Hill Running …. What are the benefits?

This months Running with Han, Han talks about the benefits of hill running…..

Some runners don’t like hill running because it’s, well, hard. But running hills provides a lot of benefits to runners.  Here are some of the ways you can benefit from hill running:

Build strength

• Running inclines, either on a hill outdoors or on a treadmill, is a form of resistance training that builds up the muscles in your calves, quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Hill running strengthens those areas more than running on flat ground. You’ll also strengthen your hip flexors and Achilles tendons.

Get Faster

• The muscles you’ll use to run up hills are the same ones used for sprinting, so the strength you build will improve your speed.

Reduce your risk of injuries

• As you strengthen your leg muscles through hill running, you considerably reduce the risk of suffering from running-related injuries.

Build confidence and mental strength

• The more you run hills, the less intimidating they’ll seem when you encounter them on a race course. Your improved strength and technique on the hills will definitely give you a confidence boost when you’re racing. You’ll feel a lot more mentally prepared for hills knowing that you’ve practiced them during training.

Strengthen your upper body

• Uphill running forces you to drive your arms harder than you do when running on flat ground, so you’ll improve your upper body strength. If you don’t have easy access to hills outside or on a treadmill, you can get similar benefits from a stair workout

Source: Christine Luff (internet)

Do you have a question for Han? Please email NIS Wellness and we will make sure he gets it!

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