Chasing Elevation: Lessons From the Ups and Downs
Every climb builds patience, every descent teaches trust — that’s the real lesson of chasing elevation.
More than a number
Runners love talking about elevation. It’s the number that makes a run look epic on Strava, even if it’s just a few loops up and down a local hill. But elevation isn’t just about numbers or bragging rights. It’s a teacher. Every climb, every descent, has something to offer if you’re paying attention.
The ups
Climbing forces you to slow down. It’s humbling. You can’t fake fitness when the trail tilts up — lungs and legs will tell the truth straight away. But that’s why I love it. Each climb builds strength and aerobic capacity, but it also builds patience.
On Prague’s trails you won’t find endless alpine climbs, but you’ll get punchy little ascents that demand respect: the gullies in Modřany, the ridges above Chuchle, the sneaky steps in Prokop Valley. They may only last a few minutes, but string enough together and you’ll know you’ve worked.
Watch the climb
Tip: climb with your lungs, not your ego. If you’re gasping after the first minute, you’ve gone too hard. Settle in, shorten your stride, and think “relaxed power.”
The downs
If the ups are about patience, the downs are about trust. Running downhill requires letting go — trusting your body, your balance, your reflexes. Technical descents sharpen your footwork, while flowy ones teach you rhythm and courage.
Descending is also where the biggest mistakes happen: overstriding, braking too much, or letting fear stiffen you up. That’s when injuries show up. But if you find that sweet spot — quick, light steps, letting gravity do its thing — it’s pure flow.
Watch the descent
Tip: short stride, fast feet. Think of your legs as shock absorbers, not brakes.
Training for elevation anywhere
Not everyone lives next to mountains. But vert is where you find it.
- Hill repeats: pick a short climb and run it multiple times.
- Stairs: brutal but effective.
- Treadmill: set incline, forget pace.
- Stacking vert: combine short climbs on your local trails until the elevation quietly adds up.
Chuchle's Grove trail run: 11 kilometres with 420 metres of runnable elevation (3 × 2-kilometre hill repeats, GPX).
The point isn’t to match alpine vert. It’s to build the strength and confidence to handle whatever comes your way.
Lessons from the ups and downs
From the ups: discipline, patience, strength. From the downs: trust, letting go, adaptability.
Resilience isn’t built on the flats. It comes from facing the trail when it tilts against you.
Lessons from the ups and downs is a part of The Way of the Trail Runner: footwork on technical ground, pacing a long climb, and what to do at the top.
Wrap-up
Chasing elevation isn’t about building the biggest number on Strava. It’s about what the hills teach you along the way. Next time you see a climb, don’t curse it. Chase it.
