I'm training to PR for 5k on a track (or flat road race). I know hill training is essential for XC, but is there any benefit to doing hill training for track racing versus just doing workouts on the track? I mean actual hill workouts, like hill repeats - my long runs already incorporate elevation change.
Yes.
While I'm all about sport specific training, you don't run hills just to get good at running hills.
No.... Most tracks are flat and don't have hills.
Grandmaboy wrote:
No.... Most tracks are flat and don't have hills.
You don't understand why hills are useful for track runners.
Yes . . . wrote:
Grandmaboy wrote:
No.... Most tracks are flat and don't have hills.
You don't understand why hills are useful for track runners.
There are many runners in the Midwest that don't have access to hills. There are no hills in Modesto, but German Fernandez was pretty good.
Hills are beneficial. They can help you improve your track times.
But they are not necessary for improving your track times.
I was stuck working in a small town for a few years and the running trails there were pretty bad. I ended up quite often running the stadium ramp which was pretty steep and about 150 meters long. I ran them almost all out. My speed improved dramatically just running up that ramp.
SDSU Aztec wrote:
Yes . . . wrote:
You don't understand why hills are useful for track runners.
There are many runners in the Midwest that don't have access to hills. There are no hills in Modesto, but German Fernandez was pretty good.
Well, where is he now? He never developed the running related strength he needed to train at a higher level.
Considering that the following did hill work: herb Elliott, seb coe, Haile Geb, Henry Rono, kip Keino, Canova athletes, Lydaird athletes etc. Did hill work, I would say hills is productive to running fast on the track. Me personally, when I think of hill work. I think of that photo from the 72 olympic 1500m final of Pekka Vasala and kip Keino having the same knee drive.
Considered this wrote:
Considering that the following did hill work: herb Elliott, seb coe, Haile Geb, Henry Rono, kip Keino, Canova athletes, Lydaird athletes etc. Did hill work, I would say hills is productive to running fast on the track. Me personally, when I think of hill work. I think of that photo from the 72 olympic 1500m final of Pekka Vasala and kip Keino having the same knee drive.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pekka+vasala&hl=en-US&prmd=ivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim4qDykO7gAhUQEawKHYFlBscQ_AUIECgB&biw=360&bih=644#imgrc=ZxGd-4lwn1rtwM
And Malmo would always cite Henry Rono as to what allowed him to set 4 World Records in 1978 in a short span: "Hills!, The hills!" (sorry if I butchered what he said).
Hill work can help develop speed and power for track. For an 18 minute 5k, it is unlikely this is the area of lowest hanging fruit.
future injury wrote:
SDSU Aztec wrote:
There are many runners in the Midwest that don't have access to hills. There are no hills in Modesto, but German Fernandez was pretty good.
Well, where is he now? He never developed the running related strength he needed to train at a higher level.
Yeah, that makes sense.
I suppose that hill running might strengthen the quads and calf muscles but couldn't you do the same thing with weight training?
SDSU Aztec wrote:
future injury wrote:
Well, where is he now? He never developed the running related strength he needed to train at a higher level.
Yeah, that makes sense.
I suppose that hill running might strengthen the quads and calf muscles but couldn't you do the same thing with weight training?
Not in the same manner.
Running hills is functional, actually works the muscles during running. How often are you in a squat position while running. Only time i got there was when I stopped to take a dump in the woods/
Hill reps are just a tool in the tool box. Necessary is a strong word, but they can be useful but just like stadium stairs are useful, box jumps and plyos are useful....
I agree with the above poster. I don't think hills are necessarily essential to reach one's potential on the track. Neither are tempo runs or long runs for that matter. Even track intervals I don't think are fully "necessary", although they are a very powerful tool. There are many ways to skin a cat.
Hills are needed for some winter games. Skiing, snow boarding, etc. Hills are not required for current track events. Do you have ideas for new track events that require hills?
Go to 4:15.
Yes they are beneficial for most events. They are great in the winter season when outdoor tracks are snowed in. During the actual outdoor track season transition to track workouts.
Hills are bodybuilding for runners.