Hill workouts are where pace goals go to die. Of course, you shouldn’t expect to hold the same clip on an incline as you would on flat ground, which is why some folks prefer to train by power instead of pace. To learn more about that, check out: “Should You Be Paying Attention to Watts? Here’s What Runners Need to Know About Training by Power.” Power, measured in watts, estimates your real-time effort from factors like pace, grade, stride mechanics, and sometimes air resistance. Holding a target wattage lets your pace rise and fall with the terrain without the same swings in effort. It can also help track efficiency: if you run faster at the same wattage, or hold the same pace with less power, that’s a good sign. One catch is that different devices use different algorithms, so compare your numbers against your own history rather than somebody else’s watch. Very steep trails can also throw the estimates off, making RPE a better guide. If all this talk of hills has you itching to test your legs, Ashley Arnold offers three options in “My 3 Favorite Hill Workouts to Make You a Stronger Runner.” Start with six to 10 all-out 15-second sprints on a 6% to 10% grade with full recovery, try her “Switching Gears” workout of steady running, brisk hiking, and a hard 30-second finish, or tackle four to six six-minute uphill tempo reps with easy jogs back down.

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