Grouse Grind Recap
Well, we did it!!! An eager group of PI members, clients, trainers, as well as friends, family, and spouses of the former, all came together, tackled, and conquered the Grind on Sunday July 28th.
We couldn’t have asked for better weather. Just warm enough not to be cool, but no where near as hot as you might expect to endure at this time of year.
We did have a few bunny rabbits who sprinted to the finish, aiming for a “PB time”, but majority of the group just wanted to accomplish this amazing feat and did so in supportive style.
All participants finished, earning what is considered by some to be a Vancouver “fitness badge of honour” is this ultra-fit Province we live in. The Grouse Grind is a 2.9 km trail up the face of Grouse Mountain (often referred to as “Nature’s Stairmaster”).
Partway up the hike, there IS actually a sign that says: (Check out the video!!!)
“Congratulations you’ve made it to the ¼ mark,
That was the easy section
Now comes the hard part
The trail gets steeper and narrower from here….”
This is the best place to turn around….”
We’re happy to say, none of our group had to “turn around.” We’re super proud of everyone who came out, especially first timers of the grind, who paced themselves intelligently, took breaks when they needed, allowing them to persevere and complete this amazing accomplishment.
While I came prepared with a first-aid kit in my backpack, luckily it wasn’t needed for anyone in our group. However, I did come to the rescue of a lady hiking the grind with a baby in a sling whose soles of BOTH shoes completely fell off. (She was a very fit visitor from another country who wanted to check out the grind). After a short stop to use gauze to fashion beefy ankle braces of a sort to hold her shoe soles on, I was off to join the rest of the group.
The woman with baby in toe in sketchy shoes completing the Grind might have been the most impressive Grouse Grind feat of the day if it wasn’t for our very own Wally Shoemay, 86 yrs. young!!! who completed his second ever Grouse Grind with us. The last time he did it was also with us about 10 yrs. ago.
Congratulations Wally, and every PI”Grinder” on a fantastic day! Stay tuned for the next PI event which will most likely be the return of our Charity Row-a-thon.