will slowly improve. See full threadEmer - I know a (very good) runner who told me he gave up by running very fast up long steep hills, and then smoking at the top. Eventually he came to associate fags with choking and throwing up... See full thread

Tresco Marathon, Isles of Scilly: Sunday, April 23WHY RUN IT?The complete anthesis to flat and crowded London. There are three hills on the lap (one big and two small), but unfortunately the size of the island requires eight laps, so with 24 hills

Vero compact chainset, allowing you to tackle hills at a higher cadence. We loved how it felt on the road: the full-carbon fork soaked up the bumps and when we encountered a hill, the stiff aluminium frame responded well to a kick on the pedals. Voted

get. The Crowborough 10K is two-lap tour of the local surrounding rural and urban area. And with a typical start at a local school, and a fast descent down Crowborough Hill, you might be forgiven for thinking that a PB is on the cards. With the mile

around Cardiff. Last lap of the race is in the Millennium StadiumHarrow Hill 6 (Sept 5) If you like hills then this is a must-do race. Virtually no flat along this tough scenic routeMost Popular Races...Kingston Running Festival, Surrey, Oct 10 There

Chichester Marathon, Sussex: Sunday, July 21WHY RUN IT?Hills, challenge, meeting walkersThis marathon, held over the South Downs, is also part of an event primarily aimed at walkers, marchers and bikers, but is still suitable for runners.FEES£6

Three Forts Marathon: Sunday, May 5WHY RUN IT?Hills, South DownsA very tough trail marathon with no marshals, it passes three Iron Age forts.FEES£8, payable to MJ Airey by March 31. No entries on dayENTRIES TOM Airey, Tryfan, 56a Valley Drive, East

   You’d want a reward for running to the top of south-east England’s highest point – the 295m Leith Hill. Fortunately, the views at the summit of autumnal scenery and the Greensand hills of Surrey are as breathtaking as the slope itself. Enter online now

at weekends). Try to also include one shorter ride per week, similar to a tempo run. Then, if you have time, you could also include a turbo session, hill session or spin class to work on intervals.Don’t forget that cycling will shorten your hamstrings

of agony on Buzzard Bait Hill. It was worth it.All week I had heard about the race up Buzzard Bait. The veterans spoke of it in hushed tones. The first-timers like me listened intently to stories of years past. As our day to take on the hill approached