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Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim

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Location:

Santa Clara,UT,

Member Since:

Jan 01, 2008

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Swiss Days(5k)--19:47.5

Zion Centennial Fun Run (10k)--42:19 

St. George Half Marathon--1:36:45.4 

St. George Marathon--3:22:29

Short-Term Running Goals:

I want to work on building up my base again and taking a crack at my 5k and 10k PRs.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run to live. Live to run.

 

Personal:

I'm married with 3 cuties and a buddy. When I don't run, I'm ornery.  So for their sake--It's all for them--I run.

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Miles:This week: 6.00 Month: 104.50 Year: 374.00
NB 1400 Lifetime Miles: 275.75
Nike LunarEpic Lifetime Miles: 597.00
Nike Lunar Epic Oct. 2017 Lifetime Miles: 599.26
INOV8 F-Lite 195 Lifetime Miles: 544.25
Hoka Clifton 6 Lifetime Miles: 326.25
Bike Miles Lifetime Miles: 88.50
Erg Ks Lifetime Miles: 46.00
Hoka Speedgoat 4 Lifetime Miles: 417.25
Nike LunarEpic 2 Lifetime Miles: 176.25
Brooks L5 Lifetime Miles: 277.25
Desert Canyons Lifetime Miles: 106.50
PV Speedgoat 4 Lifetime Miles: 212.00
Brooks Launch 5 Lifetime Miles: 241.25
ASICS Cumulus 23 Lifetime Miles: 379.00
Brooks Glycerin 18 Lifetime Miles: 224.50
Brooks G20 Lifetime Miles: 148.75
Books 2022 Lifetime Miles: 40.00
Trail Runs 2022 Lifetime Miles: 103.00
Adidas Boston 10 Lifetime Miles: 254.50
Brooks G21 Lifetime Miles: 184.75
G20 Lifetime Miles: 147.25
Books 2023 Lifetime Miles: 50.00
Trail Runs 2023 Lifetime Miles: 106.00
Nike TK Lifetime Miles: 95.00
Altra Escalante 3 Lifetime Miles: 149.50
Altra Superior 5 Lifetime Miles: 175.25
Altra Torin 5 Lifetime Miles: 160.50
Tomir Lifetime Miles: 132.50
Kjerag Lifetime Miles: 134.75
Hoka Cielo Road Lifetime Miles: 25.50
Books 2024 Lifetime Miles: 14.00
Trail Runs 2024 Lifetime Miles: 20.00
BG 21 Lifetime Miles: 183.00
Total Distance
40.50
Asics Gel Landreth 5 Miles: 5.00Asics Gel Cumulus 10 Miles: 9.00NB 790 Miles: 3.50Brooks Cascadia 4 Miles: 23.00
Weight: 0.00
Total Distance
5.00

pm--5 miles w/ the JV kids. Some parts of my body want to have a lingering pain, but, as of now, they don't. 

Asics Gel Landreth 5 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 0.00
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Total Distance
4.00

am--4 morning run w/ neighbor Greg. Did the Albertson's loop.

Asics Gel Cumulus 10 Miles: 4.00
Weight: 0.00
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Total Distance
3.50

pm--3.5 Sockless miles in the dirt w/ Tom on the Lower Graveyard Loop.

NB 790 Miles: 3.50
Weight: 0.00
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Race: Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim (23 Miles) 06:05:00
Total Distance
23.00

am--23 Ok, it wasn't a race, but it was an accomplishment, and recording it as a race is my way of bookmarking it for the future. 

We started at the North Rim about 15 after 6 in the morning. The temps were in the high 20s-low 30s. I was wearing shorts, a shirt, and a light running pull-over. It was cold standing there, but I didn't think about the temps for one second after I started running. I had a headlamp on and just went for it down the trail. In the dark, as the dust starts kicking up, you kind of lose some depth perception and have to be very aware of where you're sticking your feet.

About 7 miles down, the trail starts to level off. The running is amazing. I felt great. I passed some campers and hikers, and they cheered me on. I reached Phantom Ranch--14 miles in--in roughly 2:30. Pretty good pace for me on the trails. I had eaten some Gus, a PBJ, and an Endurolyte or 2. I finished off a water bottle, drank about half of my chia fresca, and drank another bottle of water before filling it up again. Then I ran on down to the bridge.

I walked across the bridge because the Colorado is amazing. What a sight this canyon must have been for old one arm. When I hit the other side of the river, I got into the deep sand and ended up logjambed behind a mule train. I followed them at a speedy hike for about 2 miles. They finally pulled over for a view, and I passed. Just in time to hit the Devil's Corkscrew. Now the climbing began. There wasn't much "running" after this. The elevation gain in about 5-6 miles is over 4,000 feet. I did some hard hiking, just trying to keep the legs going. I stopped a few times for Gu and my last PBJ. I finished off the chia fresca and kept going. This is the most soul-crushing part of the trail. I downed a few more Endurolytes going up and kept on trucking. I was passing people, but something inside me was disappointed that I couldn't go faster. To put this part of the trail into perspective, it's like tackling hundreds of stadiums after roughly 18 miles of running. Anyway, I made it without anyone ever passing me--besides the 2 hikers from the Northwest, whom I caught right before the finish--and limped up out of the canyon at 20 after 12--6:05:00 minutes later. I headed straight to the food and got me a hot dog and a soda and sat down to eat before I called my ride.

The rim-to-rim is quite the experience. To date it is the hardest thing, physically, that I have ever done in my life. Don't underestimate the canyon. Nonetheless, one day it would be cool to go rim-to-rim and then head back the way I came. For now I'll leave that up to those with ultra legs.

PS--Crockett's R2R2R report was very interesting to read the night before diving head first into this adventure. If you google "running rim to rim," it's the first link that comes up.

Brooks Cascadia 4 Miles: 23.00
Weight: 0.00
Comments(6)
Total Distance
5.00

pm--5 Easy miles to shake out the legs. The pace was slow, and the pain was good. 

Asics Gel Cumulus 10 Miles: 5.00
Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
40.50
Asics Gel Landreth 5 Miles: 5.00Asics Gel Cumulus 10 Miles: 9.00NB 790 Miles: 3.50Brooks Cascadia 4 Miles: 23.00
Weight: 0.00
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