Learning to love the Hills

 

Last night was my first try at hill intervals.  It was sort of exhausting but fun. 

Now I know why some people just love this type of training and how they manage to attack well the hilly course in some races. 

I am not one of those, obviously.  The steep hills in MAK7 (UP Los Baños)  almost killed my spirit during the race.   I know a lot of runners who also dislike races with hilly course;  it’s no help to those who seriously chase PRs.

But see what Runner’s World says about hill training..  it is very encouraging. 

“… hills are good for you and they’re good for your running. Training on hills improves leg-muscle strength, quickens your stride, expands stride length, develops your cardiovascular system, enhances your running economy and can even protect your leg muscles against soreness.

In short, hill running will make you a stronger, faster and healthier runner. What’s more, the benefits are relatively quick to take effect. In as little as six weeks of regular hill training you can expect a significant improvement in your muscle power and speed. “

 

Need I say more?

Ahm, another platter of hills for me please!  (*wink)

 

[ How to do Key Hill Sessions from Runner's World]

Same old feeling

 

Reg form forwarded.  It took a lot of braveheart for me to type in 15K on the blank.  As a good friend would say, “Bahala na si Batman”.   Too bad though that in reality Batman won’t be there to carry me if and when my legs’ powers die on me come Sunday.

But I realized this is just the same old feeling, when I first ran a 10K race after joining just a couple of 5K races.  That was back in October last year in Adidas KOTR.  I had done my best to train for it but anxiety stayed with me as I admitted to myself it could have been just too soon to want to get promoted.

The night before the race was major ‘kabog’  moment -  anxious, scared, worried, restless, what-have-you.  Truth to tell, I was near sleepless the night before the race. 

Ohwell, I did finish it.  How?  All I can recall was that I ran.  I just ran, and ran, and just kept on pushing it forward.  Before I knew it, there came the finish line.  10K conquered!

So much of this positive psyching and I remain anxious about this Sunday’s race.  The 1 and 5 numbers remain scary to my conscious mind.

Haay… bahala na si Batman.

(Status as of 9 Feb:   There you see it.  I’m doing 15.  Godblessme.)

ULTRA Tonight. Sounds like news, hahaha!

Do you know what are the things that make me go to the office unusually early?

*  One.  When I have to go to Bicol later in the evening and I bring all my travel stuff to office so that I would directly proceed to the terminal after work.

*  Two.  When I have to go out-of-town with friends during the weekend and we start the vacation mode early by leaving Manila Friday night.

*  Three, and the most prevalent among them all THESE DAYS.   When I have a practice run after work. 

TODAY’s unusually early time-in to work by Cathletic falls under Category 3.  Today is my first ever practice run in Ultra.  I cannot be more excited.  I don’t know what’s in there and how things go there.  And NEW is always EXCITING! 

I am so excited I even brought a camera with me today.  And my bestfriend is coming – or running (?) – along with us, for the first time.