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Saturday Hampstead Heath Hill Training

 

This session is targeted at the more experienced runner who is comfortable running cross country and/or trail races, and capable of running sub 8 minute/miles over a longer distance. It is not a coached session but rather a group of regulars who meet up on Hampstead Heath and run hills. We do, however, have people with coaching experience partaking regularly and any question, comment or suggestion is welcome.

Pre-hills

The session is modelled on the Greenwich Hill session where many of the regulars had their first hill experience, but instead of having two simultaneous sessions we design each hill so you can run it in different ways depending on your training aims and current form.

The session is on almost every Saturday but to be sure you do not travel in vain please drop Alex and Svetlana an email so we can you include you on the regular emails about the sessions.

You can just turn up on the day but it helps us if you can sign-up in advance using the menu on the right so that we know who to expect. We also recommend that you sign up for our emails so you know if the session is on and what to expect.

Where and when?

We meet outside the Parliament Hill Track changing rooms normally at 9.45am ready to run. We have a yearly pass to the track so we can use a locker, but if you need to store a bag or clothes yourself, or if you want a shower afterwards, the price is £3.00 (Oct 2012).

What to bring

  • We recommend that you use trail shoes. You may get away with road shoes on a dry day but in general you will need the extra grip, notably going downhill. We do not recommend using spikes as some of the hills are on hard trail-like surfaces.
  • Bring your own watch as you need to time yourself.
  • Bring water and some cash for the tea and brunch afterwards and also for the track lockers (if required).

Not even snow can stop us!

What to expect

  • A plan for which hills we are running that day and possible variations you can run on each hill.
  • A 10-15 minute warm-up jog before the session starts.
  • First a ‘warm-up’ hill, 8 to 12 minutes. Then 3 sets of hills/cross country loops each taking between 6 and 15 minutes to run, which in total should give you between 30 and 45 minutes of quality running.
  • We aim to be finished by 11.15am and then head off to the 'fifth hill' consisting of some well deserved refuelling at a tea-house in the neighbourhood.

Health and Safety

We try to avoid the busiest parts of the Heath but there are always dog-walkers out, many who have little (or no) control over their dogs. They too have the right to use the Heath and so do pedestrians, tourists and bikes (on some paths) and we expect you to show same respect for them as they show to you.

Post-hills

You should also be aware that this is nature and there are no flat surfaces but rather tree roots, rocks, rabbit holes and other natural trip hazards. We do try to use hills which have less of these 'obstacles' but we expect you to take the caution you think is necessary for you.

Contact details

Email: Alex and Svetlana