Good place to do hill sprints? (Woodland, Culver City: college, disposal, to live in)

[subPrimeTime]

I'm looking to do more running on hills, preferably sprints (not hiking). So, basically I'd sprint up the hill, then walk down, then sprint up again...repeat until puking.

Anybody know of good locations around LA (other than actual street sidewalks on hilly streets)? I'm on the westside, but don't mind driving anywhere that has long stretches of grass/dirt hills.

[Troof]

I've done hill sprints at Debs Park... Kinda a jaunt for you, but will definitely suffice.

Easy parking -- inside the park entrance or on the street on Griffin Ave near where it meets Montecito Drive. Plenty of different gradients for you to give it a go... Deep inside the trails there is a paved gradient pitched at I'd say 30-40 degrees. I almost blew chunks.

Another potential option:
I've only visited Culver City Park once, but it would be worth checking out -- given your proximity. It's near the intersection of Duquesne Ave and Culver Blvd. I know they have a hilly hiking trail there, so you may find some spots...

[BRinSM]

i would check out the 4th st. stairs in santa monica. 5 or 10 times up these bad boys and you'll be close to puking.

[Troof]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

i would check out the 4th st. stairs in santa monica. 5 or 10 times up these bad boys and you'll be close to puking.

True, true. Was thinking of those as well, but I think the OP wants a bit more space to "roam free". (Sounds like he or she may be doing HIIT training or something along those lines)

The stairs tend to be filled with impeding traffic from all the soccer moms. Not that I'm complaining...

[subPrimeTime]

Thanks guys, yes I'm a male looking for different HIIT training-type spots. I've heard a lot about those stairs, but never been. Stairs are definitely tough.

It looks like Debs Park is off the 110, so it's a bit far from the westside. But I work downtown, so maybe I'll check it out after work...too bad it gets dark at 5:30 now.

[HayesSC]

I've used these forums a lot for moving, but I registered just to reply to this post because I was in the same boat when moving to LA a couple of years ago.

Believe it or not, Pierce College in Woodland Hills has some phenomenal hills to sprint. I'm an ex-college football player who still trains pretty hard, and I wanted some non-stairs hills to run, and Pierce has multiple hills, including one really long, steep one. You can check it out on Google Maps satellite view, but you basically have to drive in the main entrance, park outside the football "stadium," and walk around the far end of it. It's a little out of the way, and you probably have to do it in the evenings or early mornings to avoid student parking problems, but it's WAY less crowded than anything else anywhere in LA, and the hills are a quality run.

[Troof]

Originally Posted by subPrimeTime

Thanks guys, yes I'm a male looking for different HIIT training-type spots. I've heard a lot about those stairs, but never been. Stairs are definitely tough.

It looks like Debs Park is off the 110, so it's a bit far from the westside. But I work downtown, so maybe I'll check it out after work...too bad it gets dark at 5:30 now.

If you plan on following the strict periodic intervals of a HIIT program, I wouldn't go to the stairs. It's sort of an uncontrollable environment -- Lots of people that can clog the passageway. Save the stairs for an informal "fun" day

In Debs you basically have the lay of the land at your disposal, as there are very few fellow patrons; so you will be able to follow the intervals with pinpoint precision -- If you so desire, of course. Depends on how strict you plan on adhering to the program.

If you're coming from downtown, it's possible to get to Debs without having to get on the 110 which can be a clusterf*ck. PM if you want directions, as I used to live in that vicinity.

[UB50]

What about Elysian Park? Or Griffith Park? Elysian is near Dodger Stadium and it's built on very hilly ground.

[bhcompy]

I do my incline sprints in a classically designed southern Californian concrete flood control channel(formerly known as Coyote Creek).

[Caladium]

Back when I lived there, athletes used to do sprints up and down the tall sand dune in sand dune park in Manhattan Beach. It's in the north part of town, about a quarter mile from the ocean. It's a little difficult to find but you'll have plenty of room. Not many people know about it. (Double check that it's still there--this was ten years ago.)