Trying to do something new consistently in 2021
For 15 minutes we crawled up the side of Black Mountain Sunday in Henderson, Nevada. The distance travelled? About a quarter mile. Normally I would hate moving so slowly. That’s why I’ve always avoided trails with too much elevation gain or rocky areas that require slowing down. But this is 2021, and I’m committed to do something new as often as I can.
So I followed Keith and Bryce up the narrow path. They both run the hilly and rocky trails in Henderson almost daily, and I’ve seen many summit pictures from them on Strava and Instagram. They made the perfect Black Mountain guides.
Some people will see me stoked about climbing Black Mountain and shrug or roll their eyes. It’s summit is just under 5,100 feet. In terms of mountains, it’s not a big deal. But I’m from Louisiana, and any uphill is unnatural to me. I’d rather run pancake flat than downhill. And if you tell me I will have to power hike or walk because of a trail’s steepness, I would normally say no thanks.
But this is 2021. So it was time to do something new.
I’ve never actually climbed a mountain before. I came close n the summer of 2018 when Rachel and I visited the UK. I made it most of the way up Ben Nevis, which is in Scotland and is the highest point in the UK. But it was foggy, and I was worried about taking too long. So I turned around before I reached the summit.
While Sunday’s climb had less total elevation than my Ben Nevis run (by about 300 feet), I did make it all the way up.
The view was worth every second of power hiking.
Even heading up the trail was stunning. Of course I had to concentrate on the trail in front of me to keep from tripping, but each switchback gave a new vista point. The sun came up over the mountain and bathed the Las Vegas valley in morning light.
Keith, Bryce, and I went from chatting to complete silence as the terrain became steeper. I glanced at my watch a few times, but my average pace for that section of 28 minutes per mile didn’t bother me. Running by pace is hardwired in my brain, but my racing pulse and labored breathing let me know I was working hard and shouldn’t worry about the numbers on my Garmin.
Then we reached the summit.
An incredible sense of calm washed over me. The busy Las Vegas strip laid out across the valley floor. My home in Summerlin 30+ miles away on the other side of the valley. I could see it all without really seeing it. Like taking a high-definition close up of bustling city life and zooming out until all activity and noise disappears.
I signed the registry, the first time I’ve ever reached a mountaintop and earned the right to put my name down. It was such a cool feeling. Similar to other training runs, I felt a sense of joy that follows exertion. But this was different, because it was something new. And it was something I actively avoided doing most of my life. When I lived in San Diego and worked just a few miles from the Black Mountain there, I never made it to the top. I planned on it a few times, but I always found an excuse to avoid that climbing effort.
Now I wish I had set out to climb a mountain, any mountain, sooner. Pushing outside of my comfort zone is an important part of growth. Physically and mentally.
I’m still not a climber. Reaching 5,093 feet wasn’t easy for me (many people who live here and run trails here will probably laugh at that). I will never feel comfortable on sketchy sections on higher mountain climbs.
And if you ever seen me buying climbing equipment, something is truly wrong. Slap me … maybe ask a question only I will know the answer to in an attempt to find out if an alien has commandeered my body?
But incorporating longer and steeper climbs into my training? That’s a winning plan. Next up will be Mount Charleston or Griffith Peak.
It’s still January of 2021, and already the year is getting brighter.
So, do new things. Then soak up the new views.
Recent Comments