Well what a shocker. I HATE hill running, but being determined to get better at it (even master it, I can only dream), I have been facing my demons and attempting to drag my behind up hills. After all, the only way to get better at something is to do more of it. Unfortunately. If there was a ‘short cut’ to improving my ability to hill run, and thus increase my speed, fitness and overall distance times, of COURSE I’d take the easy route. But alas, there isn’t, so it depends on my own will to improve being stronger than the negative voices which play on repeat ‘I can’t do this; it’s beyond me; I’ll never get any better; what’s the point; etc etc’.
So, here is the profile of last night’s race. I’m sure you agree, for a non-hill runner, it’s a pretty daunting prospect! Starting in Hebden Bridge, up the steepest scrambling hill ascent I’ve ever seen, to Stoodley Pike then around and back down. Ridiculous.
Check out the incline on this! 1150ft ascent over 5.8 miles…
And as much as I hate to say it, I not only managed to conquer the hill, but I even enjoyed it! Fair enough, I was having a natter up at the top of Stoodley Pike with a fellow runner rather than pushing myself within an inch of my life (perhaps this was reflected in my slightly pants time…) but surely the point is to enjoy it too?
Here are a few snaps from the run – myself, Hatty and a friend of ours caught on camera all looking like we are having a thoroughly good time! Who’d have thought.
What goes up…..
…must come down. Thank God!
