I started bike commuting almost 1 year ago. On this one particular hill, the first "many" months of riding it, I was looking directly at the sidewalk and could actually watch an ant walk across in front of me. Yeah, I was really slow! But, so what, I made it up the hill...and, now, a year later, it's no big deal going up that hill. I knew that eventually I would get stronger...and I did. : )
About 20 years ago, I did Bike Virginia, the year they had the hardest ride ever. It was a miserable experience. I walked my bike up a hill. And swore I would never, ever do that again. Slow riding is so much better than walking.