Ran the Rim to Rim to Rim run this weekend. Traveled with Paul and Sarah Harmer, Greg Ashcroft, and Bob & MaryJo Hermadson. We did it a little different than some. We ran from the North rim today down to the river then up the South Kiabab trail. Then took the buses over to the lodge and stayed the night there. Then woke up and ran down the Bright Angel trail and back over to the north rim. On the way over I ran the 21.5 mile leg in 4:07 total time. I stopped a couple times once for about 15 min's at Phantom ranch. So total running time from the north to south rim was around 3:45 give or take. We all started out together but within a mile I was all alone the rest of the trip while running. The downhill is steep but I made good time and hit the bridge by the ranger station in 45 min's. From there down to Phantom ranch it's basically a 2% downhill grade on a fairly runnable trail. I was feeling good, it was a super nice day and I rolled that section at around 6:30 pace. I reached Phantom Ranch in 1:50 min's from the time we left. But I had to go potty bad by the time I got there. So between the restroom, eating a cliff bar and some GU blocks and kind of checking it all out I was there a little over 15 min's. Made the short little run from there over to the bottom bridge that crosses the Colorado river. Had to wait there for a bunch of mules (maybe 10 of them) packing in people and that took about 3-5 min's. So once I was on the bridge and in the middle of it I looked at the clock and it was 1 p.m. From there it's all work and then some. 7+ miles of ruthless climbing out of one steep old canyon. I crested the rim by the bus stop at 2:49 p.m.
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