I <3 Hills! Well not quite, I've grown to be more fond of them over the course of my endurance training. I remember back in November when I first started running up hills and it was awful. My heart felt like it was going to pound right out of my chest and it was all I could do to make it up the hill. Today, once I was warmed up, I soldiered up many a hill with relative ease.
So, why run hills? Well for me it is just the nature of the area I live in. Apparently my neighborhood is one gigantic succession of rolling hills. That means that I really really can't get away with running a flat or downhill course. Don't get me wrong, I plan my runs to include gradual hills, steep hills, and small hills. All of which have their varying degrees of difficulty, but in my mind help me to practice running upwards. That way I will be better prepared for the upcoming half marathons and my marathon in Baltimore. Another reason to run hills is for the very reason my friend Amanda pointed out after a whining session I did about how I really just didn't want run another hill. She very astutely said, "You find me a half marathon that doesn't make you run one hill and I will make us stop running them." I had no counter point because honestly she made me reflect on my first half marathon experience. I remember that not only did I start off slower than everyone else, but my pace and my ability to get up a hill helped me pass many individuals who blew by me at the start of the race. The best preparedness for any distance race is building endurance to hills. Amanda was right, there is no way I can physically be prepared to run up and down hills if I don't train for them because most half and full marathons are not largely flat courses.
So go for it run up those hills, I know I am! Until next time, happy running!
So, why run hills? Well for me it is just the nature of the area I live in. Apparently my neighborhood is one gigantic succession of rolling hills. That means that I really really can't get away with running a flat or downhill course. Don't get me wrong, I plan my runs to include gradual hills, steep hills, and small hills. All of which have their varying degrees of difficulty, but in my mind help me to practice running upwards. That way I will be better prepared for the upcoming half marathons and my marathon in Baltimore. Another reason to run hills is for the very reason my friend Amanda pointed out after a whining session I did about how I really just didn't want run another hill. She very astutely said, "You find me a half marathon that doesn't make you run one hill and I will make us stop running them." I had no counter point because honestly she made me reflect on my first half marathon experience. I remember that not only did I start off slower than everyone else, but my pace and my ability to get up a hill helped me pass many individuals who blew by me at the start of the race. The best preparedness for any distance race is building endurance to hills. Amanda was right, there is no way I can physically be prepared to run up and down hills if I don't train for them because most half and full marathons are not largely flat courses.
So go for it run up those hills, I know I am! Until next time, happy running!
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