Maybe you’ve taken a guided whitewater-rafting tour through the Grand Canyon. It was something you’d always wanted to do, and you approached it enthusiastically. And the experience was great, but it was part of a vacation.

You may not have been testing your limits or anyone else’s.

Ian Anderson and a team of seven others decided their rafting effort was going to be about something greater — breaking a record. The target was a Colorado River speed-descent record — 34 hours, 2 minutes.

We spoke with Anderson about the attempt, which came up a little short.