Hill sessions to make you a better runner

What’s more, hill training also encourages positive changes in running form. We’ve all heard the heckle as we run through the park to ‘get those knees up’, and though it’s not the best way to get your form analysed, most of us could do with a little more knee lift to our stride. Running up hills encourages that; it’s impossible to run up a hill without lifting your feet.

Quite simply, running up hills is one of the simplest and most time-efficient ways to improve your running technique, power and fitness. It helps build strength in your legs which, as well as helping you bound up hills like a mountain goat, will transfer into faster speeds on the flat too.

Hill sessions to improve your running

Before trying these sessions, go back and read last week’s post on hill running benefits and technique.

I spent 10 years coaching runners in Finsbury Park and Hampstead Heath where we were spoilt for choice for hills and used them regularly in sessions exactly like the ones below. Timing your efforts on time rather than distance is great for working out with a friend or in a group as you’ll all put in the same amount of effort and will start and stop and stop at the same time, some will just run further than others. Regroup at the bottom of the hill to encourage each other.