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Uphill Running and Power Hiking | Trail Running Basics

Uphill Running and Power Hiking | Trail Running Basics

BY PATH PROJECTS MAY 10, 2019

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, BASE LINERS, 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, BASE LINERS, SHIRT AND HAT'' 1 WINNER WILL BE PICKED AT RANDOM BY 5/14/19. Terms and conditions

 

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108 comments

Hey, I never did see a comment on here saying who won the bundle. Did y’all ever get someone chosen? Best of luck to all!

Ryan,

BRIM FT 9" SHORT – STONE

TAHOE CL 5" BASE LINER – BLACK

CASCADE SS T – HEATHER NAVY

ZION CAP – FROST GREY

Ron Slangen,

I would love to run SD100 in the following kit:

Sykes PX 7” Shorts in black
Tahoe CL 5” base liner in black
TRN x Path Rockies shirt
Big Bend trucker cap in black

See you at the finish line!

Antonio Carranza,

Sykes 5" black coupled with a 3" Tahoe base, topped off with a grey Pyrenees midweight and white Muir cap!

David Soukup,

Love PATH shorts! The most comfortable shorts I’ve ever had.
If I win, I’d like to get:

GRAVES DA 7" SHORT – BLUE BLACK,
TAHOE CL 5" BASE LINER – BLACK,
CASCADE SS T – HEATHER NAVY,
MUIR CAP – BLACK

John ,

5” shorts and liners, the hat and that baseball type shirt

John Goldfield,

Hat: Muir Cap – Charcoal Grey

Shirt: Cascade SS T – Olive Grey (m)

Baseliner – Tahoe CL 5" Base Liner Black (m)

Short – Graves 7" DA Short – Light Grey (m)

Matt Davis,

Heard great things about Path and would love to try it out. Have some great trail running trips coming up this summer that would be great to test these on!

SYKES PX 7" SHORT – JET BLACK – s
SHASTA HX 8" BASE LINER – BLACK – s
PYRENEES T19 LS HOODED SHIRT – BLACK (LIGHT WEIGHT) – s
BIG BEND TRUCKER CAP – BLACK

Brian Walters,

Path projects is by far the best brand of running gear I’ve ever owned. I absolutely love my Billy Yang collaboration shirt. My ideal outfit would be:

Tahoe CL 5” base liner – black – size medium
Muir Cap – black or grey
Skyes PX 7” short – black – medium
Pyrenees T19 LS Hooded Shirt – size small – Heavy Navy

Kyle Grogan,

Shorts:
SYKES PX 5" SHORT – OLIVE GREY
Baseliners:
TAHOE CL 8" BASE LINER – BLACK
Shirt:
CASCADE SS T – OLIVE GREY
Hat:
ARAPAHOE CAP – BLACK

Igor,

Madre Sleeveless in White – L
Sykes Short 5” in black – M
Tahoe Base in black – M
Muir Cap – Black

Ting Tang,

Cascade ss t black large
Sykes 5 inch short black medium
Tahoe cl 5 inch black liner medium
Arapahoe cap black

Sam,

I have some trail running/peak bagging trips planned for this summer so some new gear would be ideal. Either way, keep up the good work!

Madre Sleeveless in Grey- L
Sykes Short 5” in black- L
Tahoe Base in black – L
Muir Cap – Black

Daniel Moncada,

SYKES PX 7" SHORT – OLIVE GREY
TAHOE CL 8" BASE LINER – BLACK
CASCADE SS T – HEATHER GREY
ZION CAP – FROST GREY

Gary Roberts,

Sykes 5”
Tahoe 3”
Cascade SS
Muir Hat

Brandon R,

Prospect PX2 8” short jet black
Tahoe CL 5” base liner frost grey
Cascade SS T white
Muir Cap charcoal grey

Chris,

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