How To Become a Master of Hill Running
These 5 exercises will help you erase joint pain and get stronger!
Adding elevation gain to your runs is a great way to expose your weaknesses as a runner. Not only does it require far more cardiovascular output, but it stresses your joints in a way that running on a track or treadmill simply can’t do. While I encourage everyone to attack hills as part of their training, it’s important to establish a baseline level of joint strength and resilience before climbing up any ‘mountains’. Not only will this help lower your perceived exertion during climbs and descents, but it’s also a surefire way to stay healthy and avoid injuries.
To help you thrive in this area, I want to take the next few minutes to introduce a few exercises you can use to get more efficient at navigating hills in your training. While we often assume that the uphill climb is where the real challenge lies, we must also look at the unique biomechanical stressors of running downhill and how that should shape our programming through the lens of strength and conditioning. This short routine will ensure you have all your boxes checked so that you can pursue running in any environment safely and confidently! Let’s dive in.
