When Jonas Kyllonen—a physical therapist at Riverwood—his wife Emily and their friends Hilary and Joel decided to take on the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim ultramarathon, they had no idea just how transformative the journey would be. What began as a bucket list goal became a test of endurance, resilience, and camaraderie.
It all started when they heard about the legendary Rim-to-Rim-Rim (R3) run, a daunting trek across the Grand Canyon from the South Rim to the North Rim and back. They gave themselves a year to prepare, but soon faced a major setback: Joel ruptured his Achilles tendon and required surgery. The question loomed—would Joel ever be able to run again, let alone tackle the rugged terrain of the Grand Canyon?
Joel’s journey to recovery was long and arduous. Physical therapy, rest, and patience eventually led to him jogging again. Slowly but surely, he built up his strength and endurance, getting back on the trails. This set the group in gear again as they had their mind set on the Grand Canyon. They spent countless hours training, primarily on the Superior Hiking Trail, running races to build their stamina. They knew the Grand Canyon run would be unlike anything they had done before, requiring months of preparation and a deep understanding of how to fuel their bodies and stay hydrated in such a demanding environment.
As their departure date in September approached, they shifted their mindset. This ultramarathon was self-supported—possibly no aid stations due to a water main break or assistance along the way. They needed to be self-reliant, and they trained accordingly, running up and down the steep hills at Spirit Mountain and experimenting with nutrition and hydration strategies.
Arriving at the Grand Canyon a few days before their run, the group scouted the South Kaibab Trail, their starting point. Their plan was to descend from the South Rim, cross to the North Rim, and return—a 45-mile trek through one of the most grueling landscapes on Earth beginning at 3:30am.
On the day of the run, the weather was unpredictable. They faced high winds, rain, lightning, and even sandstorms. The temperatures fluctuated wildly, with heat radiating from the canyon rocks once they reached the lower elevations. But through it all, the group stayed together, supporting one another as they navigated the treacherous terrain.
The journey took 19 and a half hours. Along the way, they encountered bats, spiders, snakes, and the occasional blister or lost toenail—yes, discomforts yet nothing compared to the grandeur of their surroundings. Inside the canyon, they experienced something almost indescribable. The sheer beauty of the landscape and the enormity of the challenge left a deep impression on each of them.
Reflecting on their achievement, Jonas shared, “There’s so much untapped potential in everybody. Physically, it’s a grind, but mentally, pushing through adversity shows you what you’re really made of. We’re not genetically beyond others. We just learned to persevere. We are SISU-a Finnish word that describes a combination of traits such as courage, resilience, tenacity, and perseverance”
As for the future, this bond between the friends is well engrained and they are already thinking about the next challenge. While nothing can top their Grand Canyon experience, the group is excited to see what other adventures lie ahead.
For now, they’re basking in the accomplishment of a journey two years in the making—a journey that tested their limits and proved that with resilience, determination, and a strong team, anything is possible.