The dread of the Grind knotted my stomach while I stirred between the sheets on Saturday morning. I felt some regret for having agreed to do the hike with Ilse. Back in March, it seemed a good idea but now reality was seeping in with the morning sunlight.
It is easily eight years since I last did the Grind. That summer M and I would hike up Grouse Mountain every other Wednesday night - and I didn't enjoy one of them. Grouse Grind is the outdoor stairmaster which takes you the cheap and hard way up the mountain. After that summer I decided I really didn't need to do this again - there are saner ways to get fit. Now here I was, lacing up to support a first timer.
Keep in mind this is not a walk in the park nor a hike on undulating trails but a climb straight up - one stair after the other. You feel it within the first ten minutes. It only gets harder and the last quarter of the hike is the hardest and most arduous. This is not a peaceful hike in the forest appreciating nature. Grinders take their hike seriously and time is crucial - so don't get in the way - you may just experience the less polite side of Vancouverites.
Our husbands were roped in to join us for our 7am start on the busy trail. By the defining ten minute mark, Ilse was taking strain. At twenty minutes, with some encouragement, she surrendered and offered to buy everyone coffee. This was far worse than she anticipated and, besides which, she wasn't fully over her bronchitis. All the more reason to go for extra hot, no fat, no foam chai lattés. Sipping our Starbucks speciality drinks and talking with fellow South Africans about the challenges of emigrating is certainly a saner way to start a Saturday.
The morning was still young at 8:45 when we said our goodbyes and headed for our car. I looked at M, "Should we?". "Do you want to?" he asked. We're here, we're dressed for it, we've got our water, it's still early - let's do it. We did an about turn and headed for the mountain. Doing the Grind is all about time. It's the Comrades Marathon of hikes. M started the timer on his watch and the challenge was on.
Being a retired runner of marathons, M's advice was to take a sure and steady pace - don't start too fast and avoid bursts of energy. I followed his advice with steady steps. Our first break was at thirty-three minutes, a record for us! I pressed on leading the way. When I stepped aside to let a faster hiker pass me, I used the opportunity to slow my breathing down. The best reward was three quarters into the hike when I looked back at M and saw his flushed face. I wasn't holding him back. I had set a good pace. We finished in 1hr09 - a great time for our first Grind in eight years. We were elated.
There are a few reasons why this Grind was more successful than the ones we did eight years ago - but more about those reasons another time. Suffice to say, I'm eager to take on the Grind again - I'd like to break the sixty minute barrier. So you may see my red face on the ever popular North Shore hike again soon.
