Editor’s note: This story is the second in a series following four La Jolla women in their training for the La Jolla Half and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. Reporter Kendra Hartmann is training alongside them and more than 300 others in the Team VAVi Running Club. It’s the 11th week of marathon training with the Team VAVi Running Club (TVRC), and we have (literally) started to pick up the pace. The long runs have gotten longer and the short runs have actually started to feel short. We made it past the eight-week mark, the point at which coach Blake Miller told us our chances of finishing would be greatly increased. Moreover, in addition to longer mileage, the program has its participants, including yours truly, training for the dreaded inevitable: hills. In anticipation of the La Jolla Half Marathon (LJHM) on April 17, Miller has been subjecting us to hill runs. The La Jolla Half, as some well know, is known for being one of the most challenging half marathons in Southern California due to a grueling, 1.2-mile climb up 420 feet through Torrey Pines State Park between miles six and seven, among other smaller hills. A quick Internet search for reviews of this race begets a flurry of entries such as “This race is not for the faint of heart,” “I had no idea how crazy the hills were until race day” and “By far the toughest run I have ever done in my life.” So, with the horror stories in mind, we have all come to rely on Miller’s words of wisdom. “You will all be passing people on the Torrey Pines hill, and do you know why?” Miller said to us at one group run. “Because we’re training on hills!” I can’t speak for my running club peers, but I know I have repeated those words over and over to myself as I have struggled up the hills, recently incorporated into our training regimen. While I heaved myself up the roughly 200-foot climb along Pershing Drive in Balboa Park, I imagined passing other runners on race day. As I shuffled up Prospect Street toward Torrey Pines Boulevard in La Jolla, I struggled to remind myself how good it would feel to push past the under-trained. It became clear that as my body began to give up, my imagination would have to pick up the slack. After all, they say long-distance running is at least as much mental as it is physical. In addition to the inclusion of hills into our long runs, Miller has also introduced an exhausting (though, admittedly kind of fun) little drill called “hill repeats” into our routine. After a short four-mile run around the hills in Balboa Park, the group convenes for a post-workout workout. Miller corrals us at the bottom of a grassy hill, while co-coach Robert Mitchell stands at the top of the hill. When Miller blows a whistle, we run hard up the hill and jog back down. Miller has regularly reminded us that while going up hills is hard, going down can be equally as hard — especially when a downhill stint is followed by yet another incline. During our hill-training sessions, he preached to not let gravity do all the work on a decline, as it may cause our muscles to cramp once the terrain levels off or, in the case of the last mile of the La Jolla Half, goes back up. “I always see people just flying down that long hill, but when they get to the uphill on Prospect Street, they’re limping up it,” he told us. “Just do yourselves a favor and exercise some control on that decline.” So, should you find yourself in La Jolla this Sunday, please cheer on all the runners who have taken on the daunting challenge that is the La Jolla Half Marathon. And if you happen to be on the course between miles six and seven in Torrey Pines State Park, please cheer extra loud. We’re going to need it. Following their progress With the steady increase in intensity over the last few weeks of the TVRC program, the La Jolla Village News checked in with our La Jollan running ladies to see how they’re handling the hills: betsy franklin Age: 56 Occupation: Business process and customer management specialist “I think my training is going pretty darn well and I’m really surprised at how natural and easy it seems. It’s not quite fun yet, but it doesn’t hurt anymore! I do a hill everyday because I live at the bottom of Nautilus and hike up it several times a week. I guess I’m kind of surprising myself as it’s getting easier. Coach Blake told us we’re not going to be the last ones to finish. I think it wasn’t until the last few runs that I actually believed him!” danielle kochman Age: 28 Occupation: Transit planner “If you asked me a few weeks ago, I thought I was going to [achieve a personal record at Boston], but now I am just really nervous. However, I am excited we are doing hill workouts. I love running hills! I find it much less boring than running on flat ground.” — Kochman is training for the April 18 Boston Marathon. shannon mulvihill Age: 50 Occupation: Computer consultant “I can only walk fast right now, because I’ve been having a hard time breathing. Yesterday I walked about four miles, and I was happy I could do that. It was not the fastest four miles I ever walked, but it was inspiring for me to get back there.” — In our last story, we reported Mulvihill sustained injuries to her ribs. The injuries were more serious than she originally thought, and she had to drop out of the running club. She is recovering and plans to participate in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in June. Get well Shannon! celeste phillips Age: 23 Occupation: Real estate assistant “I’m feeling good about the long runs. I can’t say that I love the hill workouts, but I’m glad that they will help us prepare for La Jolla. Recently I was looking over the training schedule and starting to get a bit nervous. I thought to myself ‘Oh no! What have I gotten myself into?’ But I think that VAVi’s coaches have crafted a plan that will really help us to be ready for Rock ‘n’ Roll.”