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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

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
Tahoe cl 5”- black
Rockies 3/4 raglan t – black
Zion cap – frost grey

Stephen George,

Graves DA shorts – black
Tahoe liner – gray
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!

Robert Lade,

SYKES PX 7” jet black sm
Tahoe 3”black sm
Rockies 3/4 grey black sm
Big bend trucker

PLEASE & THANK YOU

Geoffrey Law,

Sykes 7” Frost Grey
Tahoe CL 5” Frost Grey
Pyrenees Midweight Black
MUIR Cap Black

Gary,

I love wishlists….
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 ,

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