Hi Tec Badwater To Whitney Vii 1994 "some Like It

HI TEC BADWATER TO WHITNEY VII 1994 "SOME LIKE IT HOTTER" THE WORLD'S HOTTEST RACE!      My wife, Denise, the "First Lady" of Badwater, and I, the "Mayor," have been going out on the course more intensively the last few months. It has been much hotter this year. On 07 02 1994, we were at Badwater with Tom Crawford and Richard Benyo of the "Death Valley 300" fame. They were preparing Richard's brother, Drew, for a morning (A.M.) start from Badwater to Whitney on 07 18 1994. It was 131 134 degrees at noon that day on the Fourth of July week end. The U.S. record temperature is 134 degrees at Badwater. The world record is 136 degrees in Lybia. At 1115 on 07 27 1994, I held my Casio temperature watch in the shade of a white louvered box five feet off the ground at Badwater. It read 134 degrees! We were there to do a morning (A.M.) start and then go back for the eighteen hundred (P.M.) start of the race. We were attempting to do a husband and wife/ "Mayor and First Lady" combination. Then, the temperature was 127 degrees! Various thermometers that day were always over 120 degrees and often close to 130 degrees. Official temperatures for Death Valley are taken at the Park Service Headquarters. This is at the Furnace Creek Ranch Visitor's Center, which is at sea level. Badwater is 282 feet below sea level and, therefore, the temperatures would always be a degree or so hotter there. It didn't get below 100 degrees for the first 36 hours for the slower performers. It was 80 degrees at Towne's Pass (4,956 feet and 59 miles into the race) during the night. The same was true for Padre Crowley Point (4,000 feet and 80 miles) and for the Darwin turn off (5,000 feet and 95 miles). Ground temperatures of the pavement, sand and gravel can get up to 200 degrees! The asphalt at the parking area at Badwater that noon was mushy. Hyperthermia, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are always potential problems under these conditions. There was not the usual wind from the south at the start. That made it feel hotter and did not give us the usual boost from the rear.      At the other extreme, temperatures can get into the 40's at night in the Darwin area (5,000 feet and between 85 95 miles). Above 12,000 feet and at the top of Whitney, 14,494 feet, temperatures can get into the 20's at night in the summertime. There usually is a 100 degree temperature differential during the race. This is another "attraction" for the participants. Hypothermia is also a potential problem. If there is a storm, electrocution from a lightening strike can occur, as it did to a non runner before the start of the 1990 race.      The course from Badwater, Death Valley, to the top of Mt. Whitney is 146 miles. It is 135 miles to Whitney Portals and 157 miles to the top and back to the Portals. Usually about two thirds of the competitors go to the Portals and stop there. That is like five end to end marathons. The others, more interested in adventure, go from the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere to the highest point in the Continental U.S. That is like six end to end marathons. In the 146 miles, 70 are flat and 20 are downhill descending 6,002 feet. The other approximately 60 miles are uphill ascending 20,178 feet. That is equivalent to doing the lower two thirds of Mt. Everest! By reaching Lone Pine 9,384 feet have been gained. There are 4,600 feet more to climb to the Portals (8,300 ft. elevation) and then 6,194 feet more to get to the top

(14,494 ft. elevation). THE RACE:      This year there were 23 competitors at the start line. There were eighteen runners and five walkers. This was the first year of the walk category with five entries. Also, this year there were three women entered. There were one runner and two walkers. No women entered in 1992 and 1993. Eight competitors had been here before. There were twice the number of competitors this year compared to 1991, 1992 and 1993.   Pam Riggs and Karen Raby are the Co Race Directors. They did an excellent job putting this event together and informing the competitors about the race. Special thanks go to the following sponsors: Hi Tec Sports, USA, Inc., Aqua Sack, Crystal Geyser, Compeed, Killer Loop, PowerBar and Thorlo. Also, special thanks go to the following agencies. The U.S. Park Service provided the special use permit. The California Highway Patrol Officers Kelly Lassey of Death Valley and Joe Francone of Lone Pine offered safety and support. The County of Inyo Road Department kept the highway clear. The Inyo County Sheriff's Department was aware of our presence. Finally, United States Forest Ranger, Todd Gilbreath, also an ultrarunner, is to be recognized for his courtesy on the Whitney Trail. Caltrans, as usual, provided no support. MEN'S RACE:      Bill Menard has done his homework. He has run 90 marathons and ultras including 36 of the 50 States and four foreign countries. His marathon P.R. is 2:52 and his 50 mile P.R. is 7:04. He won the Key to Shining Key 100 mile race in Florida on 12 04 1993. It was in high temperatures and humidity in 16:11 to establish the fastest 100 of any Floridians. Last February he ran seven marathons to see how many he could do in the shortest month. He came to Death Valley over Memorial Day week end with two crew members and attended one of our "race clinics." They covered about 40 miles doing 10 mile segments on different portions of the course. He had the help of pacers Tom Bedford and Dave Burke and driver George Walter. He ran a consistent pace throughout this race. He finally passed Marat Jilanbaev, of Kazakhstan, at 98 miles, after sharing second and third position most of the way. Later, he discovered that the leader, Joe Schlereth, had taken a break after 100 miles. That put him in the lead. He maintained it to the Portals and then to the top. He said that the roughest part was the mountain, especially coming back down. Look for him in the Grand Slam of 100's, back at Badwater (perhaps for the 300) or in the Trans America Footrace. He won a buckle and $1,000 for first place in the men's running race.      Marat Jilanbaev has run most of the deserts of the world. Joe Oakes designed a run for him last April when  he left Four Corners (Utah New Mexico Colorado Arizona) and then proceeded westward through Monument Valley, the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest to the Grand Canyon. He went to the bottom and back up to the South Rim. The North Rim was closed at that time. Then he went through Las Vegas and finally went through Death Valley to Whitney Portals. The distance traveled was 40 miles a day for 20 days covering 800 miles. UltraRunning recently had a story on him as the "Camel." The event was so pleasurable that he wanted to do Hi Tec's race. Joe Oakes gave up his position to get him in the race. Later, Joe got back in because someone else

