There’s an enormous hill by my house that I used to pass by and shudder. That is, until I went on a run with my hill-loving neighbor. Hills are intimidating, but they really do make us better runners. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? Here are some tips to make hills feel easier so you can start incorporating them into your runs. When You’re Not Running When you’re not running, cross-train with other types of intense cardio to strengthen your heart. Mountain biking, hiking, walking with the treadmill’s incline pumped up – all at a vigorous pace – will do the trick. At first, it will feel like it’s impossible to catch your breath, but

as your body gets used to the physical demands, you’ll be able to get through an intense workout without feeling like you’re going to pass out. Strong legs are also important because they propel your body weight forward when you’re running up a hill. When strength training, focus on moves that target your calves, shins, quads, hamstrings, and booty like balancing side leg lift squat , reverse lunge , Superman booty lifts , calf raises , and elbow plank with donkey kick . Keep reading to find out what tactics you can use during your run to make hills a breeze.

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Running Hills: Go From No Way to Give Me More