Hills for training?

When my daughter ran cross country, I took her and her friend to the Indiana Dunes so they can run the sandy hills. An older gentleman told them that was smart because the kids who lived in the rural areas trained on hilly areas, and that helped them with their time on the flat lands. We lived in the flat lands! It really did help my daughter’s time improve.

On Sep 1, 2026, DramaK said:

When my daughter ran cross country, I took her and her friend to the Indiana Dunes so they can run the sandy hills. An older gentleman told them that was smart because the kids who lived in the rural areas trained on hilly areas, and that helped them with their time on the flat lands. We lived in the flat lands! It really did help my daughter’s time improve.

That is very smart.

Indiana Dunes can help build endurance in running not only because of the hills, but because running on sand is a whole different monster.

My wife and I visited Indiana Dunes National Park this past spring after I gave a public speaking engagement in South Bend, Indiana. We enjoyed it, but those dunes did a number on me and I’m from Southern Illinois where it’s really hilly.

Next time I go back, I’d like to go to Indiana Dunes State Park and do the 3 dune challenge but doing it by trail running.

On Sep 1, 2026, Shawn Gossman said:

That is very smart.

Indiana Dunes can help build endurance in running not only because of the hills, but because running on sand is a whole different monster.

My wife and I visited Indiana Dunes National Park this past spring after I gave a public speaking engagement in South Bend, Indiana. We enjoyed it, but those dunes did a number on me and I’m from Southern Illinois where it’s really hilly.

Next time I go back, I’d like to go to Indiana Dunes State Park and do the 3 dune challenge but doing it by trail running.

It’s a beautiful place and my husband and I used to go there to walk the trails. Is the 3 Dune challenge Trail 8? If so, it’s only a mile and a half but feels triple that amount!! My calves would burn not only on the big hill but all the stairs!

On Sep 1, 2026, DramaK said:

It’s a beautiful place and my husband and I used to go there to walk the trails. Is the 3 Dune challenge Trail 8? If so, it’s only a mile and a half but feels triple that amount!! My calves would burn not only on the big hill but all the stairs!

I don’t recall what trail number it was. But it was a challenging hike!

I hiked about 7ish miles at Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan the next day and really loved that park.

Indiana and Michigan are just expensive for out of state folks to visit their parks haha. Not used to that in Illinois. Our state parks are free for everyone, which is shocking being Illinois and all haha.