I try to mix in a hill workout once a week, especially when training for a race. But, I can’t always get outside to run hills and sometimes it’s just way too hot. So, below is the treadmill workout that I did today up at Fit Athletic Club in Houston. This pretty advanced, so you may need to decrease your speed some to adjust but try to keep about the same inclines to really work your legs. Basically, running on an incline makes it much harder for your heart, lungs and muscles so you get a better workout in less time. Plus, hills are great for sclupting your legs…specifically glutes, hamstrings and calves. I do hills sometimes when I don’t have much time for weight training and this way I get in my cardio and also work my legs.
My Hill Workout (approx. 30min):
*This is ADVANCED. Please adjust your speeds according to your level (keep hills/inclines the same though). Start with a warmup jog for about 5 minutes before you hit the hills.
Med/Long Hills
– Set 1:Â 5mph @ 5% for 2 minutes then 0% for 1 minute. Repeat.
– Set 2:Â 6mph @ 6% for 1.5 minutes then 0% for 1 minute. Repeat.
– Set 3:Â 6.5mph @ 6.5% for 1.5 minutes then 0% for 1 minute. Repeat.
– Set 4:Â 7mph @ 7% for 1 minute then 0% for 1 minute. Repeat.
Short Hills
– Set 1: 7mph @9% for 30 seconds then 0% for 1 minute. Repeat.
– Set 2: 7.5 mph @ 10% for 30 seconds then 0% for 1 minute. Repeat.
– Set 3: mph @ 12% for 30 seconds then 6mph at 0% for 1 minute. Repeat.
Hill Sprints (the hard ones!)
– Set 1: 8mph @ 12% incline for 30 seconds. Step off to side and rest for 45 seconds. Repeat x 3.
– Set 2: 9mph @ 11% incline for 30 seconds. Step off to side and rest for 45 seconds. Repeat x 3.
– Set 3: 10mph @ 8% incline for 40 seconds. Step off to side and rest for 1 minute. Repeat x 2.
– Set 4: 10.5 mph @ 5% incline for 60 seconds. Step off to side and rest 90 seconds. Repeat x 1.
Check out this chart below to find out the equivalent speed of your hills (in minutes per mile). See…you are going FAST!
|
MPH setting |
Flat Road Pace * |
0%* | 1% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 10% |
| 5.0 | 12:00 | 12:31 | 11:44 | 11:05 | 10:32 | 10:03 | 9:38 | 9:16 | 8:56 | 8:38 | 8:22 | 8:07 |
| 5.2 | 11:32 | 12:02 | 11:18 | 10:42 | 10:11 | 9:44 | 9:20 | 8:59 | 8:40 | 8:23 | 8:08 | 7:54 |
| 5.4 | 11:07 | 11:35 | 10:55 | 10:20 | 9:51 | 9:26 | 9:03 | 8:43 | 8:25 | 8:09 | 7:55 | 7:41 |
| 5.6 | 10:43 | 11:10 | 10:32 | 10:00 | 9:33 | 9:09 | 8:48 | 8:29 | 8:12 | 7:56 | 7:42 | 7:29 |
| 5.8 | 10:21 | 10:47 | 10:12 | 9:42 | 9:16 | 8:53 | 8:33 | 8:15 | 7:58 | 7:44 | 7:30 | 7:18 |
| 6.0 | 10:00 | 10:26 | 9:52 | 9:24 | 9:00 | 8:38 | 8:19 | 8:02 | 7:46 | 7:32 | 7:19 | 7:07 |
