Yet Another Grind Update.

I apologise in advance for its tardiness. So, last week we did the Grind again and we each set a personal best. They were, in descending order:

DKBC=51:30
PK=48:35
And as for SB, yours truly:

Another Grind Update.

We did the Grind again last evening. I completed it in 40:56. While I didn't think I could actually beat 40 minutes this time, I was annoyed with myself for not having done so. Indeed, the first word out of my mouth after touching the post at the top was a four letter expletive that begins with F and ends with U-C-K. Apparently I need to do it again next week. Possibly even the week after. On a brighter note, congratulations are in order for PK who finally beat the 50 minute mark with an excellent 48:56.

Grind Update!

After my 44:41 time on the Grouse Grind, I wondered whether or not I would continue on or drink beer and eat poutine instead (never really thinking 'why not both?'). And, somewhat cockily, I asked Rob what he had in store for me? Well, soon after that he broke his 45 minute wall and finished in 44:48. While that didn't really frighten me (that much), it made me realise that my victory was not yet etched in the finest Italian marble with gold leaf to fill in the lettering and the silhouette of my face, so the next week it was back up the hill. I finished in 42:39 which I was obviously pleased with but as I thought about it more it became something of a curse, as I was now too close to the 40 minute mark to not have a crack at it. Onward and upward, this week's time was 41:33. I'll be happy when (if?) I beat 40 minutes. Because then I never have to do the Grind again. Go me!

The Grind

Alternate Title: My Cockiness and Stubbornness Pay Off!

Last summer a co-worker of mine was very pleased with himself for having completed the Grouse Grind in 44:50. And he should be pleased with himself as it is an excellent time. I'm not sure why but when I heard his time I told him that I would be beat him. At the time I was running somewhat irregularly and doing not too much else. I definitely wasn't doing the Grouse Grind a couple of times a week. Soon after that, two friends and I actually did the Grind and I finished in just over one hour. It seemed my cockiness was perhaps unwarranted and definitely premature. A couple weeks later I did it again and finished in 57 minutes. But, I was still determined to beat the 44:50 time. I'm stubborn like that. The first time I did it this year, along with my two motivator pace bunnies, who, lets not kid ourselves, after the first climb of the season, stopped doing their jobs very effectively, I finished in 52:46. I let my co-worker know but I also let him know that I still intended to beat him. The next week I finished in 49:50 or so, then after a two week hiatus, 47:40 or so. All the while I kept my co-worker informed of my improvements and took joy in his realisation that I would in fact beat him. Because I'm like that. This is where it became a little complicated. When I time myself it is from the post at the gate to the post at the base of the stairs to the lodge. But my co-worker's 44:50 time was from the post to the rock clearing, which is a bit shorter than to the post. He timed himself from rock to post, did it in 37 seconds, so we gave him a very unofficial time of 45:27, with an asterisk beside it. Last week, I did the Grind in 45:29, so close to the unofficial time I could have claimed victory and no record book would have stopped me. Thankfully, my co-worker did the right, honourable and proper thing, which was too go out the next night and set a new personal best of 45:15 thus removing the asterisk and giving me a target. Finally, today, I finished in 44:41, which, in case you hadn't noticed, is faster than the original time I set out to beat. Next week, I may do the Grind again. Or, I may go out for beer and poutine. I can't really say. So, Rob, what do you got for me now?

Grind!

2007 Grouse Grind Summit Series Leader Board after Day 1:

1. SB-52:46
2. PK-54:46
3. DKBC-55:20(?)