hill hater

one of the reasons it's been so hard for me to keep on track since i've been home is that i still haven't joined a gym. the housing search has been really difficult this time around and i don't want to choose a gym until i know what part of town i'll be living in, so i'm still hitting the bodyweight circuits. being gym-less has its advantages though...for instance, getting me more addicted than ever (in a masochistic sort of way) to the exercise that i love to hate: hill sprints. i've been doing lots of them lately and nothing seems to give me such a substantial kick in the butt. they are the perfect form of interval training for me right now because even if i had a gym, i'd struggle with the idea of getting on a bike indoors when we're in the midst of a glorious portland summer. but not only do i get to be outside while i get my exercise done. hill sprints are free, fast, and most of all effective. there are several great hills all over portland, so i just do a quick turbulence training bodyweight circuit and head out the door in search of the nearest hill. i tend to only be able to make it through 4 or 5. it usually takes me about 15 minutes to run up and walk down 5 times. not going to lie, i find hill sprints to be pretty painful. but the pain is short-lived and, in terms of getting the most workout in in the shortest amount of time, they pretty much can't be beat. if you've never given them a try, it might be time...