Chasing Horizons
DAY 01 (Wednesday)
Following a lengthy 10-hour and 15-minute flight, the road trip team consisting of Lea, Jan, Alex, and Theo touched down at Dallas International Airport. The process of passing through border control was efficient and hassle-free, which provided us with a sense of relief. Our spirits were further lifted when we spotted Jan’s car, generously driven to the airport by his friend Josh. The subsequent 1.5-hour drive to Commerce, TX passed swiftly, and after being seated for over 12 hours, we eagerly embarked on our first shakeout run to stretch our legs. Additionally, we took this opportunity to load up the car in preparation for our upcoming 4000-mile road trip, a journey we had planned to escape the scorching Texas heat.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
DAY 02 & 03 (Thursday & Friday)
Texas, renowned as the largest state in mainland USA, truly showcased its vastness as we embarked on a nine-hour drive through the Texan plains. Here, the landscape stretched as far as the eye could see, dominated by sprawling grasslands and scattered oil wells lining the roadsides. Our day’s journey eventually led us to Guadalupe National Park, where we planned to spend the night and explore the surrounding mountains.
That meant leaving the car and hitting the trail. That evening we hiked up to Devils Fall but Jan and Theo wanted to get some running miles in and decided to run back the trail. After everybody was back, the tents were put up, however Alex and Lea forgot to tie their tent down. Their oversight became apparent when, at 2 am, powerful wind gusts swept through the area, bending, and blowing their tent. They had to rouse themselves to rectify the situation. The next morning, we all hiked up to Guadalupe Peak the highest point of Texas and after a quick rain shower, we enjoyed the wide views the peak offered to us. Following the short rest on the top, we decided to run down the 920m of elevation and 6.5km back to the basecamp which we accomplished in just 45 minutes.
White Sands National Park
Following our lunch preparations and a satisfying meal in Guadalupe, we set our sights on White Sands National Park in New Mexico. The journey took us through the U.S. border city of El Paso, Texas, where the noticeable presence of immigrants was unmistakable. As we left the city, our car was subjected to a checkpoint, where Homeland Security inquired about the purpose of our travel.
After a few additional hours on the road, we finally arrived at White Sands, though it left us somewhat underwhelmed. Undoubtedly, the sight of the white sands, which are actually composed of gypsum, was awe-inspiring, and we took the opportunity to capture some photographs. However, aside from this, the park offered limited activities and experiences.
DAY 04 (Saturday)
Oour day began at a campground in the heart of New Mexico, and the first order of business was to wish Theo a Happy Birthday. With well-wishes exchanged, we embarked on our next adventure, heading towards Petrified Forest National Park. Our journey commenced through the park’s northern entrance, where we were greeted by the stunning painted desert landscape. Continuing south within the park, we explored the captivating Blue Mesa and marveled at the petrified trees, which are over 200 million years in age and were truly remarkable.
Petrified Forest National Park
Once we had completed our tour of the National Park, we set our sights on Flagstaff, Arizona, a renowned city among runners and high on our list of must-visit places. Upon arrival, Alex and Jan wasted no time and hit the world-famous running trails for an invigorating 10-kilometer run. Meanwhile, Lea and Theo ventured into the charming and laid-back downtown area of Flagstaff, which was dotted with numerous small businesses.
10,7 km I 4:29 min/km I 48:11 min
Highest point: 2200m above sea level
In the evening, Jan prepared a scrumptious birthday dinner, and we celebrated Theo’s special day at the campground. However, we didn’t linger too long, as Flagstaff holds the distinction of being the coldest city in Arizona, which meant chilly nights were in store for us.
Day 05 (Sunday)
Following a leisurely start to the day, we made our way to Buffalo Park, a renowned spot where many athletes practice when they’re in Flagstaff. After a brisk 10-kilometer workout, we decided to engage in a friendly pull-up challenge, which turned out to be a closely contested battle, with Alex narrowly emerging as the victor over Theo.
In celebration of our great workout and to indulge in some classic American lunch, we treated ourselves to a visit to Five Guys, savoring mouthwatering burgers and delectable French fries.
10km I 4:18 min/km I 42:43 min
Highest point: 2200m above sea level
Since Alex and Jan were eager to explore downtown Flagstaff, we decided to pay it a visit. We enjoyed a leisurely coffee break in the charming downtown area before resuming our travels towards our next destination: the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where we had a reservation for the night.
Grand Canyon
Day 06 (Monday)
That day was probably the most challenging day of the whole trip. Jan and Theo decided to do the rim-to-rim of the Grand Canyon, an iconic hike or run that involves trekking from one side of the canyon’s rim to the other. It’s an epic 24-mile journey that descends deep into the heart of the canyon, traversing a variety of terrain, including steep switchbacks, rocky trails, and dramatic elevation changes. However, it is also one of the most famous trails in the U.S., and it instills a profound sense of accomplishment upon reaching the opposite side of the canyon.
Jan and Theo began their adventure at 4:30 am and reached the bottom of the canyon, where the Colorado River flows, shortly after sunrise. From that point onward, the trail ascended in elevation. Fortunately, the canyon offers several water refill stations, as both of them used about two gallons of water during the five-hour journey, which would have been too heavy to carry into the canyon.
