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Include hillwork for a well-rounded running program
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Training programs are like haircuts; the trends come and go. Add yoga to your routine. No, don't do yoga, do Pilates instead. And so on. There was a time when the big thing was LSD (Long Slow Distance); it was notoriously in fashion for training for any race of a 10K distance or longer. It didn't take long to realize that what it produced was a lot of marathoners that ran slow but still felt good at the finish. So speedwork got added back into the mix.
It's commonly accepted now that many different aspects of training have to be combined to really perform well while staying generally injury-free. Weight training is important, especially for trail running and hashing. One day per week should be earmarked for a speedwork workout, including intervals. A long run on the weekend keeps the endurance level up. What I'd like to talk about here is how to incorporate hillwork into your fitness training plan. Like intervals, one workout a week is plenty.
The first thing you'll need is hills. The problem here in Houston is that the area is largely hill-deficient. It's possible to approximate hills on a treadmill, but it's a poor substitute at best. And that doesn't even take into account the boredom factor. There are a couple areas, though:
- Buffalo Bayou: It's located just on the northeast corner of downtown a few miles from the Memorial Park running loop. There are several areas along its length where you can find short, steep hills on soft grass.
- Challenger Park: This one is located in Friendswood, just south of Houston. Just take I-45 south and turn west (right) at NASA Rd. 1. You'll see the entrance on the left about a quarter mile down. Challenger is dedicated to the doomed shuttle, and as a park, it's very-underutilized. There is a very fine hill by the fishing pond which is part of the high school cross country course. The park also boasts some nice opportunities for trail runs. Some are tame and some are challenging. I did a hash run out there a few years ago, but that's another article all by itself.
Other than a meager handful of hills, there still remains a great option where you can get a solid, controlled workout. Bridges. 
Overpasses will work, but unless they are well out of the city, they're just a bit too dangerous. Here are two favorites:
- Kemah Bridge: The Kemah Bridge crosses the channel between Kemah and Seabrook. Once again it's I-45 south, but this time go east at Nasa Rd. 1 and then left on Hwy. 146. There's always a nice breeze which lends it to summer runs. Even when your quads are burning, there's always the scenery for distraction. The Kemah Boardwalk is off on one side and Toddville Road skirts the bay into the distance on the other side. There are always sailboats and yachts cruising through underneath.
- Hartman Bridge: The Hartman leads to Baytown. Instead of stopping at Kemah Bridge, just keep going down Hwy. 141 and you'll run into it. Alternatively, you can get there by taking 288 south. That way it's only about a 15 minute drive. This is actually two bridges, a less-steep lead-up bridge, and then the monster. The round trip mileage if you park at the church located at the base on the Baytown side is just shy of 7 miles.
So don't neglect your hillwork. It's just one more thing to round out your routine and keep it all in balance.
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