Calling all Joggernauts: Extreme meets Impossible

Justin Thrift

Death Valley, California. It’s almost 6 a.m. on the West Coast and less than 100 athletes are preparing to embark on one of the most extreme physical tests known to man. Though the sun is barely stretching its rays across the famous American desert, the temperature is hovering around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and by noon it will have reached well over 120 degrees. This scene is the Badwater Ultramarathon, other wise known as “The Challenge of the Champions” or “the world’s toughest footrace.” And there’s no wondering why it has garnered these intense nicknames – this is no ordinary race to the finish line. The runners will tread a total distance of 135 miles in mid July from the Badwater Basin, which is noted as the lowest land point in North America at -282 feet below sea level, climbing more than 8400 feet up the side of Mt. Whitney, the highest summit in the contiguous United States. By the time a runner has passed through the finish line, they will have run 135 miles (46 miles and 13,000 ft of which is uphill over two mountain ranges) all in extreme heat that never ducks below 88 degrees at night and averages 120-130 degrees during the day. The race usually requires 2-3 days of running in total. To put things in perspective, an official marathon, such as the Boston or New York Marathons, is 26.2 miles long. By definition, an ultramarathon is any race longer than 26.2 miles. The Badwater Ultramarathon represents the most elite runners dedicated to their sport in conditions that can only be described as extreme.

And that’s all if the runner finishes the race.

The idea for the race was initially conceived as a challenging Ultramarathon that would bring runners from the lowest to the highest point in the United States (the Badwater Basin to the Mt. Whitney Summit.) Even though these two points are only 86 miles from each other, the trail between them runs over 150 miles long.

A man named Al Arnold was the first ever person to attempt the course in 1974, but only ran 18 miles before he began suffering from extreme hydration and was pulled from his pursuit. In 1977, after failing twice, Arnold reached the summit of Mt. Whitney 80 hours after his ascent from Badwater. In doing so he became the first person ever to accomplish this feat. The United States Forest Service soon started requiring permits to climb to the Mt. Whitney Summit, and the race was therefore shortened to the Whitney Portal, around 8400 feet up the side of the mountain, hence the 135 mile course was born.

It wasn’t until 1987, however, that the course became an official organized footrace. For the first couple of years, an average of 6 contestants attempted the competition. Today, an average of 85 people attempt the race each year with a 20-40% failure rate. While more than 3 days are allowed to finish the course, current records are held by Valmir Nunes with a men’s time of 22 hours, 51 minutes, and 29 seconds, and Jamie Donaldson who holds the woman’s record time of 26 hours, 51 minutes, and 33 seconds. There is no award money or grand trophy, rather any runner who runs the course completely in sixty hours receives a commemorative medal, while anyone who completes in forty-eight hours receives a belt buckle.

You may be wondering how it is humanely possible to endure such conditions while performing such a momentous feat. The truth is that these runners are some of the most dedicated and intense athletes in the world, and their months of training and preparation displays this. In order to prepare adequately for the harsh weather and endurance run, most runner’s will begin running about 120 miles per week, starting at least 3 months before the day of the race. Most will pair the running with core strengthening exercises and sauna training. In order to prepare the body for the unearthly heat that a Death Valley summer entails, sauna training is essential for everyone, even crew members not actually running in the race. A 170-degree sauna is the perfect place to roast for an hour and even do some pushups.

Once the race begins, there are numerous survival techniques that every runner employs in order to decrease suffering and focus on the running. When surrounded by extreme heat, dry wind, and pavement that can reach 200 degrees, it is a vital priority to stay cool, hydrated, and to protect the skin. The typical outfit of a Badwater runner consists of a white shrouded hat that covers all parts of the face and neck, a white long-sleeve or short-sleeve shirt, long white pants or running shorts, running sneakers, and socks, often filled with powder. Sunscreen is a must. It is the norm to go through a few pairs of sneakers, and blisters are a routine occurrence that must be drained promptly and ignored. Every runner is responsible for putting together their own support van, which usually consists of 2-4 people who follow them throughout the race tending to their needs and encouraging them. When the temperature is unbearable, crews will often soak their runner in icy water or drape cold towels over their neck. Some runners wear a kind of bra over their chest filled with ice in order to battle the heat. There are several check points throughout the race where runners usually find a quick respite. These stations are predominantly comprised of small towns with a few buildings and sparse amenities. Apart from doing their best to keep cool, it is also imperative that each runner stays properly hydrated with ample nutrition, electrolytes, and of course, at least 16 oz. of liquid per hour. The usage of an emergency IV automatically disqualifies a runner from the race, so it is essential to stay on top of bodily needs.

More intense than the World Series, Super Bowl, Champions League final, and Olympics, combined, the Badwater Ultramarathon is truly a staple of what the human body can achieve. This year, the first wave of runners will set off on July 13th at 6 a.m. For more information and updates on the Badwater Ultramarathon you can visit their website at www.badwater.com