To beat the heat, I got up and ran at 6:30 am. To warm up for my Tabata hill sprints workout, I decided to do some hill running up Buck Avenue and around the residential streets up in there. After about a mile of that, I was good and ready to hit the infamous Wykoff.
If you ever want to do Tabata hill sprints, whether for fun or for torture, Wykoff is the perfect outdoor location. At least it is for me - if you're super speedy, you might run out of hill by the 8th round.
I ALMOST made it to the very top, but just like "almost winning" means losing, almost making it to the top connotes defeat. I definitely have more work to do before I can wear that "I conquered Wykoff" t-shirt I've been eyeing.
But let me get back to the why Wykoff is perfect for Tabata:
#1 Wykoff is STEEP.
This photo really doesn't do it justice, but this is the beginning of the uphill grade on the Buck Ave side and it only gets steeper from there.
#2 The View
This part is pretty much a given because if you're going to climb up a steep hill, of course you expect a good view at the top. Duh.
#3 The Facilities
As I was on about my 6th round, I noticed a lady a ways up ahead stopped in front of this curious pillar.
I couldn't tell what she was doing and at this point in my workout, I thought maybe I was hallucinating.
As I got nearer, I was relieved when I realized it wasn't the sacrificial altar that I had first thought (perhaps I really was hallucinating), but rather it was a drinking fountain! One very thoughtful Wykoff Hill resident installed a drinking fountain for, I assume, the poor souls that dared to challenge the hill.
I was even more impressed by the lower bowl they installed for those unable to even stand upright once they hit that part of the hill and are only able to crawl to reach the life saving water. Then I realized it was probably meant for dogs. Impressive nonetheless.
