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Hill Running With an Attitude !

© Lynn Seely

I don't know about you, but I'm originally from a part of the country where a hill is a yellow speed bump in a parking lot.

Then I moved to northern Pennsylvania and boy, did I learn what a hill was.

To be honest, it was not love at first sight. It still isn't, but I have changed my attitude, which has in turn caused my daily runs that have hills in them and my races to go better.

I was at my first race after I moved to the hilly region of the north. Just before the start, I noticed some people talking about the course. I heard mutters and complaints concerning the awful hills we were about to run up. Hmmm, I wondered, what was the big deal ? I had just driven part of the course and didn't see any big problem with the hills. Gee; I thought the "rolling hills" I had seen were kind of pretty.

We all lined up and the starting gun went off. Away we went in a flash of enthusiasm. Then we rounded a corner and I saw it. The "HILL". Or rather I should say the "MOUNTAIN". Up and up it rose. As far as I could see. Oh no, I moaned inwardly. I was about to find out what hill running was really like this day!

All I can say is from that day on and for a long time after that, " hills" were not what I wanted to see in a race!

As time passed and my training progressed in the hilly area close to my home I did notice one part of the hill I really loved. The DOWN side!

I have strong knees, thank goodness, and running down the hill was my big reward for all the effort it took to get up the "monster".

In some races I would zoom past runners who were so slow on the downhill side it looked like they were braking. Wheee, that was fun! However those same runners often would regain the lost ground as soon as we would face an uphill part of the course.

Something had to change. But what? One day I was finally inspired. I'll make hills my "friend".

I didn't realize how difficult that would be!

First the facts. Most of the races I run have hills. I love the downhill part. I lose ground on the uphill. So I needed to run faster on the uphill portion, right? Yep.

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