Congratulations, itself - that's a huge accomplishment!

On May 1, 2006, DH and I did a rim to the river and back on the South Rim in a day hike. We had trained hard that winter and spring before attempting this. We went down the South Kaibab Trail and back up Bright Angel, not quite as long as your hike (9 hours), but still brutal from the river (HOTTTTTTT!) back up Bright Angel, especially since we ran out of water towards the end. They were supposed to turn on the water in the shelters that day (first day of "the season"), but did not, so we had to do the last several miles w/o any. Needless to say, the bar at the top was our friend.

And yes, so were hiking poles!