Have you ever had the urge to run 273 kilometers (170 miles) nonstop? Or have you ever wanted to visit the Grand Canyon? Well, you’re in luck, because I’ve found a race that lets you do both at one time!

This race is called the Grand to Grand Ultra. It is a 6 stage race that spans 7 days, 273 kilometers, and two states, Utah and Arizona.

If you’re interested, it starts on September 24th this year and will last until September 30th. That’s not too bad, right? Here is the website if you would like to check it out:

https://www.g2gultra.com/home

This race boasts being one of the most difficult and remote races in the world; starting at the grand canyon, participants trek through the mountainous deserts and forests of the west, encountering deer, condors, and other desert dwellers on a daily basis. According to the website, the view along the way is incredible. I checked it out, and they are absolutely right. Here are a couple photos taken by the Grand to Grand Ultra Team:

Interested yet? If so registration for this year is closed, but applications are already being accepted for next year! The race is very selective; a certain quota of participants from each country is required each year. In fact, only 50 American runners are admitted each year. So if you do want to apply, it might help to be a qualified ultra runner.

I think that this would be one of the best adventure experiences ever. Though it is an ultra run, it would definitely pay off. Think about all the views, the wildlife, the snapshots. In addition think about the look on everyone’s face when you mention that you ran 170 miles in one week. These sort of moments in life are priceless. I can only imagine the serenity and solitude experienced by an ultra runner. Although one must question whether it is even enjoyable juxtaposed to constant heavy breathing and dehydration.

I myself have actually experienced a race of this type, but to a degree not nearly as intense. On August 5th, 2017 I participated in the Elk County Boulder Dash, held in the forest area around Ridgway, PA. This race is only 20 miles, so it is much more doable. It is also only one day (under three hours for a serious runner). Here is the link for that in case you want to check it out.

http://www.elkcountyboulderdash.com/

This was actually a really fun experience; I still came across wildlife, and I was able to explore more thoroughly the woods around my hometown through countless hours of summer training and finally the race itself. Here are some images from that race, courtesy of the Boulder Dash staff, that gives a sense of how the race got its name:

Even running a race of this size will turn heads in a conversation. The satisfaction I receive from knowing that I completed an event like this is what has inspired my passion blog in the first place. My summer training has brought me closer to the outdoor world than I have been in a long time, and it made me realize that I never want to let it go.

By the way, here is an elevation comparison of the two races: the top image is the Grand to Grand, the bottom is the Boulder Dash.

Change your mind yet?