Big Pair Of Days

The next two days will be memorable. I hope I can survive to tell you the tales of each respective day.

SATURDAY

I'm heading on my first hike. Well, it will be my first official hike. I've hiked across Disneyland dozens of times but not sure that counts. I'm going with my brothers to hike up the highest peak in Southern California, Mount San Gorgonio, which is 11,530 feet above sea level. Nothing to sneeze at, is it? According to some Web sites I've seen, the trail we're taking - the Vivian Creek Trail - is a demanding trail that features a 5,600-foot elevation gain, which mean's we'll be starting around the 6,000-foot mark.

I've never been on a real hiking excursion like this but my brother Danny has. I'm putting my faith in him. I figure I can run pretty good so my legs should be up for such a difficult hike as this. My only concern right now is what to wear. Being the runner I am, I'm probably going to end up hiking in my running clothes. Well, shorts for certain. We'll see about the shirt. Danny's provided me with a list of provisions to take so I should be good on that end too.

It's supposed to take us 10-12 hours to do the whole hike, from bottom to top to bottom. We're leaving my house at 5 a.m. to get up there so we can start the hike around 6 a.m. or so, hopefully earlier. I'm used to getting up early and going on long runs so this will be a bit of a change of pace, getting up early to go on a hike. However it goes I'll make sure and let you know all about it.

SUNDAY

The Lopers season starts on Sunday! I'm going to assume my official role as pace leader. Okay, well, that will mean that I will help out with the newcomers, so I wont' actually have a group to lead on Sunday, although once everything is said and done on that day we will put people into groups so I could have a list of runners that day. But then, I think I remember last year having the choice to join a group... ah, I don't know what I'm talking about.

I guess the bottom line is that I will be the 10-minute pace leader for real on Sunday, so I'll be able to introduce myself as that come Sunday. It will be interesting once the actual running part of the season starts on the 21st. I actually wanted to explore my thoughts regarding myself and being a pace leader and my hopes, desires, fears, etc. are before taking on this new challenge in my life.

For now, though, I will be content with helping out on Sunday however I can as a bona fide pace leader.