Feb-HILL-uary

Below are two pictures of the hill I've been training on this month. My Garmin tells me that it's a 120ft hill. I have been able to do 4-5 repeats, but it's slow going. I sometime think about turning around before I make it to the top. To my surprise I have not been sore or had any issues from adding this into my training. 



Distant view (arrow points to top)



My view from the bottom of the hill

I have some questions I hope some of you more experienced at hill training can help answer.

1. I know it may be difficult to tell from the photos but does this hill seem steep enough and long enough to classify as a long hill? I know of some other hills that seem steeper but they are short in comparison. It's really hard to find hills in Houston.
2. I have been running 4 miles then doing the hill repeats. I count the repeats as part of my total mileage. When done it comes out to around 5 miles total. Am I suppose to count the hill miles also?
3. I have played with the idea of doing hill repeats twice a week instead of just once since my body seems to be handling the training. What are your thoughts on that?

Any other thoughts would be appreciated!

King of the Mountain

Today begins the start of hill training! Yippee! can you hear my excitement. Be one with the goat-lol. My plan is to incorporate long hill repeats into my weekly runs once a week for 6 weeks. We will see how it goes of course. If you have a favorite hill workout I would love to hear about it. Also any advice on form, pace, etc...would be great. Have a happy week of running!

Recap in Pictures Chevron Houston 1/2



Boy I really need to loose some weight!



Uhhh, crying not make such pretty finish line picture



All happiness at the end of a looooong journey



Thirsty Thursday

Something I will do different in my next race is carry my own fluids. I learned a lot about large races and water stations at the Chevron Houston Marathon. First, never assume the fluid stations/tables will be visible. I thought I would be able to see them up ahead and begin to move over, but in a race that large most of the time I couldn't see them until I was right on top of them. Maybe that's a height issue but the tables were not distinguished by balloons or signs. Second, never stop at the first couple of tables. The majority of people stop at those tables and it makes for very crowded conditions. I did overshoot a station once trying to wait until the last couple of tables. Third, if you really want to make a certain time goal then carry your own fluids. That was not my objective in this race so I didn't feel frustrated by the negotiating that went on around the tables. I was hoping to jog through the station but that didn't work out. If you are shooting for a certain time and in a big race then I say carry your own fluids.

This is what I'll be wearing next race.