After passing Phantom Ranch, they encountered few people in the canyon, and only when they neared the North Rim did a few hikers pass them on a day hike. The last five kilometers proved to be the most challenging. Jan, in better physical shape, overtook Theo, and each of them ascended the sharp incline out of the canyon individually. Consequently, both of them completed the conquest of the canyon in approximately five hours.
While they waited for Alex and Lea to complete the four-hour drive to the North Rim, Theo and Jan replenished their bodies with high-calorie food. The rest of the day passed quickly, and they enjoyed the sunset from Bright Angel Point on the North Rim.
38,4 km I 1796m of elevation I 7:34 min/km I 4:50 h
Highest point: 2500m above sea level
Zion Canyon National Park
Day 07 & 08 (Tuesday & Wednesday)
After a restful night’s sleep and the luxury of one of the few showers on our road trip, we set our sights on Zion National Park. We enjoyed a satisfying lunch at Subway in the midst of Utah’s remote expanses. Following several hours of driving, we finally arrived at Zion National Park. Fortunately, luck was on our side, and we secured a spot at the south campground, even without a prior reservation.
Lea, Alex, and Theo hopped on the bus that took them into the canyon, but their hike was interrupted by a sudden thunderstorm that rolled into the park, leaving the trio soaked. The following morning, all four of us boarded the bus to reach the trailhead of the Angels Landing Trail, a highly popular hike requiring a permit. Despite the permit requirement, the trail was quite crowded, resulting in a somewhat lengthy hike. Nevertheless, the view at the trail’s end proved to be exceptional, affirming our belief that the hike had been well worth the effort.
After successfully completing the hike, we made our way back to the campground, indulged in a satisfying lunch, and then geared up for our next destination: Bryce Canyon National Park. Upon our arrival at the park, we were fortunate to secure a spot at the first-come, first-serve campground. Eager to explore, Alex and Jan embarked on another run, while Lea and Theo opted for a hike, especially since Theo was still nursing the physical toll from conquering the Grand Canyon. Bryce Canyon National Park greeted us with its astounding beauty and a palette of colors that defied imagination until you witnessed it firsthand. Bryce Canyon National Park is renowned for its unique geological features known as hoodoos, which are tall, thin spires of rock that have been eroded by wind, water, and ice over millions of years. These striking formations are vividly colored with shades of red, orange, and white, creating a surreal and breathtaking landscape.
9,5 km I 262 m of elevation I 5:11 min/km I 49257 min
Highest point: 2500m above sea level
Bryce Canyon National Park
Day 09 (Thursday)
The next morning, the three of us went on a 10k run within the park. After eating breakfast and loading up the car, we embarked on a hike through the canyon to admire the beauty of the stone formations up close. Since it was a hot day and we accidentally took a wrong turn, we quickly found ourselves out of the canyon. We decided to move on to the next park instead of turning around to hike further into the canyon. So, we headed out of the park to drive to the other two important National Parks of Utah: Arches and Canyonlands NP. We set up our tent just outside the park, did some strength and conditioning training, and made a campfire until another thunderstorm approached the area. Due to strong wind gusts, we had to extinguish the fire hastily. Soon after, lightning and thunder struck very close, and it began to rain heavily. However, we chose to stay in our tents, and thankfully, the storm subsided after a while, allowing us to fall asleep.
10,2 km I 115 m of elevation I 4:48 min/km I 48:47 min
Highest point: 2400m above sea level
Canyon Lands National Park
Day 10 (Friday)
We got up early so that we could visit both national parks. First, we went to Canyonlands and took some short hikes to points of interest. However, after seeing so many red rock formations in the other southwestern national parks, we had kind of had enough of them. Nonetheless, we still visited the most beautiful spots in the park, though it didn’t seem as astonishing anymore. We were eager to explore more natural and green areas.
Arches National Park
However, on our way to Arches, a funny incident occurred. While we were preparing lunch, two Americans in their 50s rode up on their Harley Davidsons with loud music blaring. They struck up a conversation and soon revealed that they were millionaires with over 50 companies. They also mentioned that they believed America might have been good to them, but the elections weren’t free anymore. We quickly realized that these were Trump supporters from Texas and thankfully, they left shortly afterwards. After we arrived at Arches National Park and watched the park movie at the visitor center, we were determined to hike to the Delicate Arch, the most famous feature of Arches. It was a four-kilometer hike in the heat, but it was totally worth the effort. However, the desert weather did impose quite a burden on us, and we decided not to attempt any other trails in the park. We drove for another hour, crossing the Colorado border, where we found a campground. The three of us embarked on another run through rugged terrain. The night was once again very uncomfortable since there were several lightning strikes and thunderstorms in close proximity, which led us to retreat into the car.
Rocky Mountain National Park
Day 11 (Saturday)
After the thunderstorms stopped at midnight, we were fortunately able to get some sleep. In the morning, we got up early to embark on our four-hour journey to reach Rocky Mountain National Park. The drive was a little unusual, as we spent an hour on backcountry gravel roads, but we eventually arrived in Grand Lake, CO. After searching for a campground and doing some sightseeing in the town, we drove to Timber Creek Campground in the National Park. Alex and Jan went for a 10k run, while Lea and Theo set up the tents. After a delicious dinner, we decided to make “Stockbrot.” It was a delicacy, and we greatly appreciated the warmth of the campfire.
