At least 45 people turned up to a full parking lot at Grouse Mountain to do our third training run: the 'character builder'. As usual at this time of year, the temperature at the parking lot was mild (about 9 degrees C) and it was overcast and spitting. This was just a mild foreshadow of what was to come.
One of my favourite things about doing the Knee Knacker training is to keep looking back at previous runs and judge my progress. Without fail, I can say the previous run was easier and I feel stronger each week. That is, assuming I am staying healthy and well rested. This Sunday was no exception. After power walking most of the 11 km up Old Grouse Mountain Highway and withstanding the rain and cold wind at the ski runs I felt more than ready to descend down the BCMC trail.
I’m sure there was at least 8 feet of snow in places still up there. It was a bit surreal coming up the road surrounded by huge heaps of snowplowed snow and a bit chilly too as the wind whistled through the dirty white corridors.
On the way up, Donald and I had watched Carolyn and Neil slowly pull away from us with their very steady running pace. But at the same time we caught up with Laddie. Laddie was completing several days of workouts and I’m sure she appreciated our company to add energy to her climb. Talking with friends always seems to make the time go faster too. (I learned that from John Machray.) And, speaking of John, just as we were getting to the top of Grouse he and 4 of 5 others were heading right back down the same route. That would be considered the long way home for sure unless they were instead going to the bottom of the Cut to take a different route as John had suggested at the beginning of the day.
Of course, my little group and me were thankful to have a stop at the Grouse Chalet for hot coffee and a bit of a rest before our last leg down. Laddie had enough so with the help of Kathy (who showed up minutes behind us) she acquired a complete set of new, dry clothes from the Grouse Outfitters shop (okay, just new pants but I know what she was wishing).
Laddie and her friend Felecia headed for the Skyride as Kathy, Donald and I scurried around in the falling wet snow to find the BCMC trailhead. As usual for this time of year, the first bit of the BCMC trail was slippery but lots of fun. Donald saw me fall for the second time, doh. Of course, it wasn’t my fault because I was simply trying to avoid crashing into Kathy. I’m not sure she realized that but it really is true! In fact, Kathy was so fast and focused heading down the trail that she probably didn’t pay much attention at all to my stumbling and babbling as I worked hard to keep up with her. For those of you who haven’t yet been down the BCMC trail, imagine a 1000’ freefall down a zig-zaggy and muddy path complete with loose rock, a bzillion slippery roots and nowhere to go but down if you get off course. And it’s made even more fun by running the entire length without stopping!
It was still raining on us at the bottom and, as usual, it felt great to stop. After chatting for a bit outside the Grouse Grind gate we returned to our cars and found the parking lot almost empty. A quick change to some dry clothes and I was in my car and ready for a nice warm bath. My car thermometer still read 9 degrees. Another run well done and enjoyed immensely!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Next week we are making a change to the schedule. We will meet at Cleveland Dam and run up Hollyburn toward Cypress Bowl. This is to avoid the trail race that is happening between Grouse and Deep Cove that morning. The following week we will return to Deep Cove and Grouse Mountain to do the Last Half run.
Thanks to Monty, Peter and Ean for volunteering today. And thanks to everyone for watching out for everyone else and making it a safe and enjoyable day on the trail.
Craig Moore
e-mail me with our feedback form