| 6.1 | 9:50 | 10:15 | 9:43 | 9:16 | 8:52 | 8:31 | 8:12 | 7:55 | 7:40 | 7:26 | 7:14 | 7:02 |
| 6.2 | 9:41 | 10:05 | 9:34 | 9:08 | 8:44 | 8:24 | 8:06 | 7:49 | 7:34 | 7:21 | 7:08 | 6:57 |
| 6.3 | 9:31 | 9:56 | 9:26 | 9:00 | 8:37 | 8:17 | 7:59 | 7:43 | 7:29 | 7:15 | 7:03 | 6:52 |
| 6.4 | 9:23 | 9:46 | 9:17 | 8:52 | 8:30 | 8:10 | 7:53 | 7:37 | 7:23 | 7:10 | 6:58 | 6:47 |
| 6.5 | 9:14 | 9:37 | 9:09 | 8:45 | 8:23 | 8:04 | 7:47 | 7:32 | 7:18 | 7:05 | 6:53 | 6:43 |
| 6.6 | 9:05 | 9:29 | 9:01 | 8:37 | 8:16 | 7:58 | 7:41 | 7:26 | 7:13 | 7:00 | 6:49 | 6:38 |
| 6.7 | 8:57 | 9:20 | 8:53 | 8:30 | 8:10 | 7:52 | 7:35 | 7:21 | 7:07 | 6:55 | 6:44 | 6:34 |
| 6.8 | 8:49 | 9:12 | 8:45 | 8:23 | 8:03 | 7:46 | 7:30 | 7:15 | 7:02 | 6:50 | 6:40 | 6:29 |
| 6.9 | 8:42 | 9:04 | 8:39 | 8:17 | 7:57 | 7:40 | 7:24 | 7:10 | 6:58 | 6:46 | 6:35 | 6:25 |
| 7.0 | 8:34 | 8:56 | 8:32 | 8:10 | 7:51 | 7:34 | 7:19 | 7:05 | 6:53 | 6:41 | 6:31 | 6:21 |
| 7.1 | 8:27 | 8:49 | 8:25 | 8:04 | 7:45 | 7:29 | 7:14 | 7:00 | 6:48 | 6:37 | 6:27 | 6:17 |
| 7.2 | 8:20 | 8:41 | 8:18 | 7:58 | 7:40 | 7:23 | 7:09 | 6:56 | 6:44 | 6:33 | 6:22 | 6:13 |
| 7.3 | 8:13 | 8:34 | 8:12 | 7:52 | 7:34 | 7:18 | 7:04 | 6:51 | 6:39 | 6:28 | 6:18 | 6:09 |
| 7.4 | 8:06 | 8:27 | 8:05 | 7:46 | 7:28 | 7:13 | 6:59 | 6:46 | 6:35 | 6:24 | 6:14 | 6:05 |
| 7.5 | 8:00 | 8:20 | 7:59 | 7:40 | 7:23 | 7:08 | 6:54 | 6:42 | 6:31 | 6:20 | 6:11 | 6:02 |
| 7.6 | 7:54 | 8:14 | 7:53 | 7:34 | 7:18 | 7:03 | 6:50 | 6:38 | 6:26 | 6:16 | 6:07 | 5:58 |
| 7.7 | 7:48 | 8:07 | 7:47 | 7:29 | 7:13 | 6:58 | 6:45 | 6:33 | 6:22 | 6:12 | 6:03 | 5:55 |
| 7.8 | 7:42 | 8:01 | 7:41 | 7:24 | 7:08 | 6:54 | 6:41 | 6:29 | 6:18 | 6:09 | 5:59 | 5:51 |
| 7.9 | 7:36 | 7:55 | 7:36 | 7:18 | 7:03 | 6:49 | 6:37 | 6:25 | 6:15 | 6:05 | 5:56 | 5:48 |
| 8.0 | 7:30 | 7:49 | 7:30 | 7:13 | 6:58 | 6:45 | 6:32 | 6:21 | 6:11 | 6:01 | 5:52 | 5:44 |
| 8.1 | 7:24 | 7:43 | 7:25 | 7:08 | 6:54 | 6:40 | 6:28 | 6:17 | 6:07 | 5:58 | 5:49 | 5:41 |
| 8.2 | 7:19 | 7:38 | 7:20 | 7:04 | 6:49 | 6:36 | 6:24 | 6:13 | 6:03 | 5:54 | 5:46 | 5:38 |
| 8.3 | 7:14 | 7:32 | 7:15 | 9:59 | 6:45 | 6:32 | 6:20 | 6:10 | 6:00 | 5:51 | 5:42 | 5:35 |
| 8.4 | 7:09 | 7:27 | 7:10 | 6:54 | 6:40 | 6:28 | 6:16 | 6:06 | 5:56 | 5:47 | 5:29 | 5:32 |
| 8.5 | 7:04 | 7:22 | 7:05 | 6:50 | 6:36 | 6:24 | 6:13 | 6:02 | 5:53 | 5:44 | 5:36 | 5:29 |
| 8.6 | 6:59 | 7:16 | 7:00 | 6:45 | 6:32 | 6:20 | 6:09 | 5:59 | 5:49 | 5:41 | 5:33 | 5:26 |
| 8.7 | 6:54 | 7:11 | 6:55 | 6:41 | 6:28 | 6:16 | 6:05 | 5:55 | 5:46 | 5:38 | 5:30 | 5:23 |
| 8.8 | 6:49 | 7:07 | 6:51 | 6:37 | 6:24 | 6:12 | 5:02 | 5:52 | 5:43 | 5:35 | 5:27 | 5:20 |
| 8.9 | 6:44 | 7:02 | 6:46 | 6:32 | 6:20 | 6:09 | 5:58 | 5:49 | 5:40 | 5:32 | 5:24 | 5:17 |
