"Burn Twice the Calories"

If there’s a hill in your path, don’t turn around and go the other way – run up it! While for some people running hills may seem comparable to climbing Mt. Everest, the payoff is worth working through your fears. You can burn twice the calories by walking, biking or running hills as long as you keep your speed constant.

And that’s not all as taking on the challenge of a hill routine will also make you faster and stronger, as well as improve the stability of your knee joints. The most important thing to remember when running hills is to run up as fast as you comfortably can, but take it slow on the way down to avoid putting undue strain on your knees and quads. You should also stretch out your IT Band after each run when your muscles are warmed up.

If you just don’t have a hill to climb in your geographic area, you can simulate hill running inside your gym simply by adjusting the incline of your treadmill. But if you want to fully appreciate your hard work, take your routine outside... as anytime you can do the real deal rather than use machines it is much better for your body and is the more uncomfortable choice. Then when you do use the treadmill or stair climber in your gym you will be so much more stronger because of taking your workouts outside and choosing the more uncomfortable way that benefits your body much more in the long run. There's nothing wrong with using machines as I use them myself, but I do prefer and will take my hill running outside for a much harder intense workout. Mix it up and workout both ways so it keeps your muscles guessing and they will never become accustomed to any one workout you are doing. 

When you do take your hill running outside and you reach the peak and look behind you to see what you’ve just accomplished, you’ll truly feel like the king (or queen) of the mountain. It's an amazing feeling and a feeling you will want to feel again, and again. It's not easy, it's hard and can even be painful at times, but it's so worth your body becoming stronger, faster and it's worth the amazing feeling you get after a great run.

✿