Episode 0…My first Grand Canyon through-hike took me to the edge of my comfort zone and beyond. I believe life begins at the edge of your comfort zone! In this episode, I share my first experience hiking a continuous 42 mile Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim hike.
In June 2013, I walked into the Grand Canyon and 28 hours later, emerged with swollen, blistered feet, a broken spirit, and a fear of living adventurously.
Ultimately, this experience woke me up and inspired me to run an Ironman, climb to 18,000 feet in the Himalayas and return to the 42 mile Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim (R3) hike.
Read about my first Grand Canyon R3 hike HERE and see pictures of the aftermath.
As I processed this event, I realized I had a choice to make: live within my comfort zone or not. Eventually, I decided to tackle R3 for a second time. It was a success mentally and physically and we shaved 10 hours off the original time! This immensely challenging and somewhat traumatic experience is something I will never forget.
Below are some lessons learned:
Mindset
Do something that scares you, that stretches you. It doesn’t have to be hiking R3 in the Grand Canyon; it can be signing up for a half marathon, or striking up a conversation with a stranger, or anything that makes you a little nervous.
By seeking new, challenging experiences, you’re firing and wiring new neural pathways in your brain. You’ll gain confidence and find that you can do hard things. It gives you perspective on not sweating the small stuff.
For me, I’ve learned these endurance hikes are a portal to feeling intensely alive.
Physical Preparedness
The amount of physical preparation depends on your current state of physical activity. For a frame of reference, prior to this trip, the longest run or hike I had ever done was one half marathon, a few years prior.
I was a strong cyclist and had completed 1 century (100 mile bike ride) in a supported, flat race. I had no idea what to expect or how to really train and I underestimated the difficulty of this hike.
One of the best things you can do is find stairs, strap on a pack and walk up and down the stairs. An hour to an hour and half at least 3 times a week, modifying depending on your starting point. Increase your weight in your pack gradually, and ideally, practice with more weight than you will carry on your trip.
I like variety in my work out, so I incorporate trail running and cycling as well. It’s important to have a strong core and build strength.
Gear
The number one recommendation I have is comfortable trail running shoes for hiking or running the Grand Canyon. I also use body glide on my feet and I wear toe socks to help prevent blisters. I bring a spare pair of socks.
Also, a I use a lightweight long sleeve shirt, buff and hat, wide-brim is nice if you have it.
Food and Nutrition
Nutrition is person-specific. This was a big learning for me and I gained a lot of knowledge about how my body reacts on this trip as well as during my Ironman triathlon training.
For me, I hydrate with coconut water and water with Nuun tablets 48-72 hours prior. It is a desert… 🙂
During the hike, I will use Scratch Labs to mix with my water. On long endurance trips, taste fatigue can occur, so it’s important to have different flavors.
For food, I like high-calorie, salty food that tastes good to me. I also use Base Salts to replenish electrolytes. In the desert, your sweat evaporates rapidly.
Discovering my Why
As I reflected back over this experience, I discovered my why, that still holds true today: I believe in discovering my full potential, to be better than myself, to challenge my physical and mental limits. I believe in challenging others to discover their potential and push their limits. Life truly begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Ultimate Grand Canyon Guide – Gear List, Training Plan, Trip Logistics
- Pictures + story from my first Grand Canyon R3 Hike
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Get your free Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mindful Hiking HERE
