HILLS MAY LOOM LARGE and daunting in your path. But take on the challenge to climb them, and you’ll find a more powerful and efficient stride, which can net faster times, on the other side. “Physically, training on hills builds muscle strength, and hill sprints or repeats can improve running economy, which translates into less energy expended over the course of a longer distance race,” says Lisa Reichmann, a certified running coach.
Coaches like Reichmann have long touted the benefits of hill training; and now, science can back the belief, thanks to recent research by Derek Ferley, PhD, director of sports science research and sports performance training at the Avera Sports Institute.
Ferley, a runner himself, always incorporated hills into his own half-marathon and marathon training; but back in 2010,…
