Tuesday 30 June 2009

Barry's hill intervals


Barry had prescribed 5 x 2 mins uphill intervals so I headed for my old hunting grounds, where back in the old days I use to cycle race and train quite a lot. I remember one race where we had to go over Clieves hill 12 times! I'd been over doing the weight training and must have weighed at least 12 and 1/2 stone, I got dropped every time up the 1/2 mile climb but got back onto the bunch on the downhill, it was fantastic fun charging past the official cars and leapfrogging back to the peloton and even more fun riding past [and winding him up!] this guy in my club who for some reason had taken a dislike to me from the first day I'd joined the cycle club! I survived and finished in about 20th place in the main group, I was quite chuffed with myself!
I warmed up for 2 miles then set off on my 1st effort, once I hit 2 mins I put a marker down on the road, I then jogged back down hill before running my next effort. 5x 2 mins sounded pretty easy BUT as anyone who has tried hill intervals will tell you 'THEY BLOODY HURT', I didn't look at my watch again until after the session, but was happy to see I reached the marker with times consistently 3-4 seconds faster than the first one! It was a relief to finish the 5th effort, now I could relax and enjoy the countryside and the beautiful weather with a steady run!

5 x 2 mins hills, av pace uphill 9.1 mph = 1 Hour 18 mins
Photo looking south down Clives Hill

2 comments:

Ewen said...

Good one Rick... but I think a harder session would be mowing the grass in that photo!

Samurai Running said...

They work wonders for the fitness level too.

Keep up the good training Rick.