Forums >Running 101>Can Downhill Running Improve Leg Speed?
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Hill work is a common and excellent form of speed work. It greatly strengthens the leg muscles which increases stride length (speed) and it does so with little stress on the legs....
Stronger legs also reduces the amount of time your feet spend on the ground before push off, again adding to speed. Downhill running even with good form is incredibly hard on the legs. That's why the Boston Marathon is so challenging even for elite runners.
I've included a few links on the benefits of hill running. The only mention of downhill running in any of them is to ease muscle soreness with eccentric training, not as a form of speed work. Hill Training Eight Hill Workouts for Blazing Run Speed Uphill Battle
I hear about Boston and I hear about trail ultras, and I gotta wonder, what do trail runners do differently from road runners.