Running Nighttime Hills

My 20-year-old son has me running hills at night.  He says shocking the body with different workouts is good.  He makes me stretch and when the sun goes down and cooler temperatures prevail in Southern California, he trots me out like an old horse fetching water at the top of the hill.

Turns out, it's great fun!  Running up the hills feels great. Once we reach the top of the hill, it feels like a huge accomplishment.

Coming back down the hills, not so great.  It's harder on my knees.  He's much younger than me, so it's easier on his knees.  So, while he runs down the hills, I walk down.  Then, I run back up the hill again.

At the end of our workout, we stretch again by the side of the road looking like a couple of worn-out hitchhikers.  No rides have been offered yet.

According to a recent study, there are benefits to short, intense exercise workouts in periods as short as seven minutes a few times a week.

Can you imagine?

That would cut hours off my workouts and steady stream of exercise.

If I cut back that far I worry that I would lose much of the progress I've made in strength training and my overall fitness.  Although I do agree in mixing it up now and then with different exercise routines.

For now, substituting my solo jog alone in exchange for short runs of the hills with my son seems to be working.  Whatever I do, I plan to keep moving!