Hill tired VS distance tired

Triathlon Forum
1

I did a much hillier course than I ever have yesterday. Although I didn’t do anywhere near the miles I have on some of the flatter courses my legs were pretty fried. The strange thing was that the seemed to recover very well. I also noticed this throughout the ride.

Seems I’d do a hill and the legs would be cooked at the top but feel fairly recovered for the next one. This is a bit strange to me compared to a flatter longer course were typically once I get that “your legs are cooked” feeling from distance they don’t come back.

I’m thinking that this must be because your using “strength” to get up a hill vs “endurance” to go the distance. Does “strength” come back quicker than “endurance”? Does anyone else experiance this or can they explain this?

~Matt

2

I am not sure if it comes back as quick as endurance, but it helps to practice hill climbing weekly.

3

With hills, the lactic acid is only there briefly, then gone - great practice for the mitochondria. Yes, you are much more tired at distance - say 80+ miles. Now, do a very hilly century - that sucks.

4

I do climbs 2 times weekly, I’m also a heavy guy (191LBS). I do about 1.2 k climbing then the descent back down about 8 times per practice. If anyone watched the 1976 olympic cycling in montreal, it was the chameleon hood climb.