Hill Bounding- Run Workout

This 30 to 60 minute run workout will set the foundation for speed work, building power, and sport-specific strength. 

Short, strong hill reps benefit all types of runners, from triathletes to distance runners. This hill bounding run workout is perfect for building power and perfecting stride. Bonus: The risk of injury running uphill is small, and the strength you’ll get from running fast uphill may even help prevent injuries. 

The Hill Bounding Run Workout

Warm Up

Jog easy for 10 to 15 minutes on a flat road, then do a series of drills for coordination and warming up such as high knees, butt kickers, a side-to-side shuffle. 

Main Set

Find a hill with a 4 to 5 percent grade. It can be a grass or paved road (or a treadmill if you must!). Then run 8 x 30 seconds strong uphill. 

Novice runners focus on good posture and strong drive, chin down, leaning your chest into the hill, and driving strong all the way to the end of the interval. Jog or walk to the bottom EASY for recovery.

Advanced runners can bound up the hill for as many strides as you can until your form starts to breakdown, then transition into a strong run uphill. Jog or walk to the bottom EASY for recovery.

Cool down

 Easy jog on flat road to finish up. You can include 4-8 x 10 second strides in your cool down.

How to Integrate this Hill Bounding Run Workout into a Training Plan

This hill bounding run session is best done before any speed work is built in. 

See Triathlete Magazines version here: Hill Bounding-Run Triathlete Magazine