Extreme Gradient Hill Repeats (40 m – 1000 m) at 15% Gradient and Beyond
These sessions are designed for the most daring, usually reserved for the trailblazing runners among us. The primary objective with these arduous repeats at the start of the season is to enhance foot speed and the spring-like responsiveness directly from the balls of your feet. In essence, this regimen is all about developing muscular power and elasticity in your feet and calves.
The strategy here is to try and maintain a running stance for as long as you can during the training session. Only resort to walking when running becomes utterly unfeasible, and as soon as you recuperate, hit the ‘run’ mode again.
What these challenging repeats teach you is the art of pacing on severe uphill gradients. It’s an invaluable skill you’ll need when facing the steep ascents often encountered in true mountain running. So, brace yourself, and let’s conquer those peaks!