Episode 57: The Complete Guide to Hill Workouts

Running uphill (against gravity) stresses your body in a unique way that you can't mimic on flat land. That stress results in some fantastic adaptations and benefits: There's less impact running uphill so it's easier on your joints and connective tissues Hills "force" you to run with better form, reinforcing a more efficient stride Running up steep grades builds power more safely than running fast on flat terrain Hills provide the most specific strength work runners could ask for Hill workouts build strength, speed, endurance, VO2 Max, and every other metric runners care about! While hill sessions aren't too race-specific (unless you're training for an entirely uphill race), they have a valuable place in any training program. This episode discusses these benefits, when hills should be incorporated into your season, my 3 favorite types of hill workouts, and the type of runner who will benefit most from hills.