The GGA Project -- Day #330 "On Summiting..."

Twice this week, customers have come in a talked about a nearby spot in Fremont for hiking that I'd never had the chance to visit.  Specifically, they both mentioned going into it with the plan to get to the top of the hike and quitting somewhere not-too-far in.  My ears perked up at these mentions, and that in itself is something of a wonder to me...a sign that I have changed somewhat in the past year.  The version of myself I've known my whole life, when told of a physical challenge, would have thanked the stars that I didn't have to take it on myself.  Apparently the new version of me goes, 'hmmm, I wonder how far I could get.'


Today's New Activity: Hiking Mission Peak


It's probably a good thing that I didn't know much about the Mission Peak Regional Preserve trail before I started out.  I did go to the website to find out the location, but other than reading that it takes about 5 hours to get to the top and back down, I didn't seek out any details.  I say it's a good thing I didn't because I really think that not knowing exactly how far I would be going was part of what kept me going, period.

There are grazing cows that roam the hillsides in this park, and since they're accustomed to people passing through, they didn't even flinch when I approached to take pictures.  That was a nice, calm start to things, despite the foreboding skies!

All the way up I watched the hanggliders soaring overhead.  It was so amazing to just keep climbing up and up, getting closer to them.  And I'm sure it's entertaining for them to watch the poor folks struggling down below :P

Here's the already amazing view from just a little ways up.  This is where I first considered giving up and heading back down.

About 40-50 minutes into the hike, I had to remind myself how good I've discovered it feels to reach goals.  Reaching the top wasn't even a goal I'd set out with, since--as I'd said--the customers I talked to made it sound pretty freaking tough, but when I saw that, again and again, I wasn't ready to call it quits, I began to believe I could make it to the top and have the reward of an even more amazing view.  So I just told myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other...  It was about then (2:20 in the afternoon) that I told myself I'd keep going until 3 and see how close I was to the top by then.

And at 3, this is all that stood between me and the summit.  It was a pretty easy choice to make at that point to keep going.  Hell, I was even higher up than some of the hanggliders by then!

I have to put this out there right now, for anybody who might read this and decide to go check out Mission Peak for him/herself: some of the most difficult hiking is right at the beginning.  There are slopes just about 1/2 mile in that look friendly enough from a distance but become INSANE as you realize that they just keep going and going, up, up, up for what feels like forever.  You may be tempted to quit.  You may have to pause for a bit to, uh, take pictures, yeah!, of the lovely view, which just grows lovelier and more amazing as you continue to climb.


Do it!  Rest all you like.  Take 1500 photos.  Just don't give up.  I promise, you can make it.


And I can only say that because I did :)


These are a couple of girls I was a little ways behind the whole way up.  I just like the way the picture turned out.

And this is me :)  (thanks to stranger hiker for the photo)

 And here's WHATEVER this is.  Some kind of monument that people like to sign (along with all the nearby rocks) when they get to the top.

What a gorgeous view on a gorgeous day.  And miraculously, despite the ominous clouds, I never got rained on.  I spent a few minutes enjoying the view from the top before starting back down (SO much more fun, and satisfying, knowing what I'd accomplished).

On the way back down I saw a gang of wild turkeys just munching away.  That was a nice little surprise ending!

And now I'm ready to settle into what's sure to be a pretty restful sleep.  Happy week to you all!

The GGA Project -- Day #322 "And Speaking of Challenges..."

A couple of months ago, my friends Kenneth and Peter signed up for something called the Warrior Dash and then (as they are like to do) immediately set about trying to strong arm everyone they know into doing it too.  I was kind of an easy sell at that point, as I have been the entire year because of this project (and hope to be going forward).  I just got the text "sign up for Warrior Dash," maybe a link to the website on Facebook, did a few clicks around on the site, and was signed up within 10 minutes or so.


That was the easy part.


When I told my Dad about the event, he also went to the website, did far more reading and clicking around than I'd done, and came back saying "No way, Jose."  This surprised (and alarmed) me.  My Dad is in great physical shape and challenges himself in that area on a weekly basis.  If he was intimidated by the prospect, what on earth was I thinking?!?!


As the weeks went by, I had occasion to mention that I'd be Warrior Dashing perhaps 3 times.  And every time, a split second shock crossed the face of the person I was talking to, followed with, "really?!" or "you?!"  I don't think it should come as too much a shock, then, that I was pretty nervous heading into 


Today's New Activity: The Warrior Dash!!


When we got to the event grounds (Casa de Fruta, down in the dusties of Gilroy), I felt an immediate sense of relief.  While I didn't exactly see any super out of shape people there, it definitely wasn't an iron man only kind of thing.  And there were minors there as well...how scary could the thing be?


I'd brought Monkey with me so that I wouldn't have to spend the whole day away from him (the event was 1 1/2 drive from my house), and his Auntie Kelsi, who lives relatively close in Morgan Hill, was generous enough to come and scoop him up for a couple of hours.  It was nice to know he was nearby--playing with Mo on the train and carousel at Case de Fruta--having fun while I "competed."


The only bummer about the event is that, in an effort to space people out, each heat starts with 1.5 miles of running.  I hate running.  I absolutely HATE running.  And I suck at it.  So I didn't exactly feel like a warrior, having to walk a good part of that.  But Kenneth and Linda were there with me while Peter, Jeanette and Jon ran ahead, so it was nice to be in good company.


And then the obstacles came, which was the real fun part :)


There were 11 or 12 total I think, and here's a sampling:

This wall was probably the most terrifying to me, because I've never been great with upper body strength, and once you got started you were pretty much committed to either making your way over or having a real unpleasant fall back down, haha.  The top was the most difficult, figuring out how to get all the way over the wall once you ran out of rope.  But I made it.  Actually, in that difficult part when I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to pull myself over, I thought of Monkey, reminded myself that I have a son who looks to me as his example (not that he was there watching, but still I knew), and found that extra bit of effort within.  That was a pretty cool experience.


The last two obstacles were two little mounds of flames to jump through followed by a big trough of mud to slug through, leaving us coming out looking like this:

To help us all get home without ruining our cars, they'd set up a giant firehouse for us all to splash around in and get as clean as we could.


After a quick change of clothes I collected Monkey and sat down in the gravel with my fellow warriors while they ate giant turkey legs and I enjoyed probably the most hard fought veggie burger in the history of veggie burgers :)


It was such a great day.  I'm so happy I had the chance to join the fun and challenge myself a bit.  But I'd also like to say that I think most anybody could do this; they make it accessible enough.  So next year I'm bringing more warriors along for the fun!