A bucketlist item we treated like an Ironman that gave the same sense of accomplishment and inspired me to make major changes to my 2025 race schedule. The Grand Canyon inspires, join me in the adventure.

We booked The Squire Inn Resort in Tusayan, the town on the outside of the GCNP for it’s dog-friendly nature that enabled us to take Roxy on our 4 day Memorial Day trip from Sahuarita, Arizona to GC. Friday we stopped by the Mother Road brewery in Flagstaff and filled up the Growler. We hit up the Running shop, and then got to the resort. A same day reservation and spur of the moment online booking at El Tovar for an early dinner allowed us to eat at the rims edge in a building from 1905. After arriving I went for a quick 4 mile run along the Greenway trail and saw a heard of Elk. We had swam before we left but wanted to get some more running in.

Next day Fionas plan from Hal Higdon for the Jack and Jill Marathon in WA state in July, only 8 weeks away had a 9 mile tempo run. I tried to pace her at 8min mile but the 6,800 elevation said no to that. We enjoyed more of the Greenway into GCNP and saw more Elk. Then a day of exploring with Roxy along the vistas to the East entrance. We carbo loaded with “We Cook Pizza and Pasta” restaurant and had some champagne.

Up at 4am, chocolate muffin, zero cal monster, banana. We drove to the visitor center with great tips from our legend of a friend Robert Harris who has done R3- Rim to Rim to Rim 7 times. It ws 38F in the car and I told Fi to leave the tshirt off. It was going to get warm quick with 100F expected on the canyon floor. We started running just before 5am for what I expected to be around 21miles of running and 5,000′ of climbing. With 5,000,000 annual visitors and Memorial Day weekend one of the biggest of the year, there were hundreds of hikers. We started off with 2miles along the rim at dusk. No need for headlamps. We started the 9.6 mile decent with lots of stairs and the views were amazing. My Hoka speedgoat shoes were mostly new a major upgrade over my prior Altra trail shoes that I have two 50mile Ultras on my belt with. I was drinking every mile or so from my Nathan 100oz filled with 3 Maurten 320 and multiple Gatorade zero electrolyte packs. My waist belt bottle had another Maurten 320 and 1 LMNT. At the Colorado River I sprinted across the bridge to have some fun with the Strava Segment with a claim of 6:07/mile. We arrived at Phantom Ranch where we failed many times at getting into the Cabins lottery. We were too early for food or drink so filled up with water, had a RedBull, saw the mules, deer, and met a woman who had done IMNZ walking R3 with 24 hour goal for it’s 48miles.

Back out and we dipped are visors in the River to cool off. Across the bridge and the climbing began. I was trying to stay with Fiona for the whole thing and not just take off so at times we ran, more times we walked, took photos, and I started with a pack of lifesaver gummies that I finished. We turned west onto Tonto trail that was a 4.5 runnable section that ws much quieter. I counted 50 hikers there and we only saw 4 other runners on the day. We filled up water at the Brightangel trail looking up at the soaring heights, 4,000′ above. “Wow, we are running up That!” We continued on and the run was looking to be longer than 21. I started craving the Coke at the top. The trail at the top was packed and we passed hundreds of folks. Water at the stops was cold and refreshing. Coming to the top at the trailhead, I felt the feelings of accomplishment when crossing the finish of an Ironman. I knew how big a deal this run is. I overheard a guy the day before tell his kids it’s his life goal to hike to the bottom.  We filled up with coke, hit the loo, terrible painful chafing in my Zoot Trishorts and ran along the rim back to the car. 24.6miles, just 1.6miles shy of a marathon. 6hr27min and from the amazing scenery it felt way less than that.

I didn’t pull up too sore. I had run Mt Wrighston south of Tucson over the last 2 months, twice, which climbs 4,000′ up to a 9,400 summit. But I had also biked Mt Lemmon, Kitts Peak, and was running 40miles per week. This run brought me to 49.5 for the week and my biggest week in 18 months. So although I didn’t train for this specifically because we have the 70.3 Muscleman Half Ironman in 6 weeks and marathon #53 2 weeks after that, the fitness was obviously there.

We finished the night with steak at the Big E Steakhouse and a bottle of wine we bought in Napa a few years ago.

Looking at Strava and seeing of my friends and people I follow like Dane, Robert, Fernando, and Sarah Piampiano, I have become inspired for the first time in a long time. Prior inspirations was to BQ for the Boston Marathon, KQ to compete at Ironman Hawaii, and run a 50mile ultra. But now it’s R3. Rim to Rim to Rim. So I have decided to skip T100 Las Vegas and instead run this 48+Mile ultra with 10,000’+ of climb for the experience. Stay tuned.

Congratulations to my wife as well on a job well done having the done the trail running I have noe the mountain climbs. You are strong and powerful. Know it. Good luck in your BQ attempt. you can do this!