Pictures From The Grand Canyon 100 Miler

It's hard to put your camera away when you're at the Grand Canyon. Even if you're in the middle of running a 100 mile race. I took around 250 pictures at the Grand Canyon 100 a week or so ago. You can read the race report and see my favorite pictures HERE.

Here are a some pictures that ALMOST, but didn't quite make the cut for the race report. Within a few miles we were already at the first amazing scene of the day: Monument Point.

I must show you a picture of my friend Andy Pearson who KILLED this race, winning it in 20 hours and 3 minutes. I would trade my first born for a moustache like this. An aid station worker who was also impressed said he looked like the Lorax. You can read Andy's blog HERE. Check out the moustache.....and feel your jealousy overwhelm you.

Another one of the seriously scenic viewpoints was Parisawampitts:

Somewhere in the black hole between aid stations with my friends Jared Catherine:

Catherine caught this picture of me running on the Rainbow Rim Trail. There were single track sections like this that were delivered straight from heaven.

At a marathon the aid stations have water, Gatorade, and orange slices. But check out this gourmet buffet of high fructose corn syrup that you find at ultramarathons! Coke, Mountain Dew, candy, crackers, granola bars, sandwiches, cookies, fruit, chips, pretzels, pickles, doughnut holes, bean burritos.........any kind of densely packed calories your heart could desire!

I had the pleasure of spending almost all of the first 50 miles with some of my closest running friends Clair, Catherine, and Jared. We've spent so many miles together during so many races that we know each other inside and out. I love them. Even during this picture at mile 45 when everyone was hurting we were still having so much fun together. We FAR exceeded the amount of laughing you'd typically see at an ultra.

Catherine and Jared finished the race at 50 miles and Clair kept going but eventually his legs weren't cooperating and he was forced to drop from the race early. From there I ran the next 40+ miles by myself through the night and into the next day. I can't tell you what an incredible boost it was to see Jared waiting for me at mile 95.

I knew that he was sore after finishing running 50 miles the night before. It meant so much for him to run with me for a bit and give me a shot of encouragement. Jared's wife Kate is an incredible photographer and caught these pictures of us:

One final jump at mile 95:

Here is a picture of what feet look like after running 100 miles:

I am so thankful for the support of my wife and kids. It was great having Mel and Jackson volunteer at the race and being able to see them throughout the day. I am a lucky guy.