Should I cut out specific hill run workouts?

Triathlon Forum
1

Ever since I started using a Forerunner I continually gain lots of insight on my rides and runs. After reading lots of posts here about hills (or lack thereof) I started to think about where I ride and run and what I consider is a hill workout from my perspective.

Well my flattest and shortest run (~4 miles) has 450 feet of climbing… This is near my house where I do 80% of my runs including intervals and tempo etc. Then when I specifically do a “hill” workout, I would typically look for anything from 1200 to 3500 ft of climbing. After reading posts about people using overpasses as their hill workout, I started to think, Jesus am I absolutely nuts running these types of hills? To me it has always seemed normal…

I live in Colorado so I don’t have too much choice but do you think that there are any negatives to running too many hills? I haven’t had any injuries as a result of it…

2

do you think that there are any negatives to running too many hills? I haven’t had any injuries as a result of it…

Nope. Have at 'em, billy goat.

3

Hills are what makes running fun.

4

dont say that in SF. some of us actually live on hills here. saying there are too many hills is like saying there is too much air.

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5

Too many downhills may have adverse effect on your knees. Try and learn to run light downhill.

6

Too many downhills may have adverse effect on your knees. Try and learn to run light downhill.
Yeah for sure… Up is more fun anyway.

7

I have come to the conclusion that you can never run too many hills when tri run training. As others have said, take it easy on the down-hills. Ease into introducing hills to all your different runs. Then if you know you are going to a race that is flat, do your last few prep/peaking runs on flat terrain.

Fleck

8

As long as you aren’t getting hurt keep doing what you are doing, like Frank Shorter said, “Hills are speedwork in disguise.”
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