The Adventure of A Lifetime (G2G race report) - Part 1

Intro

I have taken a slightly different approach to this race report because of the shear volume of information I'm sharing. While I could make this one HUGE write-up, I decided to provide some general narration of the event from a higher level and then split out the details of each stage into a different post.

Click here for Part 2 (stage details)

Butterflies

Check in nerves

Preparing for a race like Grand to Grand (G2G) is the kind of adventure that feeds my analytical engineering soul. I must have checked and rechecked my spreadsheets, trackers and rule book 200 times leading up to the race check in. I have also packed and re-packed my gear to make sure (1) it all fits and (2) it weighs a "reasonable" amount (21-24 lbs is considered "reasonable").

I've invested well in ultralight camping gear and supplies so I had no worries there. It was honestly worried about the food. Would I have enough? I arrived in Kanab with nearly 15 lbs of food before making 2 cuts and weighing in at 13 lbs for check in. I was advised by the RD's to be even MORE critical of my nutrition and weight before getting to the start line. The minimum weight requirement for the race is 7.7 lbs - I would come in just over 10 lbs for 7 days and I was truly concerned that it wouldn't be enough.

I was truly more nervous about the gear check-in than actually toeing the start line. Did I forget something? Have I made good fueling choices for all the stages? Did I label everything as required? Long adventures like this can be completely deflated by a single bad choice and even though I had planned for most scenarios, you just never know how the day is going to go...let alone a week.

A "Bumpy" Start

It felt great to finally be loading onto the buses to take us out to Camp 1. We were provided a nice sack lunch before boarding knowing that it would be 1.5-2 hours drive to the edge of the Grand Canyon starting line. It was a fairly tight squeeze trying to get warm bodies and our 20 lb packs into a single passenger van. Most everyone sat uncomfortably squished with their packs on their laps for the entirety of the trip. It was particularly harsh as we transitioned to the country road which was anything but smooth. Uncomfortable grins, low guttural moans and heavy sighs were the norm for about an hour as we (in the back seat) endured every single bump like kids catching air in the back of the school bus. It wasn't very pleasant.

As the white tents came into view, so did the amazing views of the Grand Canyon. It's hard not to be impressed with the scale and majesty of millions of years of geologic forces at work. Between getting oriented at our tents, making introductions to new friends/tent-mates and wandering out to the edge of the Grand Canyon for photos, no one was really paying attention to the clouds that were slowly rolling up to our camp.

Sprinkles and low clouds turned into the tent-shaking gusts of a full storm system that would relegate everyone into their tents for about 45 minutes. It was actually cool being forced to sit down with new faces and friends to learn who you'd be spending the week with.

The tent 5 (Hopi) residents were:

• Brooke (USA)
• Joanne (AUS)
• Ryan (UK)
• Nick (UK)
• Erik (CAD)
• Patrick (USA)

Tent 5: Hopi	The GC!
Race briefing	Start line on the GC

Eventually, the storm would subside allowing everyone to gather for a nice dinner and short race briefing overlooking the Grand Canyon. The sunset would help ease all the nervous energy at camp and eventually everyone would hunker down in their tents to start preparing for the 8 am start time.

The Journey

In my opinion, journeys like this require a routine that helps not only maintain your sanity but keeps your body in tune with what you're trying to accomplish. From the start of the race, I did my best to keep a routine as close to real life as possible and ensure my exertion was well within the boundaries of my training. What does that really look like?

1. 6 am wake up, then coffee (no breakfast)!
2. Change into race clothes, re-pack gear
3. Begin racing at 8 am
4. (Back at camp) Wipe down, clean up, wash/rinse clothes
5. (optional medical tent visit)
6. Recovery drink/hydrate, stretch and unwind
7. Eat dinner, hydrate
8. Prep pack for next stage
9. Go to bed ~7:30/8
10. (wake up around 3 to pee) 😜
11. Repeat for 7 days

I feel extremely fortunate to have met Ryan after starting Stage 1. Our paces, race strategy and outlook were very much aligned as first-time stage racers. Having a buddy for something like this was extremely beneficial both physically and mentally. We pushed each other throughout the day and ended up staying together the entire race. Our celebrity couple status was firmly cemented by the checkpoint volunteers - "Tryan" become a G2G household name!

Team 'Tryan'

Overall, the daily miles clicked away without much incident. Vespa remained the cornerstone of my fueling strategy and was the exact right thing under these conditions (my podcast interview with The Juniper Lab goes into more detail on this). Yes, the terrain we navigated was quite difficult in multiple respects but in my opinion, the most challenging element was the heat of the high desert. I initially thought that my summer training in Phoenix (low-desert) would hold up against the forecasted 85 F high temps but the high-desert sun definitely added to the toughness of the first 4 stages. My calves were sunburned at the end of Stage 2 and I knew I needed to fix this or other problems would arise so I re-purposed my arm sleeves into leggings! They worked wonderfully as protection from the thorny things as well as an extra layer of sunblock. Crisis averted.

Arm sleeves converted to leggings 🤦🏽‍♂️

The only other notable "incident" for me was about half-way through Stage 5 when I stepped off the trail to go pee.

