1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Running & Jogging

Benefits of Hill Running
Run faster and get stronger with hill training

By Christine Luff, About.com

Updated April 14, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Some runners don't like hill running because it's, well, hard. But running hills provides a lot of benefits to runners, so don't shy away from them. Here are some of the ways you can benefit from hill running:

You'll build strength.

Running inclines, either on a hill outdoors or on a treadmill, is a form of resistance training that builds up the muscles in your calves, quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Hill running strengthens those areas more than running on flat ground. You'll also strengthen your hip flexors and Achilles tendons.

You'll get faster.

The muscles you'll use to run up hills are the same ones used for sprinting, so the strength you build will improve your speed.

You won't get bored.

If you're used to running in mostly flat courses, adding hills to your routines can help prevent boredom.

You'll reduce your risk of injuries.

As you strengthen your leg muscles through hill running, you considerably reduce the risk of suffering from running-related injuries.

More: How to Prevent Running Injuries

You'll strengthen your upper body.

Uphill running forces you to drive your arms harder than you do when running on flat ground, so you'll improve your upper body strength.

You'll build confidence.

The more you run hills, the less intimidating they'll seem when you encounter them on a race course. Your improved strength and technique on the hills will definitely give you a confidence boost when you're racing.
Explore Running & Jogging
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Running & Jogging
  4. Training Essentials
  5. Hill Running - Benefits of Hill Running>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.