9,7 km I 169m of elevation I 5:03 min/km I 49:21 min
Highest point: 2800m above sea level
Day 12 (Sunday)
In the morning, we had to take down our tent only to set it up again in a different spot at the campground in the evening. We drove up the mountain until we reached the top, where the Alpine Visitor Center looms at almost 14,000 feet (4,000 meters). From there, we began our hike downward to the trailhead of the three-summit hike. All of us hiked up; it was a quite challenging hike due to the rocky and partially very steep terrain. However, we were rewarded with great views and a feeling of accomplishment. Nevertheless, all of us underestimated the strength of the sun in the mountains and suffered sunburns. Thankfully, we returned to Grand Lake to take a swim in the lake and buy some after-sun lotion.
20,2 km I 1180m of elevation I 4:01
Highest point: 4100m above sea level
Day 13 (Monday)
Unfortunately, we missed getting an entry permit to reenter the National Park, so we were forced to spend time until 2 pm in Estes Park, as no entry permit is required after 2 pm. However, spending time in Estes Park was enjoyable too. They have a beautiful lake and plenty of small businesses. After we enjoyed our afternoon coffee, we headed to Longs Peak Campground. We thought it might be crowded, but there were still many available spaces. Since we didn’t have any particular plans for the day, we headed to Lilly Lake, a lake close to the campground, got our run in, and enjoyed a swim in refreshing water.
While we were in the water, a couple of climbers came by, and we struck up a conversation with them. We had a great conversation and met Celsy, a climber from Golden, CO, who, like us, wanted to climb Longs Peak the next day. We offered her to stay with us at the campground, and we had an evening with great conversations together.
Day 14 (Tuesday)
Celsy, Jan, and Theo got up at 5 am to climb Longs Peak since thunderstorms usually occur in the afternoon in the mountains, and we wanted to be back before that. Alex and Lea didn’t feel comfortable enough to reach the top of Longs Peak, so they decided to hike to Chasm Lake, right underneath the summit. After three-quarters of the hike, Theo split off to an easier route that only required scrambling instead of climbing. Shortly after 9 am, we met up again on the summit and felt great. We took separate routes down again, and as soon as the terrain got smoother, we started to run and made it back in time for lunch at 12 pm. We spent the afternoon again at the lake and had a great coffee break in Estes Park.
Keyhole Ridge
22,2 km I 1520m of elevation I 5:42 min
Highest point: 4300m above sea level
Day 15 (Wednesday)
We left Longs Peak Campground without rushing, as it was only a one-hour drive to Nederland, CO. We secured our camp spot there and headed towards Boulder, CO. Jan met the former coach of Tinman Elite there, while the rest of us toured the campus of the University of Colorado. We met again in Downtown, which is quite historical and scattered with small shops and businesses. After buying some vegetables and peaches at the famous Boulder farmers market, Jan, Alex, and Theo went for a run along the Boulder Creek Trail, where many students and prominent athletes usually practice.
9 km I 113m of elevation I 4:40 min/km I 42:02 min
Highest point: 1700m above sea level
Day 16 (Thursday)
We took advantage of the high elevation of Boulder and decided to do a faster workout around a lake close to Boulder. The plan was to do a warm-up, then five times one lap (1450m), and cool down again. However, Jan did not feel comfortable with the pace of 3:40 min/km and quit after three laps. Theo finished it, and Alex even exceeded the plan and did six repeats. We refreshed ourselves in the Boulder Creek again, enjoyed lunch and another cup of afternoon coffee, hiked and climbed the iron rocks of Boulder, and eventually went back to Nederland where we had a great dinner at a Nepalese restaurant.
10,6 km I 4:30 min/km I 48:02 min
Highest point: 1700m above sea level
Day 17 & 18 (Friday & Saturday)
We left the campground early since it was supposed to rain in the morning. After taking the tents down, we headed towards Denver but stopped in the middle to get another 10k easy run in. It was on another course that the former Tinman coach recommended to us. The Mile High City, Denver, however, was very rainy. So we first got some lunch at Chipotle and then went to the State Capitol building and attended a guided tour. After that, we had to try the famous America Cheesecake Factory. The cake was pretty good but also sweet and very expensive. Then it was time to bring Lea and Alex to the Denver airport since they headed towards Florida to visit a friend there. Jan and Theo continued on to Colorado Springs, where they spent the night. On the next morning, both of them visited “The Incline,” a 2,780-step stairwell on Pikes Peak. The record for climbing it is 17 minutes; both of them finished it in 25 minutes, which certainly could be improved. After running down the path and getting back to the car, a 12-hour drive lay ahead of them, and at 11 pm, they arrived at Jan’s apartment in Commerce, TX, concluding the two-and-a-half-week road trip.
1,5 km I 570m of elevation I 25:11 min
Highest point: 2500m above sea level