I peed a Guinness (stout) 😬 which is not good. I immediately started drinking what water I had left (~1 L) until I got to the next check point, filled my bottles and drank those down (1.5 L) before crossing the finish line for the day. I then had 0.75L of recovery drink, followed by another 1.5 L of water before dinner. I typically stop drinking water after dinner because I know I'll have to pee all night but in this case, I made sure to have another 0.75 L before bed. If you're not good at the math, that's nearly 6 liters of water over the course of 6 hours. I did not pee again until approximately 4 am that morning 🤯 I was happy that I caught up on my hydration but also kicking myself for getting that far behind...

Remember, if you're looking for details about each stage, click over to Part 2. It's about to get sappy...

The Climb

Despite being physically prepared for this race, the thing I was honestly not prepared for was the emotional impact it would leave on me. There is something about the community and friendships that are formed from these days of mutual success and struggle. It's easy to say that adversity creates a common bond but this race goes beyond that...

Finish line feels

Various folks were racing for various reasons and they're not always what you think. The Jar of Hope gang races for kids with MS. A tent-mate was racing for her mom who passed last year. Even if you're running only for yourself, you can't help be moved by these inspirational people and their stories.

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My personal emotions cracked the morning of Stage 5 while sitting on the toilet (of all places). The morning music playlist had been updated to include "Over the rainbow" which instantly reminded me of my mother (who passed away almost 2 years ago). For whatever reason, I was overwhelmed with emotion and needed a few minutes to collect myself before heading back to the tent. Mom always worried about me going on crazy runs or adventures but I know she would be enthralled and amazed at what I was doing over this week. I miss her every day 🥰

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There are no petty differences during the week. No drama. Race, ethnicity and job titles don't mean shit at camp or on the course. Daily banter consists of (a) how shitty the sand was, (b) how many blisters you have (c) what's for dinner and (d) how shitty the sand was 😜 lol. Everyone is invested in everyone from the very start and I love that feeling and camaraderie.

Angela at the finish line	Congrats from Ahmed
David and Anthony	Kim crossing the finish line

Stage 1 head nods eventually turn to high-fives. High-fives turn to hugs. Hugs turn into finish line tears with people you just met a week ago.

Physically hard? Yes.

Emotionally captivating? Yes.

A forever family? Absolutely.

A couple weeks later, my physical issues are slowly fading away but the emotional connection I have to this race/adventure/experience continues to linger. I can't help but look at all the pictures of my new friends and finishers. I hope to see them again in the future ❤️ Congratulations to everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Friends, family and other athletes have asked many of the same questions over the last week so I figured why not write them down? 

Why did you do this?

Endurance athletes like myself are always looking for the next challenge - the next hardest thing. Stage racing combines several of my passions - camping, hiking, backpacking and ultra-running to places/views where only your feet can take you. G2G is one of those "local" opportunities that not only checks all my boxes but traverses landscapes that very few people will get to see in their lifetime.

Will you do it again?

Given the positive experience, community vibe and overall good time I had meeting people and doing what I love...yeah, I could see myself doing something like this again. There are plenty of stage races around the world that I love to try but I hope I'm not let down by comparison. G2G has set a high bar!

Are you crazy?

We all have a little bit of crazy brewing inside us - it's just a question of how you channel it. Ultra-running is not just something you jump into. It takes years of patience, training and gradually being able to wrap your head around the solidarity and time it takes to accomplish these distances.

Did you have fun?

Yes. I love adventuring. I also love the community that comes with collective success and suffering. I have never "felt" a race like this before - the family that's created over the course of a week is truly unique and something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

What was the hardest part?

Specific to racing, the relentless sand of G2G is a doozy. It gets everywhere and is super-annoying (especially the dunes). However, even if you don't have the opportunity to train in the sand, you can effectively run/hike if you know how to navigate it. Alternatively, the hardest part (especially for a first-time stage racer) is the acquisition and inventory of gear, planning your nutrition and testing EVERYTHING prior to the race.

What did you enjoy the most?

Aside from the stunning visual landscapes, the community of people that come together for this event is truly magical. Athletes, volunteers, physicians, civil servants and race directors do everything in their power to get you to that finish line.

Gear List

Numerous folks at the race this year asked about my gear so I've captured the primary items below. It's also a nice intro for folks who are looking at this race in the future - supported or self-supported, your gear choices are meaningful both for your comfort AND weight in your pack. 

• Running Gear
• Pack: USWE Hajker Ultra 30L
• Shirt: Montane Dart Lite
• Shorts (base): 2XU core compression
• Shorts (outer): Nike Stride
• Poles: Leki FX.Superlite
• Shoe: Hoka Speedgoat
• Socks: Injinji mid-weight trail
• Gaiters: Awksports shoe covers
• Nutrition
• Vespa
• Gels: VFuel
• Electrolyte: First Endurance EFS
• Dinners: Pinnacle Foods
• Camping gear
• Sleeping bag: REI Magma 30
• Pad (inflatable): Therma-a-rest Neoair Uberlite
• Pad (base): Gossamer Gear thinlite
• Shoes: Xero aqua cloud sandals
• Pants: Patagonia Terregonne jogger pants
• Top: Rabbit Deflector
• Jacket: Feathered Friends Eos

Don't forget, there's more of the story in Part 2!!