thebaldgeek

If you think you are a little bit fit and get it in your head that running the Canyon in a day would be a good idea. Just don’t. Take it from me. Don’t. Do. It.

Right, with that disclaimer out of the way…..
Freddy and I headed out there a few days before the run to kick back and spend some time together since I have been away so much due to travel.
Photos of those few days coming – soon – I hope…..In the meantime, here is one of us at the rim.

Ok, so we got up at o-dark thirty and got dressed.
I had looked at the forecast, but still figured it would be cool enough for the leggings. It wasn’t. Ended up pulling them off less than halfway down and carried them the rest of the way… Glad I went with the shorts over the top!

Considered also taking a flashlight, but eh, it’s just more to carry for the bulk of the trip, so skipped it and just took it easy for the first bit.

It was soon light enough to see what I was about to step on (or not step on as the cliff edge case might be).

Turned the major corner and it was blowing a gale. Almost lost my hat and so turned it around for a good while.
It was still a bit cool at this point, so needed the hat as a bit of a beanie. (The heavy overcast meant that I really didn’t need it and thus ended up carrying it for way too long)

Things settled down and we are making good progress. Not as fast as I want, but I am keeping an eye on the watch and know that its too easy to go too fast and tap out, so we are watching the heart rate and steps per minute pretty close as I know my numbers I need to keep things even.
This is my first view of the Colorado River. Im pretty excited.

Half way and we meet the Tonto trail. I badly want to run this one at some stage as well.

Also at half way is a long drop dunny and temperature gauge.

It really was perfect weather for the run.
The overcast and breaze was perfect.

Check out the switchbacks we are running!

You know you are there when you hit the tunnel.

So, here we are at the bottom.
1 hour 20 min.

Bright Angel Creek runs into the Colorado and is always worth a look.

I even took a moment to enjoy some of the local plant life.

For the most part I am enjoying going uphill……

Once I hit mile 14 things took a turn.
I just ran out of everything. Cold, clammy skin, vomiting and cramps.
Totally unfun with 3 solid uphill miles to go and tons of tourists to battle my way through…. yuck.

But we made it.

Beat up my feet. Again.

Wanted to do it in 4 hours. Took me 5.
Disappointed? No. I gave it all I had and left nothing out there.
I got to know my limits.

Totally worth it.