Legs and Hills Workout
on Dec 02, 2018, Updated Feb 17, 2019
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For this leg builder conditioning workout, we’ve got some circuit training featuring some killer leg-building strength exercises paired with 5 minutes of hill climbs on the treadmill. Hill running is great for building strength and endurance in the legs and glutes and can help improve your all-around fitness.
Leg Killer Workout
This workout starts off with 5 minutes of hills on the treadmill. From there, it’s right into 3 rounds of dumbbell step-ups, squats, box jumps and skater jumps followed by another 5 minute run. Once you’re done the second run, it’s straight into the second leg builder circuit of deadlifts, lunges, wall sits and glute bridges.
You’ll finish things off with a final 5 minute run and you’re done. Work through everything at a steady pace, resting as needed. You’re gonna hate me for the wall sits and 8% hill run…but you’ll thank me when you’re done!
Here’s how it looks:
5 Minute Hill Run
- 1 minute each at the following inclines 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%
Choose a speed that is challenging but doable for the 1 minute at an 8% incline. It will feel easy at first but should get quite difficult as the incline increases. The goal is to maintain your speed for the full 5 minutes. I ran at 7 mph. I’d suggest somewhere between 6 and 8 mph depending on your fitness levels.
Leg Circuit #1
Complete 3 Rounds of:
- Alternating Dumbbell Step-Up x 20
- Goblet Squat x 20
- Box Jumps x 20
- Skater Jumps x 20
—- Repeat the 5 Minute Hill Run —-
Leg Circuit #2
Complete 3 Rounds of:
- Deadlifts x 10
- Dumbell Reverse Lunges x 20
- Wall Sit x 40 Seconds
- Elevated Glute Bridges x 20 (feet on box or bench)
—- Repeat the 5 Minute Hill Run —-
Equipment Needed
- Treadmill for the hill runs.
- 1 moderate set of dumbbells for the step-ups and lunges. Don’t go too heavy on these. They should be challenging but you shouldn’t have to break them up at all. I used 25 lb. dumbbells.
- 1 slightly heavier dumbbell or kettlebell for the goblet squats. Again, choose a weight you can complete for 20 reps without resting. I used a 16 kg kettlebell.
- Box or bench for the box jumps and glute bridge. I used a 20-inch box.
- Barbell for the deadlifts. These can be a little bit heavier since you’re only doing 10 reps. I used 155 lbs. If you don’t have access to a barbell or heavier weights, you can do 10 single-leg heavier deadlifts per leg or 20 dumbbell or kettlebell deadlifts.
More Workouts
Loving this leg strength workout? Give these a try too:
High-Intensity Lower Body Circuit Workout // Leg and Core Strength Workout // Push, Pull, Legs and Core Superset Workout // 30 Minute Full-Body Superset Workout // 35 Minute Treadmill and Barbell Workout
Another great, butt-kicking workout. With just one modification and permission to slow it down on the run, I completed this leg-killing training exercise in about 40 minutes. This one is definitely going in my regular rotation. Hills are speed work in disguise.
Yes!! So good, isn’t it. Those hills are KILLER!!! Way to get through it!