Many races advertise a “fast and flat” course however, this does not mean “flat as a pancake”. It is very common for courses to have rolling hills and if you have not trained for these elevation changes, you may feel like you are scaling a massive mountain every time you encounter a hill. Around Lethbridge you can experience rolling hills along 11th or 12th Street South, between 6th and 10th Avenue.
Hill repeats can make you a stronger, faster and healthier runner by:
- Improving your leg muscle strength.
- Quickening your stride (uphill).
- Expanding your stride length (downhill).
- Developing your cardiovascular system.
- Enhancing your running economy.
- Protecting your leg muscles against soreness.
- Being a replacement for sprint workouts.
You can reap the benefits of hill repeats very quickly. In as little as six weeks of regular hill repeats, you can expect a significant improvement in your muscle power and speed.
Here is a short video on the benefits of hill repeats: