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I live in a hilly neighborhood, so even an easy training day involves altitude changes of at least 200 feet. I train specifically, so that some days I am taking the hills while trying to maintain pace. That said, I'm not going to give myself a heartattack trying to run a steep hill while maintaining pace. Based on this and race experience (don't judge recent times -- I used to be a lot fitter and a lot faster), my recommendation is to take the hills by trying to keep your exertion constant -- slow down as necessary while running the hills, and save your energy for after you are past the hills (of course you're free to run faster downhill). If you're finished with the hills by the fourth mile or so, you should have plenty of juice left to pick up the pace through the finish.
Surfing Vol
"Victory through attrition!"
Charleston Half-Marathon 1/15/2011 -- 1:52:03
The Scream! Half-Marathon 7/16/2011 -- 1:56:00
Thanks for the advice. I tried to maintain an even effort throughout. I started at around 7:50/mi pace which is what I would be able to maintain on a flat course. I hit the first steep hill and got over it well. It was short. Again, maintained the 7:50 pace to the 2nd hill. I hit the 2nd steep hill (200ft) and slowed down but didn't have to walk. I made it to the top and flew down the hill to try to make up time. After the decline, I again was able to maintain around an 8min/mi pace. I hit the last steep hill (200ft but steeper than 1st). I pretty much walked it as did everyone else around me. This is a killer hill. After cresting, I took some water and tried to keep a good pace, but I felt fried. I barely maintained 8:50 pace through the small rolling hills that followed. However, the last 200 yrds or so were flat so I gunned it and was running between 7min and 6min mi pace.
It seems like it went well, I finished in 53:31, which was 30 secs more than my goal so I'm pleased. I ran this race 2 yrs ago, which was my first one since overcoming some chronic pain issues. At that 1st race I ran in 1:10 so this was a HUGE improvement. Thanks again for all the advice and tips. 
Enrique
Nothing wrong with walking (or crawling -- been there, done that) a steep incline. We need a better word than "hill" to describe something that steep. "Cliff" sounds like a straight drop. "Steep vertical ascent" sounds like a mountain-climber term.
Congratulations on the time!
Surfing Vol
"Victory through attrition!"
Charleston Half-Marathon 1/15/2011 -- 1:52:03
The Scream! Half-Marathon 7/16/2011 -- 1:56:00
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