp. -- I do 6, 7, or 8 out of 12 on my treadmill.

marnapril - Thanks for teaching me a new word -- sesamoids. I'll probably think of you every time I do a hill now. My sister has been running marathons for years. I wonder if she knows about sesamoids. Are you a doctor?

Jeannemarie -- I over analyze everything. At least that's what my husband says.

Thanks again, everyone!!!