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Renita Collier's Blog

Renita Collier's Blog

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Tuesday, May 07, 2013 • B4C 2N2, CA

8 Reasons Hills Make You A Better Runner

FitnessRunningCore TrainingHealth and fitness
By Renita Collier

8 Reasons Hills Make You a Better Runner

 

If you’re one of those runners who shies away from the incline button on the treadmill or picks an outdoor route that specifically avoids any type of hill, then you could be missing out. Taking on the challenge of running both uphill and downhill is a surefire way to make you a better runner, and here are eight reasons why.

 

Uphill:

 

Increased speed. Working against gravity taxes your muscles, making them work harder than you would on flat ground. With stronger quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves, you’ll find that you’ll be able to run faster.

 

Injury prevention. Runner’s knee is a common ailment that can make you hang up your sneaks. Aside from doing not-too-exciting wall squats to strengthen the thighs, running up inclines will also do the trick (and burn way more calories at the same time).

 

Stronger upper body. Since your legs fatigue much easier on uphill climbs, you will naturally pump the arms more to take some of the workload off the lower body. This not only strengthens your upper body — making running a more total-body workout — but it also reminds you to utilize your arms and core when running on flat surfaces, which can prevent overuse injuries in your legs.

 

Endurance. Since running up steep hills is naturally more challenging than running on flat surfaces, both building lower-body muscles and increasing your lung function will enable you to run longer with ease.

 

Downhill:

 

Increased speed. The pull of gravity makes your quads and hamstrings work much harder to slow down your pace to prevent your feet from pounding the ground with each step. And as mentioned above, having stronger thigh muscles is one way to build speed and power.

 

Injury prevention. Working with the pull of gravity also targets your shins, and strengthening the front of your lower legs can prevent shin splints.

 

Much-needed rest. The momentum of gravity makes running down hills feel easier, which can give your muscles a break during a run that not only allows you to conserve energy, but can also prevent injuries from pushing the same muscles too hard.

 

A stronger core. On the downhill, it’s even more important to engage your core to brace knees against the added impact a downhill run can have on the body.

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Renita Collier

Known for her ability to deliver highly effective and challenging workouts while making them feel enjoyable, this former elite fitness and bodybuilding competitor is an experienced Personal Trainer with a proven record of getting results! In addition to Personal Training and several other certifications and training through a number of professional organizations, Renita is a success story herself and continues to inspire and motivate everyone she meets! When you make a commitment and focus your mind on any endeavor, anything is possible. Being fit can make you feel alive and take you beyond your wildest dreams. Anybody, given the proper guidance, motivation and support can achieve anything they put their mind to! I couldn’t ask for a better career, I can’t imagine doing anything else! The feeling of knowing I’ve helped someone else. That’s about as rewarding as it gets! I am passionate about helping others achieve overall better health and fitness. When working with individuals and groups I’m so thankful for having the chance to do what I really love; to connect with people through exercise and nutrition. We all want to feel better about something and it can all start with you feeling good about yourself. Fitness and good nutrition have a huge impact on how we feel and that can transfer to our thoughts and choices we make in life. The satisfaction I get seeing people progress toward and then exceed their personal goals surrounding health and wellness is huge for me. It pains me to see so many people struggling with things like weight, fat and chronic low energy. It’s a choice and I’m happy to be the conduit for healthy choices people are making. I love working privately in the comfort of my client’s home – or with small groups to adapt movement to suit a person’s specific needs for optimum results.
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