Uphill Running and Power Hiking | Trail Running Basics

ENTER TO WIN A PATH PROJECTS OUTFIT, VALUED AT UP TO $173. TO ENTER, LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW: ''WHAT OUTFIT WOULD YOU CHOOSE IF YOU WON (1 PAIR OF SHORTS, BASELINERS, SHIRT AND HAT'' 1 WINNER WILL BE PICKED AT RANDOM BY 5/14/19. Terms and conditions

Coach Jimmy Dean Freeman breaks down the right ways to position your body for uphill running and power hiking. Trail runners of all levels often use power hiking to shift muscle group. This gives your running systems a break and makes you a stronger, better overall athlete. Learn more about your footing on uneven terrain, dealing with hills, how to position your hips, and more!

 

Uphill running and power hiking

I'm here to talk to you about uphill running. It's a little bit distinct on the trails. So on the roads you're going to find that grades are pretty consistent and your footing is decent. While on the trail you're going to have terrain that is more uneven. The grades change frequently in the middle of a run up a hill.

uphill trail running

Foot placement with trail running

You are going to be a bit more careful about your foot placement, there will be more rocks, roots and ruts to worry about when you're going uphill.

You have to worry more about your effort, less about your pace. When you run uphill, you want to be perpendicular to the horizon. As the terrain changes, you want to stay up right. Think about bringing your hips forward, when you're running and hiking. When you go up a steep grade, it might make sense to switch into a hike or even a power hike. 

What is a power hike?

It's distinct from hiking, where you are leaning forward a bit more. You are a bit more hanged over and you use your hands on your knees to kind of drive yourself up the hill. 

power hiking on a trail

One of the great things about hiking when going uphill, you are shifting muscle groups. You are giving your running systems a break. You are also getting stronger in a hiking sense, which is going to make you a better overall athlete. 

Enter to win PATH projects outfit

ENTER TO WIN A PATH PROJECTS OUTFIT, VALUED AT UP TO $173. TO ENTER, LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW: ''WHAT OUTFIT WOULD YOU CHOOSE IF YOU WON (1 PAIR OF SHORTS, BASELINERS, SHIRT AND HAT'' 1 WINNER WILL BE PICKED AT RANDOM BY 5/14/19. Terms and conditions

 

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108 comments

  • Sykes PX 7" – Blue Black
    Tahoe CL 5" Base Liner – Black
    Rockies 3/4 Raglan T – Heather Grey/Black
    Big Bend trucker Cap – Dark grey

    Collin
  • I really like the black muir cap. Thanks and cant wait for the next podcast

    Darren Rutgers
  • Love the product and the message behind it! Best running shorts I have seen!

    SYKES PX 5" SHORT – OLIVE GREY
    TAHOE CL 5" BASE LINER – BLACK
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    Matthew
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    TAHOE CL 8" BASE LINER
    ROCKIES 3/4 RAGLAN T
    ZION CAP.

    But I would say your hoodies are hands down the greatest!!

    Cody
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    TAHOE CL 5" BASE LINER – BLACK
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    MUIR CAP – CHARCOAL GREY

    Paul
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    MUIR CAP – CHARCOAL GREY

    Tom
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    Victor S
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    CASCADE SS T – BLACK
    BIG BEND TRUCKER CAP – BLACK

    Jacob Fetterolf
  • SYKES PX 7" SHORT – FROST GREY
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    BIG BEND TRUCKER CAP – DARK GREY
    Love your men’s line! for my hubby – make me some ladies’ equivalents ;)

    Jenn Sabin
  • SYKES PX 7 inch SHORT – BLACK
    TAHOE CL 8" BASE LINER – BLACK
    PYRENEES MX LS HOODED SHIRT – GREY
    ZION CAP -GREY

    Bryan
  • Prospect PX2 8" Shorts – Jet Black
    Tahoe CL 5" Liner – Frost Grey
    Madre Sleeveless – Heather Grey
    Muir Cap – White

    Ramon Sides
  • An outfit to use on the “path” everyday
    -SYKES PX 7 inch SHORT – JET BLACK
    -TAHOE CL 8" BASE LINER – BLACK
    -PYRENEES MX LS HOODED SHIRT – HEATHER GREY
    -ZION CAP – FROST GREY

    Tom
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    BIG BEND TRUCKER CAP – BLACK

    Love your stuff!

    Zac Valente
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    Cascade SS T-Shirt – Olive Grey
    Muir Cap – Charcoal Grey

    NGraber
  • Brim fit short 9" Phantom
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    Thanks

    Tim Gunnett
  • Prospect PX2 8" – JET BLACK
    Tahoe CL 8" Base Liner- FROST GREY
    Rockies 3/4 Raglan T – HEATHER GREY/BLACK
    Muir Cap – BLACK

    Tim Frick
  • Would love to finally try out your shorts and base-liner!
    Looking forward to getting into your gear!

    Joseph Bearss
  • Sykes 7" Black shorts
    TRN X Path 3/4 Shirt
    Arapahoe Cap – Black
    Tahoe 5" Base Layer Black

    Joe Nartker
  • PROSPECT PX2 8" SHORT – NAVY
    TAHOE CL 8" BASE LINER – BLACK
    CASCADE SS T – HEATHER GREY
    BIG BEND TRUCKER CAP – DARK GREY

    Jonathan Mays
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    CASCADE SS T – HEATHER GREY (M)
    MUIR CAP – WHITE
    Boom!

    Andy Averill
  • Sykes px 7” black
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    Thanks Guys!

