Thoughts

I wake up thinking about R3; I go to bed thinking about R3. If mental training has any influence on the outcome of this adventure, I will be well prepared. In my head, I have made check lists of what to take on the hike and what NOT to take on the hike. I remember the pain, the exhaustion, muscle soreness, and the mental weariness as I swore to myself I would never make the rim to rim hike again. Now, in just three short weeks, we will be doing rim to rim to rim - "R3"!!! I would be lying if I said I am not concerned.

I also remember the pride, sense of accomplishment, and excitement as I climbed those last few feet up the Kaibab trail on the north rim. There is no way to describe the level of satisfaction when you have pushed your body to the limit and obtained your goal. It is magnificent!!!!

Now, at age 40, I weigh in at the same weight I was in highschool and I am in the best shape of my life. I am ready to tackle this R3 challenge in which only a handful of people in the world can claim accomplishment.

When I turned 40 years old last October, I promised myself with this new milestone, I would accomplish something intellectual, something physical, and visit a location I had never been before. The year was rich with accomplishments. I taught a college course online, I ran seven half marathons and one full marathon in a year's time, and had the opportunity to travel to multiple new locations throughout the United States.

To end the year, 18 days short of my 41st birthday, I will hike over 40 miles with more than 20,000 foot elevation change with my brother as my hiking partner. My Dad, my inspirational motivator for goal accomplishment, will be there to see us off, meet us at the north rim, and be back at the south rim as we walk the last few, tortuous feet of the "Death March" out of the Canyon.

R3, rim to rim to rim, the Death March in less than 24 hours. "After all, if it is completed in 24 hours and 1 minute, it is really only a nice two day hike in the Grand Canyon."