Explainer | What are hill repeats? Running training to improve your fitness and performance
- Hill repeats are exactly what they say on the tin – repeatedly running up a hill – and they have untold benefits for your training and performance
- Add hill repeats into your training programme to take your fitness to the next level
A varied training plan is important to take your fitness to the next level. Hill repeats can be a value session to get fitter, stronger, faster and more injury-resilient.
A hill repeat is what it says on the tin: repeatedly running up and down a hill.
Typically, you run with maximum effort up the hill, then jog easily back down to recover.
What are the benefits of hill repeats?
Running uphill builds strength in your posterior chain. This in turn will help your flat running too, and make you more resistant to injuries.
It will work your cardiovascular system hard, but without the striding and pounding of sprinting on a flat surface. However, running downhill will put strain on your joints, so take it easy and walk down if you have to.
Running uphill can improve your running form because you cannot overstride. Subconsciously, you may take this back to your flat running.
