Running Hill Repeats Take Two

Our group post Hill workout.
There really wasn't a plan to wear all pink and black by a portion of us

Coach Kelly is on the right. 

We did a hill repeat workout again tonight. The last one was exactly 14 days ago. I know because I posted on Facebook exactly how much I wasn't looking forward to it. I was in the midst of my running PITA. I am breaking through it slowly but part of it is still there. You can get a sense of what running it in the second session was like for me here and what the first time was like here. 

Tonight's workout was at our usual hill with the three levels (stop sign, midway/white truck, and speed bump/sign). We ran there and back per our "new" usual. A few differences in the total workout for us. 

1. Kelly was a bit distracted at the start of the session so we all just jumped into doing our warm up.

2. We all ran to the start at Fred's Oak Road. It's about .8 miles to the start. I started with the people I KNOW I will be smart and efficient with rather than wiped out with because they are faster than me. A fellow teammate and I pushed ahead as we had a nice groove going and pretty much made it the entire distance without stopping (for me a 10 second walk on one of the preliminary hills to the start). This proves to me that it is taking longer to warm up and I need to be aware of my starting comfortably and moving into my pace. 

3. At the start Kelly broke us up into two groups.  Group One: 3 repeats to stop sign, 2 to midway/truck and 1 "challenge" to speed bump/sign. Group Two: 4 repeats to stop sign, 1 to midway/truck and IF up to it 1 "challenge to speed bump/sign. 

Kelly is very much aware of our capabilities, our need to be pushed and at the same time does not want us to get hurt. 

4. At the finish we were to do core workout and then a minor nutrition discussion. We actually finished with a very brief plank session that somehow I felt strong during and then we were given Accelerade to try. Will write up on that soon. 

So how was the workout?

I was in group two. Coach Kelly has been pushing me to join the faster team members in certain areas and keeping me in check in other areas. For example in the Fartleks she put me with the faster runners but with this hill workout she put me with the more moderate group. I'm fine with that. It is making ME work through whatever is going on physically and emotionally. 

So I started with my group but really felt like pushing it up the hill. I "chased" one of my teammates up the the first hill and kept up the chase through the third repeat. I asked Kelly if I should do two of the middle hill and she basically said to join group one because I was essentially with group one. It was a good running day. 

Three stop sign hill repeats felt pretty good and starting the ascent for the middle hill repeats I was confident. 

The middle hill is a mental game because after the stop sign is the mini-"wall" because it is where normally we turn around so my brain starts to think..."STOP" This is why I chased one of my teammates because then I broke through the wall! 

On the way down after the second middle repeat I had to pee. This is getting annoying BUT I figured it out. It has to do with holding my core muscles in while I run up hills and then on the slow descent I'm relaxing and well, everything is relaxing! Coach Kelly gave me a tip that worked really well. 

One minute rest at the bottom and we started the ascent for the speed bump hill. This hill distance is tough. Long, moderately steep and tough. Toward the top I was mid-foot striking rather than forefoot. I was TRYING really hard, using my arms and trying to use my fore foot but it was tough, Kelly came and ran next to me to push me to the top pointing out form and technique that was a bit more helpful but I wanted to bend over and trudge. I made it.
The team then did what Coach Kelly calls "Indian running" which is turning around to bring the rest of the group in to the finish. So I turned around and jogged back to cheer on and bring up group two. Somehow found some elasticity and strength in my legs?!!!
We jogged slowly down the hill, got a sip of water and then headed back to the store.

Final result: I have finally pushed through whatever rut I've been in. Last night was a tough but good run.