Seek The Peak Relay

When I found out that I wasn’t able to participate in the Tough Mudder because of schedule conflicts I wasn’t entirely disappointed. I am all about adventure and the next challenge, but after getting injured at last year’s Warrior Dash I have to say that I am a little gun shy of doing another mud race.  That being said, I am pretty, ok ridiculously goal oriented, and without a summer challenge to work for, I started to feel a little lost.

On my list of things to do this month was to fill my training void and come up with something that was doable yet that would push me.  I have been looking at the Seek the Peak Relay for the last few years and as luck would have it, this year’s date worked with my schedule (as long as I am done by noon).

Here’s the billing from their website…

The challenging 16-kilometer course starts on the beach at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver, winds its way through North Vancouver, then heads up the legendary Grouse Grind® to the Peak of Vancouver.  Seek the Peak is not strictly a race for elite athletes. Participants are primarily motivated by the symbolic overcoming of a significant obstacle, reflecting the ongoing fight against breast cancer.  This event is about rethinking what matters. It’s about rethinking our pain thresholds and our ambitions. More than this, it’s about rethinking our priorities. Support Rethink and together we will overcome breast cancer.

…and it is 4,100ft of elevation gain!  I guess my mountain really is waiting.

With too many family members, friends and clients (one of which had her first surgery on Monday while another had her final reconstruction surgery on Tuesday of this week) affected by this horrific disease and overcoming my own obstacles for the past few years; the event really resonated with me. In previous years I have looked at taking part in it as part of a 4-person relay team, but on June 17^th, 2012 I will be running it solo baby!

I have to confess, I practically threw-up when I hit the submit button to process my registration, come on it’s 4,100ft of elevation.  I won’t be setting any records; it really is about completion (I WILL COMPLETE IT however long it takes me, but do have to be done by noon) and the thought of standing at the peak of Grouse Mountain looking down to see how far I have climbed (the thought already brings tears to my eyes).

Training officially started yesterday and I have a lot of work to do, but it is minute in comparison to the battle that so many fabulous and fierce women whom I know have endured.

I have managed to twist a few of my running family’s rubber arms into joining me (one has even registered) and would like to extend the invitation and challenge to the rest of you, either as a soloist or a relay team.