Training Log Archive: Funderstormin

Brought back a cold from the GC so that + a lot to catch up on has resulted in a crappy training week! I never do well with time changes and even though I felt I never adjusted to the 3-hour difference when I was over there, I didn't seem to adjust well to coming back either and my sleeping has been wonky all week. Finally seemed to get it right last night!

On the drive up from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon had seen a bunch of cool looking trailheads in the Cococino National Forest. Had all day Monday to wind my way back to Phoenix so decided to make a couple of run/hike stops en route. Other than some stiffness in my calves and glutes in the morning, legs felt surprisingly spry given what I'd sprung on them the day before.

First stop was Red Mountain trail - a 3 mile out and back where I was the only car in the parking lot and enjoyed running on the red dirt trail. Gentle uphill on the way out made for a lovely run back.

Had lunch in Flagstaff at the Lumberyard Brewing Company which had come recommended to me, then headed to Sedona where I'd been told to check out Cathedral Rock. In hindsight, I was pretty sure I'd been there when Andrew and I went to AZ a few years back, but it was wonderful to hike up to the saddle in the 90 degree heat! Would have liked to have done the trails around Cathedral rock but was starting to be pressed for time.

So all in all, a wonderful long weekend adventure with great people and amazing trails!

C • Great weekend adventure! 7

C • amazing weekend 3

Early to bed on Saturday night for a 3:00 a.m. wake-up call to be on the trail by 4:00 so as to miss the mule train down to Phantom Ranch. The whole group started together at the South Kaibab trailhead and ran down to Phantom Ranch. Pretty surreal experience being on the trail at the hour and watching the sun come up. Was cool when we started but layers were shed quickly.

With a few pauses to ooh and ahh along the way, got to Phantom Ranch about 7:00 and refilled water. Everyone ran up North Kaibab aways together, with the plan to break off into groups when people wanted to turn back. Somewhere in the box canyon, myself and a 62 year old fellow named Greg turned around to head back. Another group was going up to Ribbon Falls, but that would have put this distance around 50K which I thought was a bit ambitious a week before a race. As it turned out, Greg and I were perfectly paired. We ran back down to Phantom Ranch, waited for the store to open for lemonade, then headed across the bridge and along the river trail beside the Colorado towards Bright Angel.

Temperature was getting pretty hot by mid-morning and the halfway point up Bright Angel at Indian Gardens was a welcome spot to rest. Grabbed a picnic table in the shade and sat for a half hour or so, fending off the aggressive squirrels. Up until that point, we'd been running as much as we could but the trail got steeper after Indian Gardens and it was hotter and we were much more tired, so we hiked the rest of the way up, taking breaks out of the sun every little while. Hit the top of the Bright Angel trailhead around 1:00 and found the nearest bar for a couple of beers, then back to the campground for a few more and a shower.

Distance was between 22-23 miles which was perfect in terms of feeling like I'd pushed myself but not done anything stupid. Legs were pretty pooped from the climbing by the time we were done but the trouble zones were all feeling good.

8 or so completed the R2R2R in about 17:00, arriving back to the campsite around 9:00 p.m. or so. There were some tales of some pretty epic bonks and 30 minute miles being shared around the breakfast table the next day.

Deducted time for stops (we were out 9 hours total) and tried to estimate run/walk split but who knows. Was a great, great day!

C • memories 3