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Los Gatos Creek Trail bridge in Campbell perfect for hill sprints
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Oktoberfest 5k finish at Campbell Park (Photo: C. Juarez)
A couple of weeks ago, while on assignment with a fellow Examiner, I discovered a great little hill on the Los Gatos Creek Trail in Campell.
On duty to take photos of finishers of the Campbell Oktoberfest 5k, I ran the course before the race. The course left Campbell Park and traveled the creek side trail to the trail bridge just before the San Tomas Expressway. Continuing over the bridge and turning left, race participants ran along 17 and past the Campbell Inn to another turn around point and then back over the Campbell Ave. bridge to the park.
Basic sprints
The hill to the bridge, about 1.25 miles from Campbell Park provides a perfect grade and distance for 10 second hill sprints. Sprinting to the top of the hill and using the downhill on the opposite side as recovery.s before turning around and charging the hill again. Repeat 3-10 times depending on fitness level.
Take it a step further
If you want to really challenge yourself and see results, mark off a starting line and finish line on one side of the hill; something you can mark on subsequent visits. Time your sprints and track improvement during one workout and in consecutive workouts. Again, repeat sprints 3-10 times depending on fitness level.
More ways to challenge yourself: 1) Time your sprints and limit recovery to less or equal to sprint time and 2) change your start; try one set of sprints with a standing start and the next set with a running start.
For more on hill runs see: Developing power with hill runs
This type of workout requires just a few minutes and, done once every 8-14 days will improve leg strength and the body's oxygen delivery system.
For more info: Running Planet: Strength Building Hill Runs, Speedwork
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