Hill Training | Weeks 3 & 4 of 10 Weeks to a Half Marathon

In October, I’m running the Runners World Half Marathon and apparently, it’s a very hilly course.

Yikes! My normal running routes are relatively flat with just a few inclines. I would like to maintain a sub-2 hour pace during this race, but its hills could slay me unless I start some hill training.

This past Friday, I hopped in my car and drove to a nearby hilly neighborhood. Running there isn’t an option, because the route to the neighborhood is somewhat treacherous–on and off ramps to a highway to maneuver around and too much tractor-trailer traffic for my comfort level–so I drove.

I ran about 3.5 miles through two very hilly neighborhoods. It was a great cardiovascular workout and I don’t know why I avoided hill training before Friday. I guess hills always intimidated me, but I felt great after the run. I just tried to keep my head up looking ahead rather than down at the asphalt, yelling (in my head), “hill–don’t mess with me today.”

My third run each week will now be dedicated to hills and I’m sure I’ll continue hill training even after this race. My legs and body responded well, almost like they needed the challenge.

10 Weeks to a Half Marathon

Join me as I journal my training for my fifth half marathon, the Runner’s World Half in Bethlehem, PA. This will be the second time I’ve blogged about my 10 week training–the first time was this past spring as I trained for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. I achieved my goal of a sub 2 hour time in Pittsburgh and you can read all about it here, Race Day Success.

My Week 3 Workouts:

• Monday: 3 mile run outside, easy pace
• Wednesday: 5 mile run outside, easy pace
• Thursday: 3 mile run outside, easy pace
• Saturday: 6 mile run outside, run at conversational pace

My Week 4 Workouts:

• Monday: 3 mile run outside, easy pace
• Wednesday: 5 mile run outside, easy pace
• Friday: 3.5 mile run outside, hilly course
• Saturday: 7 mile run outside, run at conversational pace

My Training Plan for upcoming week 5:

• Monday: 3 mile run, easy pace
• Wednesday: 4 mile run, easy pace
• Friday: 3.5 mile run, hilly course
• Saturday: 8 mile run, run at conversational pace

What race are you training for? Tell us all about in the comments.