Seek The Peak is 13 km of fitness bragging rights. Test your fitness and overall mental toughness alone or tackle the awe-inspiring 1,400 m climb as a team. Every upward step, from Ambleside Park to the Peak of Vancouver, raises valuable funds for the BC Cancer Foundation’s lifesaving work against breast cancer."
As an agent licensed with VPG REALTY, I'm stoked to be able to give back to the running and athletic community locally. Grouse Mountain has been a playground for my family and I for many years, and continues to be the only fitness we get during the Summer months (on the Grind!)
FROM ONE FELLOW GRINDER TO ANOTHER//TIP #1
Q: HOW DO YOU GET FASTER ON THE GRIND?
A: There is no simple solution, it's not all about fitness. Every year I tell myself I'll smash my old 2007 time of 28:09... but the seasons change faster than my ability to conquer that goal. I start my 'grind season' out fairly out-of-shape and overweight. It's never easy, no grind EVER is. However, there is one guiding principle I follow on almost every grind I do (excluding when I carry my 2 yr old up). CONSISTENT PACE is key! I spent 2 years back in 2010 honing my efforts on learning how to 'run' the grind without ever walking sections. This took tons of patience, as I felt the first year my times were very slow, as I stumbled up the grind doing what I would call "baby steps." I set a foundation for leg speed and the ability for my body to simply learn the pain of what it was like to run up the grind each time. Today, that foundation snaps back pretty quick... I now spend most of my efforts learning how to become more efficient with my steps and travel a bit quicker. Consistency in your pace is critical. You can easily waste energy increasing the pace in certain areas, and I tend to find it takes me too long to recover from these increases. Pick a pace, and try and hold it from top to bottom. Don't try and chase down every single person in front of you! Though passing casually grinders dressed in penny loafers and button-down shirts is amusing, it does nothing but burn valuable energy. Conserve and stay consistent. TRY IT A FEW TIMES... FEEL THE DIFFERENCE
photo by Salomon West Vancouver