    Pierre-Olivier Benoit
  • Sykes px 5” black
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    Josh
  • Skyes PX 5" Black
    Tahoe CL 5" Black
    Cascade SS White
    Muir Cap Charcoal Grey

    Blake
  • Shorts-Sykes PX 7" Short in Jet Black
    Base Liner-Shasta HX 8" Baseliner
    Shirt-Cascade SS T Olive Grey
    Hat-Muir Cap Charcoal Grey

    AL Guerra
  • Sykes PX 5"- Jet Black
    Tahoe CL 5" Base Liner – Black
    Cascade SS T – Heather Grey
    Muir Cap- White
    Thanks for what y’all do! Loved the trail clean up with Billy.

    Ryan Brown
  • I’d go with a warm weather outfit as we ramp into summer
    Sykes PX 5" black
    Tahoe 3" liner any color
    Madre sleeveless gray
    for a hat I’d go with whichever one is the deepest – I have a big head! on looks, I’d go with the zion in frost gray.

    Jake Scheckman
  • Cascade SS T- Black
    Sykes PX 7" Short – Black
    Tahoe CL 5" Base Line- Black
    Muir Cap- Black

    Gunnar Barrera
  • Sykes PX 7”- olive Grey
    Tahoe 5” grey
    Big Bend Trucker hat in black
    Cascade SS T olive Grey

    Clinton Buhler
  • Sykes PX 7" Frost Grey- XL
    Tahoe CL 5" Liner Frost Grey- L
    Rockies 3/4 Raglan T in Heather Grey/Black- XL
    Zion Cap- Frost Grey

    Jason
  • Sykes PX 7" Short – black
    Tahoe 3" Liner – black
    Cascade SS T – heather gray
    Muir Cap – charcoal

    Greg Smith
  • Sykes PX 5" Short – Jet Black
    Tahoe CL 3" Base Liner – Black
    Pyrenees MX LS hooded shirt – heather grey (mid weight)
    muir cap – charcoal grey

    Mendel
  • SYKES PX 7" SHORT – JET BLACK – med
    TAHOE CL 5" BASE LINER – FROST GREY – sm
    CASCADE SS T – HEATHER GREY – med
    MUIR CAP – CHARCOAL GREY

    Charles Francis
  • Sykes px 7” – olive grey
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    Zion cap – frost grey

    Stephen George
  • Graves DA shorts – black
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    Cascade SS shirt – white
    Zion hat – gray
    Running in Hawaii, I opt for as light and breathable as possible. Thanks!

    Mike B
  • Graves 7" short blue black
    Tahoe CL 5" black
    Cascade SS T heather grey
    Arapahoe cap stone

    Nate
  • Sykes 7” shorts Frost Gray
    Tahoe 5” baseliner Frost gray
    Pyrenes T19 LS Hooded Shirt – Navy
    Muir Cap – Black

    John
  • Easy.

    Sykes 7” shorts Frost Gray
    Tahoe 5” baseliner Frost gray
    Pyrenes T19 LS Hooded Shirt – Navy
    Muir Cap – Black

    Gio DiDomenico
  • Sykes px 5” – black sm
    Tahoe CL 5” base liner – black sm
    Cascade SS T – heather grey sm (come back in stock soon!)
    Zion Cap – frost grey

    Love love love my Pyrenees lightweight hoodie, so would love to try more!

    Colin C
  • Sykes px 5” – black
    Tahoe CL 3” base liner – black
    Cascade SS T – heather grey
    Muir Cap – white

    Loving my Graves DA shorts! Sykes are next at some point either way…

    Keith Koopmans
  • Graves 7" short black
    Tahoe CL 8" black
    Rockies 3/4 Heather grey
    Arapahoe cap black
    Thanks!

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    Big bend trucker

    PLEASE & THANK YOU

    Geoffrey Law
  • Sykes 7” Frost Grey
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    Pyrenees Midweight Black
    MUIR Cap Black

    Gary
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    SYKES PX 7" SHORT – OLIVE GREY
    TAHOE CL 5" BASE LINER – FROST GREY
    CASCADE SS T – HEATHER GREY
    MUIR CAP – CHARCOAL GREY

    John S.
  • If I won I would choose the following

    Sykes PS 7" Short – Frost Grey – MD
    Tahoe CL 5" Base Liner – Frost Grey – MD
    Pyrenees T19 LS Hooded Shirt – Heather Navy (Light Weight) – LG
    Arapahoe Cap – Black

    Jamie M
  • Outfit that looks good to me and would be awesome to win, Cascade T Heather Gray, Prospect PX2 in Navy, Tahoe CL 7" in gray, and Muir Charcoal gray hat. Thanks for doing the contest and video.

    Kenny Finch
  • Cascade White
    Graves Da Short
    Big bed trucker
    Tahoe 3”

    Matt Glendenning
  • Sykes px 5” – black
    Tahoe cL 3” base liner – black
    Cascade SS T – heather grey
    Muir Cap – Grey

    David Q
  • Sykes px 5” – black
    Tahoe cL 3” base liner – black
    Cascade SS T – heather grey
    Muir Cap – white

    Matthew Young
  • If I were to lucky enough to win then I’d kindly ask for the Sykes 5" in jet black, the Tahoe CL 8" base liner in frost grey, the Cascade SS T in heather grey and the Muir Cap in black…please! :-)

    Harry Melville
  • Sykes 5” in Olive Grey (don’t have this color yet), Tahoe 3”, Cascade SS – Olive Grey, Big Bend Trucker – Black

    Greg Sisengrath

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