Floris Gierman here, running coach and Co-Founder of Path Projects.
Last week I met up with my friends from Believe in the Run and Mount to Coast to run a bucket list 50k to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back. I was excited and nervous going into it, as the temperatures were nearly triple digits and there’s a lot of vert.
Our guide was Ryan Hall, an Olympic marathoner and the first American to run a sub-2:05 marathon. He lives in Flagstaff and drives 90 minutes to run this canyon nearly every week, just because he loves it that much.
Photo: Dave Hashim
“The first mile will be our fastest mile of the day, fellas,” he told us.
Before we dropped into the canyon at 4:30am, Ryan had us turn off our headlamps and take a minute of silence to reset and take in the canyon fully. There were millions of stars shining bright above us, and it was a special place to take a deep breath in, before the adventure started.
That set the tone.
INTO THE CANYON
The descent drops nearly 5,000 feet in seven miles. By mile eight we were at Phantom Ranch, getting some shade, refilling water, our quads already humming. Then, six more miles along the canyon floor to Ribbon Falls, where you push through brush and wade a stream before it opens up into a waterfall cascading into a hidden grotto. The water was so cold and refreshing. We stood under it, soaked, and felt completely reset. Ryan calls this place "the Sanctuary." Standing there staring up at the walls, I understood exactly what he meant.
Photo: Dave Hashim
THE CLIMB OUT
By the time we started back up South Kaibab, temps had hit the mid-90s (32°C). Before the climb, we jumped into the Colorado River to soak our clothes. The Wadi Long Sleeve Hooded Shirt felt like air conditioning on the way up. Breathable and cooling up every switchback. Within 30 minutes, we were dry again.
WHAT STAYED WITH ME
Out there, stripped of the noise, you end up watching your thoughts more than your pace. I noticed myself drifting towards negative thoughts. How much further? Why is this so hard? Then I'd catch myself and redirect. Because the canyon doesn't give you an easy out. You keep moving forward.
Karl from Believe in the Run put it perfectly at the finish:
"I had the whole ultra experience in those last six miles. Running out of food. Seeing colors. Going into some dark places. And then completing something I wasn't sure I could do."
THE GEAR
Everyone ran in Path Projects head to toe: Wadi Long Sleeve Hooded Shirt on top and Graves PX Shorts with Lynx Base Liners, or Sentinel Half Tights on bottom. It was rad to have the whole crew run the canyon in the same kit and watch it perform so well. The Wadi was really in its element. 31 miles into a 95° day, it kept surprising me with how cool and protected I felt.
Photo: Dave Hashim
Cheers,
Flo
Co-Founder | Path Projects
