Can a 100-Foot Hill Prepare Me for Ultra Elevation Gains?
Been trail running since 2022 and completed a marathon and a 50-mile ultra with 10k+ ft of gain.
I took an 8-month break due to injuries and recently moved to Pensacola, Florida. Unsurprisingly, there's no significant elevation gain here—until I found this steep artificial hill (something you'd see on trails, but on the steeper side). It’s about 100–200 feet tall, and I’m wondering if I can get all my elevation training done on this thing.
I ABSOLUTELY HATE treadmills, so I’d rather lap this hill for 30 minutes once or twice a week for elevation gain. But I have a couple of concerns:
- The hill is pretty steep, and I already struggle with knee caving/weak knees. I worry my quads might burn out before I see any meaningful uphill strength gains.
- It’s only about 150 feet. Will this actually help me prepare for longer climbs (1+ hours), which are common in ultras?
Is this a viable way to train for elevation gain? Anything else I should consider?
P.S. I strength train once a week but my knee cave/valgus is a weak point.