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August 9, 2012

Posted by: Natalie Stangl

Category: Wigwam News, Sock News & Wigwam Partners

Game on Grand 2 Grand Ultra! - By, Payge McMahon, Adventure Athlete & Journalist

I am a trekker. I have never run a full marathon. My body is not aerodynamic or built for speed.
It is more adapt for backpacking and mountain climbing. My feet have happily been protected and hiked thousands of miles in Wigwam socks all over the world.

In April 2012, I was presented with the challenge of entering a 7-day, 160-mile, 39,000 feet in combined elevation gains and losses, hybrid-ultra marathon, called the Grand 2 Grand Ultra (www.g2gultra.com). It starts on September 23 at the north rim of the Grand Canyon (One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World), goes around Zion National Park and finishes on the summit of the Grand Staircase on September 29. A first of its kind race in North America, it combines the endurance elements of distance backpacking and ultra marathons. This means participants must backpack all their food & gear throughout the race. There are no resupply stops or convoys to support them. They are on their own. Game on!!

I love challenges and I love backpacking. I have had plenty 20+ mile days, hauling a 40 lb. pack at altitudes above 10,000 feet. I may have never run a full marathon, but the ultra-marathon big dogs are not used to carrying a backpack. We will all have to come out of our comfort zones and adapt.

I immediately turned to the experts at Wigwam and asked them to “hook a sista-up.” What kind of socks would I need to train and compete in this race? Boom! Wigwam was on it! The next thing I knew I was running in Ironman Flash Pro, hitting the gym in Ironman Velocity Pro, backpacking the trails in Montana with Trail Trax Pro and climbing Colorado 14’ers in Trail Mix Fusion. Then, after a hot shower, I put on the wonderful Wigwam Ironman Compressor socks. They feel like a massage on the calves, increase circulation and aid in training recovery. They are the BEST!

So far, no blisters. Thanks Wigwam!

There are 75 competitors, from 16 countries in the Grand 2 Grand Ultra. Some have summited Mt. Everest, others are Badwater ultra-marathon veterans and one holds the world record for furthest distance run on a treadmill in 7 days, 517 miles!!

I am clearly no threat to win the Grand 2 Grand Ultra. I just want to finish the race. It is not about ‘winning’ for me. I am competing against myself. We have the most amazing experiences and learn more about ourselves when we step outside our comfort zones. I am the tortoise and not the hare and that is ok.

To follow along as I train and compete in the Grand 2 Grand Ultra check out my website at www.turnthepayge.com or follow me on FB (www.facebook.com/paygemcmahon) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/paygemcmahon).

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