Warm-up
- Easy jog10–15 min
Longer warm-up before hard efforts — your engine needs to be fully online before the first hard rep.
- Dynamic drills~5 min
Leg swings, walking lunges, high knees, butt kicks, A-skips, carioca.
- Strides4 × 20 s
Build to ~90% over 20 s, float the last few steps, walk back to full recovery. Primes your legs for fast running.
Main set
- Hill repeats11 × 45 s hard uphill
Run uphill at a strong, controlled effort (5K effort or a touch harder) — drive the knees, pump the arms, stay tall. Hills build power and stride economy with far less impact than flat speedwork ('speedwork in disguise').
💡 Recovery: walk or jog back down to full recovery between reps. Longer power climbs — drive the knees, pump the arms.
- Outdoor option
Find a moderate grade (~4–6%) that takes the prescribed time to climb. Effort matters more than pace — don't chase watch numbers uphill.
- Treadmill option
Set 4–6% incline at a hard but repeatable speed; step onto the side rails or drop to a walk between reps to recover.
Cool-down & stretch
- Easy jog / walk5–10 min
Bring the heart rate down gradually before you stop.
- Calf stretch30 s × each
Hands on wall, back leg straight, heel down. Then bend the knee slightly to hit the lower calf (soleus).
- Standing hamstring30 s × each
Heel on a low step, hips back, flat back, hinge forward until you feel the stretch.
- Hip flexor lunge30 s × each
Half-kneeling, tuck the pelvis and press hips forward. Huge for runners who sit all day.
- Quad stretch30 s × each
Standing, pull heel to glute, knees together, stand tall.
- Figure-4 glute / piriformis30 s × each
Seated or lying, ankle over opposite knee, gently pull the thigh in.
Check days off and your home screen advances to the next one →