I've learned since taking up running over the last 18 months that "undulating" when applied by a race director to a race description means "this course is positively mountainous, but if I write that no-one will come, so I'll pretend that it's made up of nice, gentle, rolling slopes... heh heh"
Agree with wee piglet, this description can cover basically flat ground with a few non-level bits to courses with hills that climbers would be proud to achieve!
The best thing to do is to try and look at a map which shows contours etc, this at least gives you some idea as to the flatness (or not). Multimap on line is very useful.
I've noticed that 'undulating' comes just before 'challenging' in the scale of hillyness, after that they give the ascent in feet as they're fell races.
Hmmm. I'm a bit worried about this, guys. Being utterly race phobic as I am (a lot to with with 70s PE teachers), I've only just agreed to do a couple of 10ks (prep for Silverstone and then Berlin: they're a long way from home and don't count). Now I got the entry forms today and one of the 10ks is definately described as 'challenging.'
I don't like the sound of this.
I mean, living in Wales, I ought really to be able to run up lamposts by now, it's so hilly: but all our local hills have done so far is show me that hill=shagged out hyper-slow Mim.
What you have to learn about Welsh races is that they tend to use the English terminology. So challenging to them = fairly flat to anyone who does their training in our part of the world. Anyway, hills are good cos when you get to the top there's a downhill to get your breath back.
Action Heart 6 is challenging, DB. And it's in England--so there's hope!!! I hadn't thought that Dudley hills are mere hiccups compared with the proper Welsh sort. Although I do remember Dudley as being a bit on the vertical side, but the last time I was there was in my unfit pubcrawling days, so it's probably a lot flatter now it's not spinning and rising up to meet me.
On the other hand, out local Llandudno Twin Piers race is described as 'flat' even though there's a killer hill after the first mile.
The Buxton half marathon is described as 'challenging', after the race I measured the ascent and worked out that it would be a category C fell race if it wasn't on roads.
Actually have just checked the Action Heart website for last year's results and the last finisher was 1:46. Many of the runners look to be beginner ladies and Action Heart runners.
When faced with a challenging undulation in training, I try to run up it as fast as possible and am destroyed at the top, and have to take a rest
if I haven't reached peak performance by race day, am I better off doing the same, bolsted by the knowledge that it'll be easier on the other side, or should I walk up the hill and conserve my energy?
Ermintrude: no I haven't done it, I'm still at the just about doing 10k stage. I'm thinking of the Potteries half mara / half mara walk though. Are you interested? I have walked up Porthill bank, and the thought of facing it at a run aftre 18 miles makes me feel like crying! I could roll down it though :-)
has anyone done the Edinburgh Marathon? It too is describes as undulating. The last time I was in Edinburgh was during a drunken binge at the Fringe and I think I remeber a few hills...I am starting to re train after having time out from an injury and do not fancy a load of hill work! Someone tell it like it is please!!!!???
The Blenheim Palace runs are generally termed 'undulating'. They tend to be more or less constantly up and down - but in a relatively gentle way. Nothing too extreme - that would be 'hilly' and very little level running. I did my first 10k at Blenheim and found the 'undulations' a good excuse for a bit of a look around the fantastic views (ie I walked over each 'peak'. However, it does give you a good opportunity to lengthen your stride a little on the way down without any additional effort!
Comments
I've learned since taking up running over the last 18 months that "undulating" when applied by a race director to a race description means "this course is positively mountainous, but if I write that no-one will come, so I'll pretend that it's made up of nice, gentle, rolling slopes... heh heh"
I hope this helps! :-)
The best thing to do is to try and look at a map which shows contours etc, this at least gives you some idea as to the flatness (or not). Multimap on line is very useful.
I don't like the sound of this.
I mean, living in Wales, I ought really to be able to run up lamposts by now, it's so hilly: but all our local hills have done so far is show me that hill=shagged out hyper-slow Mim.
Hmmmm.
What you have to learn about Welsh races is that they tend to use the English terminology. So challenging to them = fairly flat to anyone who does their training in our part of the world. Anyway, hills are good cos when you get to the top there's a downhill to get your breath back.
Accentuate the positive, ignore the negative.
On the other hand, out local Llandudno Twin Piers race is described as 'flat' even though there's a killer hill after the first mile.
Evidently this is all relative . . .
Looks like I've got two months to run up every hill I can find.
Not that I'll have to look very far. Sigh. . .
Oh well. I did say I wanted to run the Snowdon Marathon one day. Start as you mean to go on, I suppose.
So I'll stop worrying, I think.
Bed.
if I haven't reached peak performance by race day, am I better off doing the same, bolsted by the knowledge that it'll be easier on the other side, or should I walk up the hill and conserve my energy?
I have walked up Porthill bank, and the thought of facing it at a run aftre 18 miles makes me feel like crying! I could roll down it though :-)