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Runner's Forum: How do you qualify a hill?

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    changingground

    I've been using this site for about 5 months now, and dutifully fill out the descriptions for my runs. Originally I figured that the description might be of use to other runners in my area who might use my routes, but have decided that it's so easy to map a route that there is probably little or no cross pollenization going on.

    In any case, I've often wondered at the terms in the route description portion of "My Training" addressing the "hillyness" of a given run. When I started mapping my runs I thought of my primary routes as being fairly hilly, but as I've gained fitness and read (far too much) written by other, more expereinced runners, I've started to wonder if I'm overestimating the relative hillyness of my routes.

    So, how do you judge your hills? In my area most of the climbs tend to be longer (half a mile or more), and about 150 to 200 feet. Is that a long or medium (or even short) hill in your book?

     

    Thanks for your time.

    changingground

    • CommentAuthorFree Membershiggsyo
    • CommentTimeDec 30th 2007
     
    shiggsyo

    I'm no expert on the subject, but I live in a very hilly town myself. There aren't too many climbs in my town that are over a half mile, but they are very steep.

    To me, the "hillyness" of a run would be defined more by the amount of hills than the height or length of them, but still taking that into account as well.

    To answer your question, I would personally say that those hills are medium, but a little on the long side.

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberKDogg
    • CommentTimeDec 30th 2007
     
    KDogg

    I'd love to have big hills like those here...

    Most of the time I just use the idea shiggsyo said. A lot of hills (more than an average run) = a hilly run

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    changingground

    KDogg and Shiggsyo-

    Thanks- that's been my sense as well. It's pretty well relative, and as anyone can tell you, each running community has it's own standards. Here in Colorado you might see hills like I do (long climbs up a mesa, say 1.5 miles at 200' of climbing, or 2 and a half percent) or you can travel north an hour and see folks running up Flagstaff Road in Boulder gaining 1400 feet in 5 miles, or about 5%. I suspect my hills don't count for them, but they don't have to, until I decide to start running Boulder races.

    I miss the rollers of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I used to run, but I'm building a different kind of fitness here. Yet another case of what works best for your current situation.

    Off to make dinnner. Have a happy New Year!

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberUncleBob
    • CommentTimeDec 31st 2007
     
    UncleBob

    I know of hills 1/2 mile to a mile and longer with a gain of 200 ft., and more.. some of which are long, straight and gradual, and then there are those which are winding and have steep sections then flat and then steep again..and then there are the 'rollers" with the false rises..when you think you're at the top..but when you get there..surprise!Yell...and then some of um seem steeper goin down than they were on the way up, makin my knees buzz..I always tend to look at a topo map of the area before I go..then run with the map in my memory(that's one reason this site is so cool), and then after I run, look at the map again with a visual memory

    • CommentAuthorFree Membertbone65
    • CommentTimeJan 3rd 2008
     
    tbone65

    Guys,

    How do you go about running down steep hills?  I find it hard to move my legs fast enough to plant them under my CG, and I end up landing out in front resulting in that stressful jarring/braking that pounds the knees. If I'm running at 8 mm pace, it's like I have to speed up to about 5 mm pace on the downhill, and I don't have that speed yet. There's got to be an easier way.

    Any ideas on how to run the steep downhills?

    Thanks,

    Tom

  7.  
    changingground

    Tom-

    We have very few steep hills where I do most of my running, so it's not that big a problem for me. On the few situations where the hills are steep enough for me to get that "runaway" feeling, I shorten my stride up considerably, and try to slow things up a bit until I get to the bottom. I'm really trying as hard as I can to save my knees and ankles (having had problems before) and so everything I do puts that goal ahead of everything else. One of the things that comes with age for me, I guess.

    Steve

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberndkolb
    • CommentTimeJan 5th 2008
     
    ndkolb

    Changingground

    I think you hit on it in your original post.  The descriptions are for personal use.  Give a description that will help you asses the level of difficulty of your run and remind you about your route.  Don't worry about what another runner would qualify your run as, use it to help yourself.  In the end that is why we are all running and keeping track on this site, to help better ourselves and enjoy being out there running.  Hope this helps. 

    On a side note, I envy you being able to run out in CO. I would love to come out there to run and backpack.  I am not complaining, the area of VA I am in is beautiful (and Hilly) but there is just something special about CO.  Enjoy being able to run out in the beauty of God's creation, even when you are gasping for breath going up one of those steep inclines. 

    ndkolb

     

    • CommentAuthorFree Membershiggsyo
    • CommentTimeJan 5th 2008
     
    shiggsyo

    Tom-

    I live in a town where most of the hills are very steep. I agree that it is difficult to speed up on those downhills. What I usually do is lengthen my stride so that I am almost skipping down the hills. If it's a long hill, though, I'd stick with what changingground said.

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    changingground

    ndkolb-

     Yes, we are definitely very fortunate (though, as usual, I'd like to live closer to the mountains). There are parts of my fair weather runs, up on top of the mesa behind our development, where the views are really nice, and I always feel fortunate to have such a place to train in.

    Shigg- have you had any problems with joint pain on hilly runs? I've found that I'm very wary of subjecting my knees (especially) to that, but they've seen some serious abuse over the years, and will really talk to me if I don't take care of them.

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