Embrace the Hill Climb

Training in Austin Means Tackling Hills

In Austin we are blessed to live on the edge of the Texas Hill Country and its rolling hills. But when facing hills head on, don't expect that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from a sunset over Lake Travis.

One of the many lovely hills of South Austin

More likely, at least initially, you'll have a sense of dread. Gazing upward as your leg muscles began to burn, it's only human to wonder what's this for and to want to stop the madness. But like any type of training - physical or mental, hill workouts teach us to embrace what makes us uncomfortable. We come to understand that what is difficult often makes us stronger.

AustinFit introduces uphill climbs early into our training season out of practicality and necessity. Firstly, timed events and races will at some point include a hill climb. You can't avoid them without severely limiting the number and location of events open to you. Secondly, hill intervals have many physical benefits for both runners and walkers.

Tackling hills improves length strength. In particular, it tones the quadriceps and buttocks, which need strengthening to balance the pounding load we place on the hamstring muscles when we walk or run. Overall stronger legs help improve and lengthen our stride. And, of course, hill training improves our cardiovascular fitness -- our heart rate and rate of breathing.

Detailed questions about level of exertion always should be discussed with your doctor, but AustinFit coaches can assist with using equipment to track heart rate and assess your level of effort. They also can help you attack hills with the right form so that you don't overstride or lean too far forward or backward. Proper technique while running hill intervals actually strengthens tendons and ligaments, helping prevent injury throughout the season.

Once confident with hills, more running events will be open to you. Some events, like San Antonio's Rock and Roll Marathon, can be more forgiving, but even the Dallas Marathon has a climb of 150 feet over the course of a mile. And our very own Austin Marathon, has a 125-foot climb over the first 3.5 miles. So much the better, after training with AustinFit. The challenge will be won.

2 Responses

  1. Thank you USAFIT for including excellent hill training routes that I would have not been able to choose or complete solely. Signing up with USAFIT has been a great addition to my running and maintaining health lifetime journey. USAFIT also provides me with scenic safe run routes exploring the city in a socially safe experience. Great addition is having run route Coach experience and support. Best regards, Blanche
    • Linda Brown
      Thank you so much for your feedback, Blanche. We're so happy to have you be part of USA FIT Austin. And, so appreciate the hill training routes. Hill training has lots of benefits for runners and walkers for example: improves cardiovascular & endurance, improves muscle strength in legs, improves running form; helps with speed & power, and more. Austin is known for its hills and we want to help our members prepare for them, so that they are race ready for any race. All the best, Coach Linda

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