Hi Denise And Ben:      My Dad Translated The German

Hi Denise and Ben:      My Dad translated the German article by Eberhard Frixe that is now on the race website. I thought you'd enjoy it. I'll probably "clean this up" and post it with Eberhard's original German version. XO Chris Here is a rough translation: INDUSTRIAL SALESMAN E.B. FROM MEINE, ABOUT HIS CRISSCROSSING OF DEATH VALLEY IN EXACTLY 41 HOURS HAS HIM RUNNING WITH THE TACTICS OF THE ROLLING STONES. (crude trans.) EBERHARD FRIXIE’S BADWATER 2001 STORY        Brunswick. When I almost cannot stand on my feet anymore, I repeat (with my mouth) the voice of the Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, which is playing on the radio, to just keep going (just keep walking). Eberhard Frixe had completed the marathon walk of his dreams. He survived the more than 216 exhausting kilometers of the Badwater-Race in America's Death Valley.      The tour is known among runners (literally 'runner's circles') as one of the toughest running races in the world, says (erklaerte - declares) the industrial salesman from Meine. This is his second start of the race. (literally -- he stands ready to the second time at the start). Last year he was not able to finish - just as 16 of this years' 80 participants from all over the world this summer. "after 20 kilometers I was (zusammengebrochen - literally 'together broken' - or done in or out of it) explained the 51 year-old, who began as an extreme (sport) athlete 21 years ago. This time he had prepared. "I arrived 3 days early, so as to aclimate myself."      The beginning is at the lowest point of the USA, 85 meters under sea level. The route goes to the Mount Whitney Portal, which lies at 2,548 meters above sea level. In all the runners have 3,945 meters of climb with a limit of 60 hours. That is what the athlete undertakes. I did it in exactly 41 hours, 39 minutes and 35 seconds. Frixe and a running colleague of his, Uli Weber from Frankenland, came in ahead of 30 other runners. We were under the magic mark of two days and received the coveted Badwater-Race-Medal.      The events were extreme: during the day the sun reached temps of 53 degrees Celsius, and at night did not get below 30 degrees. A cap with a neck-flap (?) protected him from the suns rays. "Others wore white linen clothes." During the last 40 kilometers Fixe passed 12 other runners, each of which gave him a new adrenalin rush. During the race he slept for only a half hour. Eating was done in a half standing position and consisted of extreme sports food (trekking nahrung – trecking food): "Spaghetti Bolognese, with a little water. A wonderful diet" wrote the extreme athlete. Or bananas, "which are quickly used by the body".      Frixe was especially grateful to his Team, who (which) worked out of a van alongside him: a physical therapist, who massaged the calves when they began to tighten up (become hard), a television reporter and his female companion (Freund

- Friend; Freundin - Female Friend), & a nurse who kept checking on him. "A one time only team (singular) (literally a one play team) praised Frixe. During the race he wore a wet cloth (literally - handkerchief) around his neck to protect himself from the heat, the crew also sprayed him with cool (cold) water.      In spite of the extreme exhaustion this week, the brown burned Frixe was delighted (super), "It lies with the endorphin". The so-called Runner's High made it a good week. He does not have muscle cramps. (Kater also means 'hangover').      Now the Meine runner is training again at home. Although, more "sparingly" - he runs about 20 meters each day. His next big goal was the finishing of the Hanover-Marathon in tow hours and 57 minutes, and looking ahead to fall: 'La Reunion', the neighboring island of Mauritius. His sponsors are refilling his travel account again. "a 135 kilometer, 8000 meters' high difference through five climatic zones', he said. His family understands him: "My wife and both my children also run marathons." -Short and fast so it may have some errors, but mostly it follows the text closely. DAD