Hills...or lack of... - Training

emzap

09/01/2006 at 07:17

Hi,
I usually live in the Chilterns where there are lots of nice hills for me to run up and hill train on, however during the term time I live in cambridge, which has 1 tiny little inline, that can't really be called a hill at all. I am training for a 10k, and although I can run this distance already, I'd like to keep up my stamina by incorporating hill training, speed training etc into my regime. Would running on an incline on a treadmill be an ok substitute for the lack of hills? What do people think. I have had knee problems in the past, so need to be careful.
Thanks

Hendo.

09/01/2006 at 09:04

I live in Southsea... no hills for miles!

I call running into the strong sea breeze on the seafront my hillwork!

Windsurfin' Susie

09/01/2006 at 10:04

Hendo,
You have Portsdown Hill! How far away does a hill have to be?

The usual answer to a lack of hills is to find a bridge and run up and down it - our club hill session does just that. Closed multistorey carparks can be a good bet if it's safe.

Hendo.

09/01/2006 at 10:35

Portsdown hill is up north though susie!

I have the seafront on my doorstep, why inhale the fumes from suburbia?!

Windsurfin' Susie

09/01/2006 at 10:40

You southeners! ;-)

emzap

09/01/2006 at 22:59

I have no bridges either!!! I may have to have a scout around for something suitable, I have a while as hill training doesn't start in my training plan for a week or two!

Windsurfin' Susie

10/01/2006 at 08:07

How about the entry ramps for city centre car parks?

I've never tried a hill session on a treadmill, so not sure how that compares to the real thing. One problem is that treadmills generally don't go downhill. Downhill running is a skill in itself which should be pracised if you want to maximise performance. Downhill can be very heavy on the quads on long runs.

emzap

10/01/2006 at 13:20

Good idea, I will try that, and if not I will try it on a treadmill and just have to practise downhill when I get home!

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