Training Run — Sunday, June 6, 2004
Grouse to Old Buck return, ~35 Km
I was asked to write a run report for this past training run, and thought to myself, “it’s a run! What’s to report!” Well, let me tell you, I learned a lot! You know when the veterans of the Kneeknacker tell you that this training run is a ‘character builder’ you’re in trouble.
The morning started out with about 30 of us. I did notice that there were a lot less regulars there than usual. Note to self! Although some of the runners did claim to forget the new start time of 7 am, I think they knew something about this run that some of us did not.
It all started out pretty normal. I kept thinking about what I was going to report on. The birds chirping, the friendly hikers and other runners going by, the rocks in front of me, and the fact that I was out of breath within the first 10 minutes of the run. I kept reminding myself to slow down my pace. I had been warned by the ‘Grand Pubas’ of the Kneeknacker to keep a slow pace for this one! As I continued my journey up the first hill, I did notice that some elves had come along over the weekend and built these beautiful stairs to ease the pain of this great climb.
Our pack of 30 spread out fairly quickly into smaller groups. I ended up running with 4 others, which is always a great way to get through a long day. Our journey seemed so far to be pretty painless and uneventful, until I realized how much fun I was having going DOWNHILL! Then I started calculating things in my head. I suddenly realized “I have to get back UP those nice little downhills.” A few runners decided that Hyannis would be a good turn around point, others kept going. Some turned around at the top of the Seymour Grind. Others kept going!! I was one of the other others who kept going until I reached the ‘Old Buck’ sign at the intersection of Old Buck and the Baden Powell because that’s what the training log said to do.
If any of you did reach the top of the Seymour grind, you would have been rewarded with the sight of a wonderful mirage at the top of the hill. This great looking guy with chips, brownies, cookies, water and a kiss for anyone who wanted one! Well, OK, the kissing was just for me! But we did share in the buffet of food set before us. Thank you Michael! (He knew about this character building thing!!)
I started heading back towards Grouse and still felt fine. And then it hit me. The steep stairs that lead you up from Seymour Creek to the Rice Lake dirt road. That’s where the character building started and did not stop until I reached the Grouse Mountain parking lot 5 ½ hours after I had started. You veterans were right!! This was a character builder. I could not have taken my shoes off my feet fast enough. I have a bunch of new black toes and a sore foot, but this was one of the most memorable runs of this year…so far.
See you all next Sunday….or not!
Melissa Pacé
The Kneeknacker Committee would like to thank you Andrew Wong, committee member, and all volunteers who came out for the trail work party on Saturday June 6th! They were the elves that built the stairway to Heaven from the Grouse parking lot, up the hill. As well, a big thank you to Delany’s for supplying all the caffeine to fuel the elves!!
