Running - Training in hilly area

tiny_clanger

Hi runners


I'm looking for some advice. I'm running about 30K per week, usually 2 10's and 2 5's. The area I live in is very hilly (average elevation gain on my 10K's according to Garmin is 100m). My 10K time at home is around 1.07, and on the flat 1.01.

I love running loops from home, I love the feeling of running straight to my front door, but inevitably that means I spend the last k of my 10k running up a steep hill. Am I hindering my training by only running hilly training routes, should I get over my love of immediate post-run creature comforts and travel to flatter areas to run.

I know that hill training is supposed to be good for you, and I can definitely feel the improvement in stamina, just not sure I should be doing it all the time?

Thanks

rybo

You are better off with the hills. If you want an occasional break to run some flats just to keep your sanity, you can add them in, but unless you are training for a specific race, that is completely flat, I wouldn't worry.

beemerphile1

Stay with the hills. Running in hilly terrain is a form of forced intervals.

jgnatca

I am so jealous. You have great terrain. You are in a perfect position to train for the Death Race in Grande Cache, Alberta.

BrianSharpe

It certainly won't hinder your training, most of us have to actively look for hills to run!

For a bit of variety you could reverse direction now and then (ie run down that hill that you normally finish running up)?

tiny_clanger

BrianSharpe wrote: »

For a bit of variety you could reverse direction now and then (ie run down that hill that you normally finish running up)?

I could do, but then I'd have to slog up the hill home after my run was finished (the joys of living on top of a hill )

Cool, thanks guys. You always read about hill training like it's something special, so wasn't sure if doing it every run was a good thing. I definitely notice the difference though, on my flat race, I was powering up the tiny inclines that some runners were complaining about

MorningGhost14

I have the same predicament where i live. Every run is a hill run. I have a little flat section about a mile from the house that is about 1/4 mile long, so sometimes I run back and forth on it a few times just to get a little taste of flat running...

mbaker566

I've got small to medium sized hills by me. I think it's helped me with my training. I'm adding more hills as i progress.

rsclause

When I first started running I hated hills, now I seek them out. The hills will make the flat courses seem easy and the flat landers will be puffing on the hill courses. Its a win win for you!

GiddyupTim

I love running hills, the more the better. Hills make it easier to make progress, I believe. I see no downside to running up a hill at the end of every run, after all, you can vary your pace.