| 9.0 | 6:40 | 6:57 | 6:42 | 6:28 | 6:16 | 6:05 | 5:55 | 5:45 | 5:37 | 5:29 | 5:21 | 5:14 |
| 9.1 | 6:36 | 6:52 | 6:38 | 6:24 | 6:12 | 6:01 | 5:51 | 5:42 | 5:34 | 5:26 | 5:18 | 5:11 |
| 9.2 | 6:31 | 6:48 | 6:34 | 6:20 | 6:09 | 5:58 | 5:48 | 5:39 | 5:31 | 5:23 | 5:16 | 5:09 |
| 9.3 | 6:27 | 6:44 | 6:29 | 6:17 | 6:05 | 5:55 | 5:45 | 5:36 | 5:28 | 5:20 | 5:13 | 5:06 |
| 9.4 | 6:23 | 6:39 | 6:25 | 6:13 | 6:02 | 5:51 | 5:42 | 5:33 | 5:25 | 5:17 | 5:10 | 5:04 |
| 9.5 | 6:19 | 6:35 | 6:22 | 6:09 | 5:58 | 5:48 | 5:39 | 5:30 | 5:22 | 5:14 | 5:08 | 5:01 |
| 9.6 | 6:15 | 6:31 | 6:18 | 6:06 | 5:55 | 5:45 | 5:35 | 5:27 | 5:19 | 5:12 | 5:05 | 4:59 |
| 9.7 | 6:11 | 6:27 | 6:14 | 6:02 | 5:51 | 5:42 | 5:32 | 5:24 | 5:16 | 5:09 | 5:02 | 4:56 |
| 9.8 | 6:07 | 6:23 | 6:10 | 5:59 | 5:48 | 5:38 | 5:30 | 5:21 | 5:14 | 5:07 | 5:00 | 4:54 |
| 9.9 | 6:04 | 6:19 | 6:07 | 5:55 | 5:45 | 5:35 | 5:27 | 5:19 | 5:11 | 5:04 | 4:58 | 4:51 |
| 10.0 | 6:00 | 6:15 | 6:03 | 5:52 | 5:42 | 5:32 | 5:24 | 5:16 | 5:08 | 5:02 | 4:55 | 4:49 |
| 10.1 | 5:56 | 6:12 | 6:00 | 5:49 | 5:39 | 5:29 | 5:21 | 5:13 | 5:06 | 4:59 | 4:53 | 4:47 |
| 10.2 | 5:53 | 6:08 | 5:56 | 5:45 | 5:36 | 5:27 | 5:18 | 5:11 | 5:03 | 4:57 | 4:50 | 4:45 |
| 10.3 | 5:50 | 6:04 | 5:53 | 5:42 | 5:33 | 5:24 | 5:16 | 5:08 | 5:01 | 4:54 | 4:48 | 4:42 |
| 10.4 | 5:46 | 6:01 | 5:50 | 5:39 | 5:30 | 5:21 | 5:13 | 5:05 | 4:58 | 4:52 | 4:46 | 4:40 |
| 10.5 | 5:43 | 5:57 | 5:46 | 5:36 | 5:27 | 5:18 | 5:10 | 5:03 | 4:56 | 4:50 | 4:44 | 4:38 |
| 10.6 | 5:40 | 5:54 | 5:43 | 5:33 | 5:24 | 5:15 | 5:08 | 5:00 | 4:54 | 4:47 | 4:41 | 4:36 |
| 10.7 | 5:36 | 5:51 | 5:40 | 5:30 | 5:21 | 5:13 | 5:05 | 4:58 | 4:51 | 4:45 | 4:39 | 4:34 |
| 10.8 | 5:33 | 5:48 | 5:37 | 5:27 | 5:18 | 5:10 | 5:03 | 4:56 | 4:49 | 4:43 | 4:37 | 4:32 |
| 10.9 | 5:30 | 5:44 | 5:34 | 5:24 | 5:16 | 5:08 | 5:00 | 4:53 | 4:47 | 4:41 | 4:35 | 4:30 |
| 11.0 | 5:27 | 5:41 | 5:31 | 5:22 | 5:13 | 5:05 | 4:58 | 4:51 | 4:45 | 4:39 | 4:33 | 4:28 |
| 11.2 | 5:21 | 5:35 | 5:25 | 5:16 | 5:08 | 5:00 | 4:53 | 4:46 | 4:40 | 4:34 | 4:29 | 4:24 |
| 11.4 | 5:16 | 5:29 | 5:20 | 5:11 | 5:03 | 4:55 | 4:49 | 4:42 | 4:36 | 4:30 | 4:25 | 4:20 |
| 11.6 | 5:10 | 5:24 | 5:14 | 5:06 | 4:58 | 4:51 | 4:44 | 4:38 | 4:32 | 4:27 | 4:21 | 4:17 |
| 11.8 | 5:05 | 5:18 | 5:09 | 5:01 | 4:53 | 4:46 | 4:40 | 4:34 | 4:28 | 4:23 | 4:18 | 4:13 |
| 12.0 | 5:00 | 5:13 | 5:04 | 5:56 | 4:49 | 4:42 | 4:36 | 4:30 | 4:24 | 4:19 | 4:14 | 4:10 |
*Running Speed on a treadmill with no incline (zero percent) is actually slower than running on a flat road or track surface since it takes less effort because you do not have to overcome air resistance on a treadmill.The % numbers represent the percent grade of the treadmill.
