This morning I finished my first hill session of the year. Up till October last year I had been faithfully running hills every Thursday morning with the squad. But OTS = No hills so it has been a hill-hiatus for 6 months.
I have to say that I was a little nervous about the session. I've never been good at hills, even after running them for two years. But I figured what was the worst that could happen (apart froma heart-attack and death). Maybe I'd have to walk a little. It's not really that big of a deal.
Coach Chris was kind when he planned the session. It was 6 loops of a 1k hilly circuit where there's about equal amounts of ups and downs. The first loop felt okay - 4:44. The next lap was in reverse and must have had less ascent and more descent - 4:22. Lap 3 was 4:44 - pretty much the same as lap 1 (same direction too) Lap 4 - 4:37 (oops starting to slow) and lap 5 - 4:48 (That one really hurt!)
At that point Chris pulled me out. It was my first time back after all and I still have a 16k-er to go on Saturday.
I'm feeling the session now - five hours later. There are muscles in there that haven't worked for a while and they're complaining. There's every chance that I'm going to be walking like an octagenarian in the morning. But I don't care - I'm just grateful to be able to do them at all.
Nice job! Hills have never been my friend either. And I've done zero hill training for Boston since my achilles fiasco. Should be interesting. It must feel SO good to get out with the squad again!
ReplyDeleteThose muscles are saying, "I'm here! I'm here!" That is always a good thing!
ReplyDeleteNice return to hills! Those are some speedy splits!
ReplyDeleteHills do nice things for legs!! Great job pressing on through it...
ReplyDeleteNice job with the hills. I can't get away from hills where I run so I am rather used to them but give me a flat course and I just die! Go figure. I guess it is all what you get used to.
ReplyDeleteI left you some happiness on my post today!