| Author |
Message |
Tim N (Timn88)
Advanced Member
Username: Timn88
Post Number: 3502
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 12:17 pm: | |
I feel the same way about gradual hills. They kill me when i run up them trying to keep the same pace as flat ground. I like running loops that have some gradual hills in them to get my HR up while running at the same pace, rather than running faster on flat ground. your body is working harder for a longer period of time for the gradual hill. there are really no flat places for me to run except on a track and those get boring.
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Nibblesworth (Nebulaclass)
Member
Username: Nebulaclass
Post Number: 773
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 12:03 pm: | |
The same amount of work is being done, but the level at which your body is doing the work is much different.
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Joe (Jts)
Junior Member
Username: Jts
Post Number: 182
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:56 am: | |
Crawford - this is interesting.
First, a disclaimer: Engineers, math heads, physicists, people with common sense - don't jump all over me. This is just a theory!
Ok, Crawford - if I recall from high school (many, many moons ago) "work" = a force applied over a distance. Since the distance is the same, the work it takes to get home is the same. It has to be.
But since the walking path is flat until the final steep bit, psychologically, it's much "easier" because the effort required to rise to house level is concentrated over a much smaller period of time. With option A (main road, gradual climb) the altitude is increasing with every step you take, so for the whole distance, it is literally getting "harder" with each subsequent step.
Weight Room Analogy: It's a lot easier to do 11 reps at a low weight and then a final rep with a much heavier weight than it is to do 12 reps where weight is added with each subsequent rep (assuming that total amount of weight lifted is the same in both cases).
I'm sure there is a less convoluted, more concise way to explain this - but does it make sense? |
PeterS (Peters)
Intermediate Member
Username: Peters
Post Number: 1625
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:09 am: | |
Try running from any end of the golden gate bridge to the middle. The climb is 66 feet..Quite the workout! |
Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator
Username: Rob328gts
Post Number: 6673
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:58 am: | |
Well, your body is use to a standard pace and effort. Sometimes a gradual hill that requires you to be outside your comfort pace for a longer time will be harder than just a quick effort. |
Crawford White (Crawford)
Junior Member
Username: Crawford
Post Number: 207
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:29 am: | |
In my neighborhood where I jog, there is a hill leading up to my house. There is also a walking path that is relatively flat until you get almost right to my house. Then you have to go up a steep path.
It seem easier to run the flat path and then assent the hill rather than to stay on the main road for a gradual climb.
Assuming the two roads are the same distance, shouldn't the work expended by my tired old body be the same whichever route I take? |