The Hills.....

Every Saturday is my ' tank hill running' day. I run hills at 30, 40, 50, and 60 degree inclines at my old detachment in Orleans...it used to belong to the military so that is why I call them the 'Tank Hills'. I have 4 different programs to cap off a full month at a time. Week 1 is running all four hills from small to big and then big to small which gives me 8 turns plus 2 warmup hills. Week 2 is what I did today, down the small hill forwards quickly and up the small hill backwards quickly for 10 times and then a bonus run up the big hill once.....you really think you got tree trunks for legs after this one!! Week 3 is a doozy....down the small hill and up the big hill...10 times and 4 out of those ten are 'weighted' an extra 30 to 40 lbs (I am a sadist that way), and then as a bonus, if I can, 3 times backwards up the small hill.....a lot of swearing going on this day!! Week 4 is 10 sprints, at full tilt, up the small hill.....don't eat breakfast!! Oh yeah, I forgot, there are 10 to 20 push-ups between each hill run so that should be good for usually 100 push-ups.
When I look back, it is amazing how time has just flown by...I have been running the hills since May and now we are in September. It feels like just last week I was pushing my sled on the local outdoor rink, with my daughter on it for extra weight (told you I was sadistic that way), and then watching her bang into the boards cause I can't stop. Although it was just 2 weeks ago that I ran the small hill with her on my shoulders.....she loves to train with me. She has the makings of a great athlete....we'll see. Even when we go sliding in the winter...it has to be the highest hill, by herself, on her belly.....on a crazy carpet....wait a minute...sounds just like skeleton he he. Just yesterday, we had a family day at the Minto rink where I train. I trained and my girls skated and I was definately impressed with her. Alain and Ray the "Iceman" at Minto are amazing guys and have given me the edge over all the other competitiors by giving me the opportunity to train there twice a week.
Well, those are the hills.....the dreaded hills...but man do they work for power, endurance, and they help on recoup time.