| | Expedition | | | | and wild animals,” says Kostman, “as |
| | Running on Empty | | | | well as landing planes, pianos and |
| | | | | dinosaurs.” Also, their trainers |
| | The Badwater Ultramarathon in Death | | | | dissolve, and their toenails pop like |
| | Valley – 135 miles of desert and | | | | popcorn. (“It’s brutal!”) Each runner is |
| | mountain ranges, and temperatures up | | | | trailed by a support crew, most in airconditioned |
| | to 130°F (54°C) – is the ultimate | | | | mini-vans, but even the |
| | endurance test. | | | | crews suffer. |
| | | | | | |
1 | | What is the Ultramarathon? | | 5 | | I heard that, one year, a Japanese |
| | It is regarded as the most demanding | | | | doctor observing the effects of heat |
| | and extreme race on earth and this | | | | on runners passed out herself … |
| | year it takes place on 12 July. | | | | “People pass out in Death Valley just |
| | According to race director Christ | | | | getting out of their cars and walking |
| | Kostman, “an ultrarunner seeks out | | | | across parking lots,” says Kostman. |
| | epic races in dramatic environments in | | | | [id:77660] there are no aid stations |
| | the harshest conditions.” | | | | handing out water along the way. “The |
| | | | | | volunteers would end up in hospital or |
2 | | Are all ultrarunners crazy? | | | | dead themselves. It’s just too hot out |
| | The Londoner who attempted it in a | | | | there.” |
| | furry rabbit suit won’t be back, but a | | | | |
| | streak of madness fuels all the | | 6 | | So why do it? |
| | runners. British entrants include Jack | | | | According to Kostman, it’s “the |
| | Denness, back for his 11th race this | | | | connection with nature, the love of the |
| | year at age 69. His crew motivates him | | | | support crew, the challenge of the |
| | with the promise of a Murphy’s Stout. | | | | most hellish race course that’s brutal, |
| | “They often hold one just out of his | | | | yet incredibly beautiful. Many seek to |
| | reach,” says Kostman. | | | | do the race again and again, wanting |
| | | | | | another dose of this immersion in life, |
| | | | | the Zen-like focus, the absence of all |
| | | | | distractions beyond moving forward.” |
| | | | | Despite the alleged loneliness of the |
| | | | | long-distance runner, Badwater is a |
| | | | | very sociable event; there’s much |
| | | | | mutual respect and support within the |
| | | | | ‘Badwater family’. It’s certainly not for |
| | | | | the prize, because there isn’t one, |
| | | | | although those finishing in under 48 |
| | Ultramarathon contestants head up Mount | | | | hours receive the ‘Holy Grail’ of |
| | Whitney in California | | | | ultrarunning: the Badwater |
| | Then there’s US Marine Major Curt | | | | Ultramarathon belt buckle. |
| | Maples, serving in Iraq this year, but a | | 7 | | So some runners do actually finish? |
| | beloved Badwater racer. “Two years | | | | Indeed. Back in the mid-70s, when Al |
| | ago he charged across the finish with a | | | | Arnold accepted a bet that he couldn’t |
| | flag in one hand and a full-size sword | | | | run across Death Valley and up Mount |
| | in the other,” recalls Kostman. | | | | Whitney, the very idea seemed |
| | | | | | ludicrous, (and actually his first |
3 | | What’s the route? | | | | attempt ended when his running mate |
| | Through Death Valley (282ft below sea | | | | collapsed and had to be submerged in |
| | level), across a couple of mountain | | | | a tub of ice in Furnace Creek Ranch). |
| | ranges and 8,360ft up Mount Whitney, | | | | But he succeeded in 1977, as have |
| | all before the 60-hour cut-off time. | | | | many since. Marshall Ulrich of |
| | Competitors trot along melting tarmac | | | | Colorado has a record 11 finishes, |
| | roads through the blasting hot air of | | | | while the fastest finish records are held |
| | Colfin Peak, Funeral Mountains, and | | | | by Anatoli Kruglikov at 25:09:05 and |
| | Dead Man Pass – some of the most | | | | the remarkable Pam Reed, at |
| | [id:77658] places in the US. | | | | 27:56:47. Those who don’t make it, |
| | | | | | keep trying. |
4 | | How do the runners cope? | | | | Sorrel Downer |
| | Completely worn out, sleep-deprived, | | | | |
| | severely dehydrated runners tend to | | | | Information on the Kiehl’s Badwater |
| | hallucinate. “Runners have seen | | | | Ultramarathon, visit |
| | UFOs, women in bikinis on rollerblades | | | | www.badwaterultra.com |