In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the king of Corinth, who, after getting on Zeus’s bad side, was sentenced to roll a boulder up a hill for all of eternity.
Fast forward a couple of millennia, and the French Existentialist, Albert Camus (a big fan of a good hike), wrote his landmark essay, “The Myth of Sisyphus,” which, among other things, infused meaning into menial labor. Hard graft didn’t have to be a punishment if, as Camus famously said, “One imagines Sisyphus happy.”
The heirs of Sisyphus today have mostly been fringe athletes like mountaineers and ultrarunners who have embraced the pain of hill training, but thanks to social media influencer Laura Giraldo and the BBC, these once-niche workouts have exploded into our broader social imaginary.
Giraldo’s 12-3-30 method refers to setting a treadmill to 12% grade and moving at 3 mph for 30 minutes. This TikTok weight loss sensation has half the treadmills at my gym spinning away in this kind of simulated hill training. A sight which seems to me far crueler than the punishment meted out to Sisyphus. At least he got some fresh air.
At about the same time the 12-3-30 method moved to the fore, the BBC published an article questioning the long-held health standard of 10,000 steps a day. Their research suggested a brisk, uninterrupted walk of 30 minutes did more good for whole-person wellness than amassing 10,000 steps by parking farther away or taking the stairs.
All of this got me thinking, “Are there any trails in San Marcos where I could go for a brisk walk, say 3 mph, at 12% grade for 30 minutes?” The math suggests a 1.5-mile loop, and as it turns out, two such hikes exist in the hilliest park we have, the Spring Lake Natural Area.
From the Meadows Center Trailhead: The Tonkawa trail goes from pavement to gravel double track while ascending almost 150 vertical feet. Not quite a steady 12% grade, but an enjoyable, gentle climb over bridges and under a live oak canopy. Once you top out, jump on the Blind Salamander trail for a raucous, technical descent that will keep your muscles and joints working all the way back to the trailhead. All said and done, this 1.4-mile loop is a great way to shed some holiday pounds and address your nature deficit disorder.
From the LBJ Trailhead: The Roadrunner trail begins deceptively flat before falling away almost 200 vertical feet to the Little Blue Stem Trail, where you can enjoy a few minutes of sauntering through open fields. The Little Blue Stem trail terminates at the Porcupine Trail, which then heads back up the hill, offering a few vistas along the way. If you can complete this 1.6-mile loop in 30 minutes, then you’re well on your way to summiting Guadalupe Peak, the tallest mountain in Texas.
