As Nicole and I drove up Page Mill Road, the weather was cool and somewhat foggy. Surprisingly, as we moved higher, the fog disappeared and clear skies and bright sunshine became the order of the day. We started from the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve parking lot and headed down towards Canyon Trail. Nicole is a marathon runner and I was struggling to keep up with her even on level ground. As we started up Bella Vista Trail, I just had to try to slow her down by exchanging daypacks ... and it worked. She now was carrying my 15-pound pack and I was carrying her 16-ounce water bottle. Even though I could have kept up with her without exchanging packs, I didn't want to get burned out on the first day. Over the years, I have learned that I can do a 20-mile hike with 4,000 foot elevation gain and not be too tired the next day. However, if I am forced to do the same hike at a pace a tad faster than normal, my muscles and joints rebel the next day. Old age does have the advantage of experience, provided one learns from it. In the Big Sur International Marathon that Nicole ran last year, of the first five male finishers, four were in their thirties and only one in his twenties. Of the first five female finishers, three were in their forties and two in their twenties. In the longer and harder "ultra" races, experience plays an even bigger part.
"Hey, Nicole, didn't you say you like guys your height?"
"Yes, but I already have a grandfather."