Do You Avoid Hills?

Get the best of POPSUGAR
Fitness — in your inbox!

Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional):

Running Yoga Working Out Weight Loss

Do You Avoid Hills?

July 9, 2009

Whether you're hiking, running, biking, or rollerblading, we can all agree that hills are tough. Both uphills and downhills have their challenges, and it's definitely easier to stick to even terrain. So tell me . . .

Source: Getty

22 Comments

julea 3 years 44 weeks

I don't see the point of avoiding them (beside for medical reasons, of course). It develops more muscles, so you get in better shape-- makes you stronger and fitter, plus, they are great for your butt! :D I love hills. I am more out of shape than i have been on the past, so I walk them a lot, but I love the feeling of using those muscles to get up the hill.

julea 3 years 44 weeks

I don't see the point of avoiding them (beside for medical reasons, of course).It develops more muscles, so you get in better shape-- makes you stronger and fitter, plus, they are great for your butt! :DI love hills. I am more out of shape than i have been on the past, so I walk them a lot, but I love the feeling of using those muscles to get up the hill.

3 years 44 weeks

it makes exercising more fun if you challenge yourself with several hills.

flyingchange 3 years 44 weeks

I love going UP hill.... coming back down is agony for my knees, though. I keep Advil in my truck so I can take some right afterward!

BeautifulHealth 3 years 44 weeks

Hills provide "natural" intervals! Up the hill = intense period, down the hill = recovery period, repeat and let nature be your guide. :-) (I usually tackle hills on my bike. This makes the "recovery period" - going downhill - that much more pleasant and FUN!)

tlsgirl 3 years 44 weeks

Hate hills. Plus, they actually make plantar fasciitis worse, so I've been avoiding them for medical reasons :)

Spectra 3 years 44 weeks

I miss hills. I used to live in a really hilly area and I'd plan my routes around them. Now I live in an extremely flat area and there are few, if any, hills to do. I do them when I go on the treadmill and stationary bikes at the gym though.

nancita 3 years 44 weeks

I mostly avoid them; they give me shin splints and aggravate my knee. I have a friend who lives in SF who points out that most cities aren't this hilly, so why should I feel guilty for avoiding hills? :)

kia 3 years 44 weeks

I love them!! When I lived in Miami the only hill was the Rickenbacker Causeway. I am thrilled to be in a place with a more diverse topography now.

Beaner 3 years 44 weeks

I used to avoid uphills because they would often lead to an asthma attack. But last summer I started running with a friend who loved hills. We eased into them slowly, and now I can get up a hill and still breathe. Really - if you hate hills, just train your body slowly.

kred 3 years 44 weeks

Love hills! SO much better and nore challanging of a run. Even if I am stuck at the gym on a treadmill I do at least a 4 or 5% incline!

telane 3 years 44 weeks

I just realize that that sounded like I totally contradicted myself - I meant to say in the first sentence that, "I PICKED usually avoid them" instead. Oops ;)

telane 3 years 44 weeks

I usually avoid them, but once in a while I take my hilly route rather than my typical route - just to change things up. :) It's not that I avoid them, because even my everyday route has a slight incline the entire way.... It's just those butt burners that I will only do like once every other week or so.

weffie 3 years 44 weeks

I avoid them when I'm running with the dog... his legs are only about 3" long so he gets tired very easily :)from the thumbnail, i totally thought that woman in the pic was wearing a hooters uniform at first haha

weffie 3 years 44 weeks

I avoid them when I'm running with the dog... his legs are only about 3" long so he gets tired very easily :) from the thumbnail, i totally thought that woman in the pic was wearing a hooters uniform at first haha

darkoblivion 3 years 44 weeks

I love hills! I live by a park with a very large hill and I do hill sprints up & down a few times a week. I also like to incorporate them into my runs to build strength, speed & endurance.

Vanonymous 3 years 44 weeks

It depends. My neighborhood has a lot of hills so it's more deciding if I'm up for big hills or small. Yesterday I ran a route that avoids super steep hills but is a mile longer, so I think it evens out.

isabelle315 3 years 44 weeks

I LOVE hill workouts, but since I currently live in an incredibly flat area, I never do them. I'd really have to search for a decent hill, and I'm not sure I could find one if I tried. It's a shame because running hills is so great for increasing strength and speed.

lydialee_home 3 years 44 weeks

I am going to run Nike Women Marathon in San Francisco, and there's some hills in the course. There's hardly any hills in my neighborhood - just couple small one. I wished there are more hills around where I live so I can train for the Marathon. Also, uphill is not too bad, what I don't like is the downhill part - really bad for the knees.

lydialee_home 3 years 44 weeks

jessicaeden 3 years 44 weeks

I live in an very hilly neighborhood, so I don't have much choice on my daily run -- I grin and bear it . :)