Running Uphill Tips And Tricks – Guide To Running Posture And Breathing

Whether you’re looking to improve your hill running or just looking to improve your time. These uphill running tips will help you run up hills quicker.

Uphill Running Posture – What Should You Know?

Running up hills quicker requires a different posture to running on a flat surface or downhill. Try and stay upright and it will keep you balanced.

Leaning forward to much when running up hill messes with your center of gravity causing you to lose balance. This posture also negatively affects your knees and hips, which reduces your ability to climb the hill. When you lean forward to much it will also affect how much your can drive the knees upward.

Keep Your Knees Up

Having your knees up means, your feet are well raised. This helps you have enough force to run an extra mile. In more technical terms, the more the action force at the ankle the more the reaction or say impact to move further and have your knees up.

Remember that the stride length on flat ground is not the same as running up hill. Here, you need to reduce or shorten your stride length. If you maintain strides of running on flat areas or downhill, you will wear yourself out. Shorter strides give you the energy to push forward and prevent unwanted fatigue.

Move Your Arms Quicker

There is no way you will shorten your strides and have slow arm movements. If you do this, you will be reducing your speed up hill. Quicker arms empower your lower body making it move faster. Watch races for example during Olympics and see the connection between quicker arms and faster speed.

Breathing While Running Uphill

Breathing is an essential part of running. If you cannot control it, be sure that you will stop several times as you make your way uphill. Try as much as you can to have uniform breathing along the way.

When you mix things up by breathing fast and slowly at the same time, you will get tired faster than you realize. Breathing is a natural thing but you have to train your body on how to breathe when running up a hill, to be efficient.

Since you will not be leaning forward too much, it will be therefore harder for you to focus on the spot you are stepping on. That is why you need to always look forward. This also helps to open your lungs and help with breathing.

Do not be overambitious running uphill especially if you are a beginner on this kind of terrain. Consider warming up first before you start to run. Increase your pace to be faster. Ensure consistency when you gain speed up the hill.

In as much as you start slow and increase your pace, your speed uphill is slower compared to that on flat ground. It is only natural that you will run slowly uphill and it depends on how steep the slope is. If you try running faster, you will get tired and may even fail to reach the top of the hill.

 

Run Uphill Frequently – Add Weekly Hill Runs

Do not expect to be great at running up hills when you only do it once a month, you need to build frequent hill runs into your training if you want to improve.

Running can be interesting when you have someone with you. It makes the challenge more manageable. The company provides encouragement and steers you forward. If not, surround yourself with people who encourage you to run uphill. It will boost your running morale always.

If you are a first-timer, you cannot afford to be over-ambitious. Start out small by running smaller distances uphill. From here, keep increasing the miles gradually.

When you set goals that are too challenging, it is possible to give up even before you start. Remember, running relies on your physical strength. Train it to adapt to change slowly.

There are several things to marvel at when you master the art of running uphill

– It reduces fatigue.
– Makes running up hills more enjoyable and fun.
– Saves time if you have a busy schedule.
– Makes your body stronger.
– You get to enjoy the challenging slopes.
– Increases your flexibility making you a flexible runner.
– Makes you competitive in races if you are an athlete.
– Running up hills quicker win the race.

Apart from the running uphill tips, it is important to remember the very basic things about running on any kind of ground whether flat or not.

– Invest in great running shoes that offer comfort and stability when running.
– Have the right running clothes.
– Carry water but remember to run light.
– Remember to eat energy giving foods before running; an uphill run is more strenuous than a flat ground run.

Running Downhill Tips – Guide To Running Faster

Now you’ve mastered running up hills quicker, it is also essential that we look at how to run downhill. This will enable you to become a better runner and understand the difference between uphill and downhill running techniques.

Running downhill may seem easy but it has its challenges. For example, you may be tempted to tread slowly and more carefully in fear of gravity and sliding. However, this is not good for running.

Make Sure You Slightly Lean Forward When Running Downhill

It keeps you going to avoid resisting forward movement. The slope may scare you making the adrenaline in your system to tell you to lean backward. Do not fall into this trap. You are safe leaning forward; it is even safer than leaning backward. Leaning backward also contributes to fatigue. It exerts pressure on your foot making you feel tired to go on.

Downhill strides are a little longer than uphill ones due to the gradient and gravity as well. Do not calculate the length of the strides. Your body will naturally extend them.

As with running uphill, focus on always looking ahead and not at your feet. This will steer you forward. It will be exhilarating seeing yourself cover the distance downhill.

Learn to manage gravity by controlling your movement
Running downhill may get you carried away and start running freely. You need to maintain your pace to avoid hurting yourself and getting tired too soon. Be consistent.

Embrace the challenge
Be determined to finish your run downhill. It is what will keep you going until the end.

Always land lightly and not with your full weight
Landing heavily reduces your pace and may even cause you to stop momentarily. It is worse if the ground is wet or slippery. You may even slip and fall. That is why you need to buy high quality shoes with great traction.

Keeps your feet a slow as possible to the ground
It stabilizes your feet by lowering the center of gravity. This keeps you steady on the ground.

Use your arms for balance
When running uphill, your arms are used to fasten your pace. However, with downhill runs they are used for balance. Have them pointing outwards for stability. Have fun by stretching them out at some point if you like, but not throughout the miles.

Benefits of Running Downhill

There is a lot that your body gains for running down the slope. Just but to mention a few:

– It gives your body the chance to recover from the climb.
– It is easier running down than climbing the slope.
– Running downhill tests how stable you are.
– It is the opportunity to enjoy running

There is a tendency to think that running downhill is an easy endeavor. It can be frightening especially on very steep slopes. Besides, you are more likely to hurt yourself downhill than uphill. That is why you need to be extra careful about how you land your foot, your running posture and ensure you attain balance.

 

Bottom line

Running up hills quicker is fun when you have the techniques to ensure you enjoy every moment of it.
Going uphill adds flavour to your workout routine. It offers more challenges, which when achieved makes you feel accomplished.

With the tips on how to go about uphill running, you are better equipped to handle the steep terrain, be safe, and at the same time have fun.
With practice and more trips, you will be comfortable with uphill running. You may even end up training other runners on how to be faster and effective on the climb.
Do not forget the downhill tips. They are as important as the uphill ones. A successful uphill run is not complete without a successful downhill run.

When you are bored with treadmills at the gym or running on flat ground, it is time to spice things up. Try running uphill and see how well you go. Start with simple slopes that are manageable and then progress to steeper ones. Be gradual and not overambitious. Otherwise, you will never master how to run faster uphill.

Remember, attitude is everything. If you believe you can run uphill then you can do it. If you think you cannot then you will never even try. It is all in mind. Control how you think and start uphill running. It will be a worthwhile decision.