It won't take long. Just keep trying. Try not to dread it too much. That can make it worse!

In the meantime, can you go up the grade in a less direct way...maybe zig-zagging blocks that climb the hill? That way you'd have a a block of flat perpendicular to the hill, at an interval with a block of uphill. It would take you longer to get home, but it would make the hill easier while still increasing your fitness.

Good luck!

Karen