Definition of Hilly

Something that has made me think over the years is the age old question: what is a "hilly" run? We run, we rumble, we do hills and little undulations. But what is the definition of a hilly run? Finally, we have the answer!! The Steepness Index or STINker!!

This is worked out by taking the number of "feet of uphill" as a percentage of the "miles covered" in the run. For example, I have been doing a long, relatively flat, 9.40 mile run recently with an elevation of 337 feet. So the "Stinker" of 337/940 or 36%. The Petts Wood 10K, a fairly hilly race is 329 feet over 6.21 miles or 53%. A favourite hilly run in Biggin Hill is actually 7.74 miles long with uphill of 727 feet giving it a "Stinker" of 94%. We know this is a stinker and the index shows it.

However, when I did some recent coastal path running in preparation for our Cornwall adventures, I ran 4.66 miles covering 800 feet of climbing given it a Stinker of 172%. This is true hill running and Cornwall has plenty waiting for us next May. For the record, Day 3 of Hadrian's Wall was 15.74 miles and 2178 feet of uphill (a "stinker" of 138%).

So, under 50% = basically pretty flat, 50%-100% = getting fairly hilly, 100% to 150% = will be very strenuous and 150% - 200% = severe running test.