Get Faster Running Up & Down Hills

While most people get a little better at running up and down hills just from practice, good technique is key for running hills at your best! Here are some tips: ⬆️Uphills: -Relax into long hills to run strong the entire climb. Sprinting into the hill can lead to a big slowdown as you try to recover from an unsustainable effort. -Run tall and keep your chest open so you can breathe! -Be more efficient and use less energy by taking quick, small steps. -If you’ll be power hiking during your race, practice fast power hiking during some training runs. You’ll be faster hiking during your race. ⬇️Downhills: -Use gravity to your advantage. If you lean too far back, you’ll put more stress on your legs and slow down. -Instead of leaning back to stay in control, take quick, small steps. -Focus on where you want your feet to land, not where you don’t want to step. It’s of course important to notice the roots or rocks around you, but the majority of your focus should be on where you actually want to go. -Use your arms for balance. While keeping your arms at your side may be good for non-technical terrain, you have to let your arms move freely for better balance over rocks and roots. -Bonus: Don’t hold your breath on technical terrain. You’ll be less tense and breathing always helps your running! #HigherRunning #AnySurfaceAnyDistance #TopoAthletic