Any hills in Oxford?(/good running routes)

10

Hmm. Je suis en une petit pickle.

I want to take up doing some HIIT (high intesity interval training) in Oxford, and I would really like a hill to do it on. Can anybody think of any relatively quiet hills with a fair amount of gradient near central Oxford? The surface doesn't matter particularly, I just need to be able to run fast without having to stop to let people pass me or anything.

Also any nice running routes or places in general would be appreciated (anything from 3-10k preferabbly, but any suggestions are welcome).

Thanks guys :smile:

Reply 1

SolInvictus

11

The area has a few rolling hills around it, but nothing serious like around Sheffield.

Reply 2

economist_robinson

7

When I was there for my interview I went running in Christ Church Meadows (beautiful, i heartily recommend it) - I too was in search of a hill, but couldn't find any :frown:

Reply 3

Eternal Dreams

Drop me a PM Alive and I should be able to help you. There are a good few around but your normally have to run out a little to get to them.

South Parks are really good and don't tend to be that busy and there ar ea couple of alternatives around there. If you're willing to jog out for say 25 minutes or so then there is Boar's Hill.

Lots of fun runs in Oxford - just need to know where to look. If you drop me a PM giving me a few more details like whether it needs to be close etc. then I can probably help you out.

Reply 4

Eternal Dreams

oh and if you're training seriously then you don't necessarily need hills at all!

regarding CC meadows- went down there for a jog with my friend once and he was promptly exhausted by the time we got there and did a lap so said he'd wait whilst I did my second. Whilst running I saw a friend whose insanely good (if you think you're good- compared to this guy you aren't!) out jogging- got back to my friend and he asked "did you see the guy sprinting like crazy?!?" - hard to break it to him that the other guy had just been jogging!

Reply 5

Franc Vouloir

11

"Keep clear of Boar's Hill ..."!

(Sorry.)

Reply 6

hobnob

14

Isn't there a hill in New College...?

Reply 7

thomasjtl

9

if you go up st. clements there's headington hill which has got a goot incline but not completely insane for running up. It's a long straight road with a wide pavement along it.

Reply 8

Cirsium

19

There's headington hill but also headington road - which I discovered when I made a wrong turn this morning (and got a flat tire for my pains grrrrr)

Reply 9

martin101

10

In Oxford itself there are precious few hills (partly why its so good to cycle in). That said just out of Oxford you have the headington hill - any cyclist's worst nightmare - lets just say its a pretty intense hill to climb! In terms of running there is a pretty sucessful university x country team so Id expect theres plenty of good runs available. The uni parks are always a good place to go running and they back onto open farmland type area so its quite pleasant.

Reply 10

talespirit

15

hobnob

Isn't there a hill in New College...?

I think you're refering to the squeaking hill (more like a mound)...it's hardly suitable for running as the steps look pretty dangerous to run on...and New College, i believe has lots of tourists (being one of them once). Unless there are other hills....

Reply 11

hobnob

14

talespirit

I think you're refering to the squeaking hill (more like a mound)...it's hardly suitable for running as the steps look pretty dangerous to run on...and New College, i believe has lots of tourists (being one of them once). Unless there are other hills....

Yes, I know. :wink:

I should probably have added a smiley somewhere to make it clear I wasn't being entirely serious. Oh well... :rolleyes:

Reply 12

talespirit

15

oh lol! yea...funny thing that squeaking hill....

Reply 13

talespirit

15

You want hills OP? Wanna come to Bristol? :biggrin:

Reply 14

meef cheese

10

Headington Hill is the obvious one. And what is that park called at the St Clements/Marston Road/Headington Road intersection called?

Reply 15

Cirsium

19

South Parks or Headington Parks depending on which one you're thinking of. Headington Parks are up the Headington Road, in between that and Marston Road. South Parks are at the top of Headington Hill (east not north) near the Brooks campus

Reply 16

Boolean Julian

8

if you want a nice run you can always go out to Shotover.

Reply 17

hobnob

14

On a completely unrelated note, I'm surprised nobody has made a "The Hills are Alive" joke yet... :biggrin:

Reply 18

heliotrope

1

talespirit

I think you're refering to the squeaking hill (more like a mound)...it's hardly suitable for running as the steps look pretty dangerous to run on...and New College, i believe has lots of tourists (being one of them once). Unless there are other hills....

no tourists (theoretically) by the mound as its students only. i wouldn't advise running up it though.

honestly though, there are pretty much no hills within the oxford ring road. there's a few little bumps here and there i guess, but not proper hills. or maybe i just have a strange perception of hills.

Reply 19

thomasjtl

9

st aldates is goes up something of a slope- not idea for running along though.

Any hills in Oxford?(/good running routes)

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