Let's talk hills! If you run outside in Charlottesville, you can not get away from them....HILLS! Therefore, it is important for you to know how to run them. So many people fight the hills instead of using them to their advantage.
Going up hills -
* Keep your arms moving and your legs will follow
* lean SLIGHTLY forward
* keep a shorter stride with a rapid turnover (quick steps)
* try not to push off the ground hard, think of lifting your knee
* keep your focus slightly up the hill, not necessarily at the top...look at the person's back that is in front of you
Going down hills - don't underestimate the impact of downhills, they can wreck your muscles
(Because your body absorbs a bigger impact with each downhill footstrike, you could be at risk for IT band syndrome and other injuries...be careful)
* Shorten your stride
* focus on quick steps (turnover)
* try to keep your shoulders, hips and feet in line (DON"T lean back) - allow gravity to work with you!
* should feel like controlled falling
When working on hills, if you decide to do hill repeats...start with just a couple and at gradual slopes. This allows your body to get comfortable to the new demands you are placing on it.
If you have any questions, please contact me
trainwithnicolego@gmail.com
Happy Hills, Nicole
Going up hills -
* Keep your arms moving and your legs will follow
* lean SLIGHTLY forward
* keep a shorter stride with a rapid turnover (quick steps)
* try not to push off the ground hard, think of lifting your knee
* keep your focus slightly up the hill, not necessarily at the top...look at the person's back that is in front of you
Going down hills - don't underestimate the impact of downhills, they can wreck your muscles
(Because your body absorbs a bigger impact with each downhill footstrike, you could be at risk for IT band syndrome and other injuries...be careful)
* Shorten your stride
* focus on quick steps (turnover)
* try to keep your shoulders, hips and feet in line (DON"T lean back) - allow gravity to work with you!
* should feel like controlled falling
When working on hills, if you decide to do hill repeats...start with just a couple and at gradual slopes. This allows your body to get comfortable to the new demands you are placing on it.
If you have any questions, please contact me
trainwithnicolego@gmail.com
Happy Hills, Nicole