R3
On Saturday, October 28, I checked one item off my bucket list, the most talked about adventure; Rim to Rim to Rim. If you are unfamiliar, R3 is traveling the Grand Canyon rim to rim. My girlfriend Hannah and I began at the Bright Angel trailhead (South Rim), ran to the North Rim, and back to the South, thus completing R3.
Per my Strava, this journey was 51.1 miles (most websites say it's roughly 48 miles, but we made some detours along the way), and the moving time was 14:21, with our total time being 17 hours. We spent one whole hour on the North Rim, pooping, refilling, eating, and changing layers. We also had cell service on this end, so we completed our round of check-ins (not Garmin inreach preset messages), and my girlfriend was running her first 100 miler, so I had to check how she was doing via her live tracking.
The sights were unforgettable; I could not believe what my eyes saw. These canyons carved nearly 6 million years ago, the river chipping, sculpting, and exposing these minerals to the surface. And I had the opportunity to be present in its majesty.
I am a crier and got a little emotional as we took a detour to Pope beach; admiration fell over me. But, as I felt the soft sand beneath me, my heart spoke, "You are in the presence of the Spirit." The significance of this moment changed how I saw this experience. It became more than a "bucket list" adventure.
No one mentions the imprint the Grand Canyon leaves you with; I am still awestruck, meditating on the experience from that day.
May I present, her majesty.
If this run is on your bucket list, please set a definite date and get to planning! You will be glad you took action sooner rather than later. And if you're saying to yourself, "I am waiting for the right time." There is no right time; set a definite date, and start working towards this adventure.
We began our journey at 5:45 AM and spent little time in the dark as we descended Bright Angel. The colors, as the sun rose, left me speechless. I kept saying to myself,
"she is fucking gorgeous."
As we planned for this adventure, we focused on water, weather, Clothing, gear, and food. First, we checked the Grand Canyon website to ensure the water was on. We did this again the morning of our adventure. Along the bottom are campsites and water spigots, thus making it easier to refill; this means the "water is on." The Grand Canyon will turn the "water off" to prevent a pipeline break in winter. Therefore, leaving you with the second option - filtering water. Second, we agreed to have a mandatory gear list, including extra calories, an emergency blanket, InReach, a water filter, and a mini first aid kit. Thus putting a wilderness safety plan into place - Safety is Sexy
So, let's dive into it; Clothing. We knew it would be cold, and this California girl is still experiencing warmer weather than most. So I chose to layer up. The Clothing I went with;
Rabbit Mountain Climbers (My favorite shorts, due to the storage)
REI Co-op Swiftland Running T-shirt
REI Co-op Marino Wool Base long sleeve
New Balance Heat Grid Run Vest
New Balance Jacket I won in 2014 from racing Wharf to Wharf
Trailheads convertible mittens (from Amazon)
Lululemon Energy Longline Bra
Stance Performance socks (I love their socks)
Nike Wild Horse 7
I chose a wool base layer because it's moisture-wicking, insulating, temperature-regulating, odor-resistant, and breathable. I kept this long sleeve on 80% of the time. Average temperatures in the canyon were 66 degrees. I could have done without the jacket, but my worried brain kept thinking about how cold it could get in the evening, and the "what if something happens" was in the back of my mind. After I took my wilderness safety course, I learned you could do some pretty nifty things with layers.
My shoe choice was easy; the wild horse 7 is breathable, lightweight, and great for technical terrain. Since we hit a few water crossings, I wasn't too worried about my feet getting wet. Plus, this neon orange has been quite challenging to dirty. It's still outshining all the mud.
Now, let’s talk about gear!
Salomon Adv Skin 12, women's version
Salomon Quiver (it carries my trekking poles)
Black Diamond Distance FLZ Trekking Poles
Katadyn BeFree 1.0 L Water Filter Bottle
Essentials; blister kit, emergency blanket, chapstick with 25 SPF, mini sunscreen stick with 50 SPF, Goodr Sunglasses, Inhaler (I have asthma), mini squirrels nut butter anti-Chaffe.
Garmin mini Inreach 2 (again, safety first)
Headlamp and extra battery; Petzl NAO+
2 x500mL breast bottles and not shown is a 1.5L reservoir
I am specifying the gender of my hydration vest because Salomon makes a universal vest. There is a difference in how the breast pockets are constructed. I prefer the women's version because the pockets sit lower on my chest, distributing the weight and pressure offloading some of that from my boobs. The SNB anti-Chaffe goes everywhere with me, and I keep one in all my vests. I know the areas of my body that experience chaffing; this product is small enough to carry and has saved me multiple times.
How many calories did I take? I took close to 4000 Calories, 500 of which were emergency calories (in case something happened). You are probably wondering how I came up with that number; my rule of thumb is 220 - 250 calories per hour. I know my body, and I've trained my gut. (If your want to know more about this, drop a comment with your questions, and I can cover it in another blog.)
What kind of stuff did I eat? I am a whole-foods kinda girl.
May I present to you my trash, yes! I packed in and packed out all of my trash.
Fluid Hydration (Electrolyte supplement)
Go Macro bars (280 Calories)
That's It! Fruit strips (100 Calories)
Trader Joe's Pitted Manzanilla Olives (50 Calories)
Pan's Mushroom Jerky (230 Calories)
1 Large Homemade Hemp Lemon Ginger Oatmeal cookie (150 Calories) + Coconut Maca balls (110 Calories)
Behave Gummy Bears (80 Calories)
Vegan Bologna sandwich with vegan bacon and Funyuns (320 Calories)
Spring Energy Awesome Sauce (180 Calories) and Speednut (250 Calories)
Ginger Chews
My friends like to joke that I always pack a picnic, but you don’t want to see me “hangry.” I won't cover the quantity of each item I packed with me. The total energy I expended was 4,877 calories. I consumed 3,185 calories on this trek. I don't see calories as a form of diet metrics but more as Energy; food = Energy. My body needs the energy to do these dope adventures. They say ultra running is an eating contest, which is particularly true. So here is proof of that.
I didn't get sick or experience GI distress; I ate slowly, sipped often, and enjoyed the sights. Even in the transition season, I am trying new foods and expanding my trail foods list. It is still trial and error.
Looking at my clothing, gear, and food may seem overwhelming (or it may not). But when it comes to all of this stuff - it's stuff. I've accumulated my gear and clothes over the last 5 years. As I continue to adventure and explore new routes (or attempts), I gain a little more experience and knowledge each time. With each experience and venture, I tweak and add items to my trail running closet.
So there isn't a magic nutrition plan, gear, or a one size fits all magical trail shoe. The magic is what works for you. Ask the questions, research, and be open to trial and error.
As always,
Happy Trails! I am ringing my cowbell for you!
Quote of the Week: "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"
― Hunter S. Thompson
Song of the Week:
Side Note:
Please if you have any questions or are curious about a particular item I took. Or, if there is a topic you want me to cover in more depth, let me know; I am happy to help. As I continue to write blogs, I want to add more value to you (the reader), whether it's sharing my stories/experiences, gear, training tips, etc.
I'm here for you!
