So, I'm between a hobby runner and an 'enthusiast' who is not particularly gifted but have been told by my coaches (a pro triathlete and a marathoner whose best was mid 2:40's) that if I really applied myself, I could actually score some decent times in the Half Marathon, my favorite distance. I have run three Half Marathon races, one in The Bahamas (my very first race/three months after starting running at all) in 1:43, the NYC Half in a comfortable 1:38, and shortly thereafter a pretty spectacular crash-and-burn 1:37 at the Brooklyn Half attempting to reach too far under no training.
I like running very much, and run almost whenever I can. However, I've never really followed a consistent 'plan' until now... I've kind of always just gone out and did what I felt like doing that day. Because of that I've had many periods of burnout, the occasional injury, etc. and there are stretches, sometimes weeks at a time during a pre-race training phase where I cannot run at all due to the demands of my industry (film/tv) in addition to school.
Finally this year after another great burnout at the NYC Marathon (was on pace for 3:20 but bottled it from inexperience/having too much fun/not taking it too seriously) I want to actually stick to a plan and attempt to at least run a 1:30 Half Marathon this year. And in the last few months of my training, I have had some great long-tempos that indicate I might be capable of it, but there's a problem. My race is the Manhattan Half, and as many times as I have run the hills at Central Park, they just seem to have my number. I am mentally competitive enough that I believe if I'm having a good day, I can pull it off, but I am smart enough to know that the odds are against me with this one and I will go in without any expectation-related pressure.
BUT, I still want to be able to conquer a hilly course at some point. At that 6:50ish pace, and even around the 6:40's, it's not really my breathing that is a problem-- I usually feel pretty relaxed at that pace. But my legs, which have never particularly been strong (I was 80lbs until I turned 17 for crying out loud, and I am 5'6 and 130lbs now) seem to always be my undoing. People always say to drop the pace by about 5/10/15 seconds per mile when facing an uphill...for me, it is usually something like an entire half minute or even 45 seconds! I am very, very good on downhill sections, but only good enough to make up for time lost, not to actually improve my time!
I don't run hills often and I do not do track workouts, though I do have a nearby track at my disposal. But I also have a gym at my disposal. I am not trying to do overkill amounts of strength-work to my legs, but I would like to ask, which do you think will give me the most bang for my buck once-a-week? Or is the problem my overall lack of aerobic endurance/fitness (which I have my suspicions of but then why, as an asthmatic am I okay breathing at that pace even after 7/8 miles???)