Length: 2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles)
Elevation Gain: 853 metres (2,800 feet)
Base: 274 metres above sea level (900 feet)
Summit: 1,127 metres (3,700 feet)
Total Stairs: 2,830
Annually, over 100,000 people hike the trail. On average it takes up to an hour and a half to complete the hike
Course Record: 23mins 48secs
Most Grinds in one day: 16
The Grind is one hell of a work out. I remember my first time thinking that it can't be that bad as I set off practically running up the first section. Pacing yourself on the Grind is key, get it wrong and you suffer big time. Your legs turn to rubber and your lungs scream out in protest. I still had 3/4 of the climb to go and I staggered up to the top in around 54 mins. It was awful.
There are many Vancouverites that love the Grind and do it as often as they can, several times a week or even every day. There are also a few lunatics that do it several times a day! Depending on what day and the time of day, the Grind can be virtually empty or a constant procession of people from top to bottom. As it's a pretty narrow trail, passing other people can be a little tricky. Aside from the regulars who keep a good pace all the way up, there can be lots of first timers and visitors who just want to make it to the top. They stop many times on the way up for a rest, get their breathe or to take on board food and drink.
I used to do the Grind once a week last summer with my friends Monika and Carol. It's a great cross training work out and also quite sociable if you do it with friends too. Yearly membership is available and you can view your stats on line. My times went from 54 mins down to 47 mins. However, I wanted to break 45 minutes at some point. After I decided to leave Vancouver at the end of this summer, it was time to up my game and try to achieve my goal. My times started to slowly come down and I knew it was within my grasp. On my final attempt, I just missed it. 45 mins 15 secs. Damn it, so close. I just couldn't leave it there, one more attempt was planned for 2 days later.
I went with my friend Martin who was also trying to break the 45 min threshold for the first time too. After a short warm up running around the car park at the bottom, I gritted my teeth and set off. Steady now, not too fast on the first half but keep up a good pace. Look for any way of missing a few steps by walking up the side. Take two steps at a time where they're not too big. Take deep breaths using my diaphragm to get the most air into my lungs as possible. Focus my mind to keep pushing, keep pushing, keep pushing!
Passing the half way mark, my lungs were telling me that I hadn't overcooked it in the first half and I could still maintain the pace. The third quarter is the steepest, so if you have gone out too fast in the first half, you really start to struggle here and your pace slows. The final quarter came and I knew the end was close. Keep pushing now David, every second counts. I reached the top with my lungs burning and my heart beating out of my chest in 44 mins 54 secs. Man it felt amazing to have pushed myself to the absolute limit and finally achieve the goal. If first you don't succeed..... Martin finished in 46 mins but will get there sooner or later. Hats off to my friends who have do it in much quicker times than mine. For me, I can leave Vancouver and the Grind knowing that I gave it my all.