canceled. Marat was accompanied by a driver of a recreational vehicle and by Bairi, the only Kazakh person residing in the U.S. He runs without water and refuels on Gatorade every six miles or once an hour. He maintained his second place position to the Portals to win a buckle and $500, but didn't go to the top.      Joe Schlereth came to this race with impeccable credentials. Last year, he was considered by most people to be the ultrarunner of the year. His accomplishments would take up a whole magazine or book. He trains and races about 200 miles a week and is up to 5,000 miles of running so far this year! He just finished third at Western States and was the first male master runner. Now, he is getting ready to do Leadville in three weeks. This is all fitted in while working full time as an insurance administrator in Fresno, California. It is hot there, but nothing like this. He had never been to this part of California before. In the race, he arrived at Panamint Springs (72 miles) in 12 hours and was at 100 miles in 19 hours. Reports indicated that he had anywhere from a 13 to a 20 mile lead at this time, during which he was crewed by his wife and two children, ages ten and twelve. He began to have hematuria and was beginning to have to walk. Marshall Ulrich came along and advised him not to empty his bladder completely when voiding and to drink milk. This seemed to help during two long breaks. He was bussed into a Lone Pine Motel for five hours and thirty minutes. Lou Martin joined him from here on to get him to the Portals and later to the top. He resumed running to the 114 mile mark, when he had to take another break, this time for seven hours and five minutes. He had earlier taken three shorter breaks for a total of one hour and twenty five minutes. This adds up to fourteen hours and thirty minutes of not progressing forward and still getting in for third place and a buckle! While recovering at PJ's Restaurant he was heard to use the word "grim" about six times.      Robert Lambert was also here last year. He is on active duty in the tank corps for the British Royal Army stationed in Germany. He, his pacer, William Barnes, and crew were, again, flown in an RAF bomber to Washington, D.C. They drove a van to California. He improved his time this year to the Portals by six hours and got another buckle. Then he went to the top (second) and back to Badwater. He set a U.K. record for the course beating Eleanor Adams' time to the top (hers was an A.M. start) and he became the fourth person to do the 300 (actually the 292) and, in so doing, established this U.K. record.      Rob Volkenrand, half German and half American Native, is also known as the "Ole Goat". He is a professional counselor and has run over 100 organized ultras. This year he just completed Western States for the ninth  time and plans to do Wasatch for the tenth  time. UltraRunning profiled him in the March 1988 issue in which the theme was "an ultrarunner has got to have fun." He was crewed by his wife, Gail, and her brother, Mark Schmetzler. He rested no more than four hours while getting to the Portals. He ran a consistent race and is the oldest, 63, to have done the race. Richard Kegley, 68 at the time, did a solo crossing seven  years ago. Rob has felt worse after doing some 10K's than he did doing this race! He was the fifth and last male runner to get a buckle by making it to the Portals as a runner in less than 45 hours. The only female runner did not get a buckle. Walkers buckle by finishing in less than 60 hours. All three walkers who finished got buckles. Rob was third to the top.

     The above runners are included in what Joe Oakes calls the VTR's (Very Talented Runners). Most of the rest were RRTW's (Runners Reduced to Walkers).      John Rosmus made it 50 miles to Emigrant Station last year and had to quit. He was determined to settle his account with the course this year. We got together at the "clinics" in Death Valley, Panamint Valley and more recently on the Portal Road and Whitney Trail. He was initially crewed by Kyle Driggers, a photographer and non runner, from Beatty, Nevada. John experienced some spectacular hallucinations the second night with large apartment buildings appearing out by Darwin (ghost town). Several other runners shared unusual hallucinations during the second night. The soles of his feet became so blistered that his podiatrist later took pictures of the specimens. At about 120 miles, Fred Shufflebarger, famous ultra runner, who was crewing, cut out a hole in the sole of the each shoe at the metatarsal area allowing the foot with blisters to sink into the hollow space without hitting the ground. It has been likened to a butt on a toilet seat not hitting the water. He was finally able to blast past the next two, who had been sharing his space for 50 miles. In the Orange County Register, on 08 01 1994, he got a great write up. It took up the whole Sports section. John just tries to be a quiet guy in Fullerton and is now experiencing a lot of media attention; like that found in the recent nearby Nixon funeral. He came back two weeks later to do the top.      Mick Justin is a CPA from Minnesota, where it gets to 80 degrees and 100% humidity. He has done fourteen marathons and three ultras since starting running in 1986. On arriving in Death Valley ten days before the race to acclimate, he could hardly believe the 122 degree air temperature as he opened the door of his truck. He drove the course several times. On one occasion, he spotted a white figure on the road at about the 110 mile mark. He stopped and met my wife, who was on a training walk. At that time, he said that he had done a one and a half mile run since arriving. It was pointed out that at least it was one hundredth of the course. He kicked his mileage up from there and had a nice performance.      Harry Deupree was here for the third time. He did well in 1991. In 1992 he had blisters and was twelve hours slower. He has been at Leadville every year that it has been run. Last year he was the last finisher getting to the line with fifteen seconds to spare before the final cut off! This year was another good one for him here. The whole way, he added real class to the event. He looked like an executive, which he is in banking, and proceeded as if he were going to a board meeting. He keeps wondering if I have attended the National Mayor's Conference in D.C. each year. He would like me to set up an "Endurance Athlete Institute" in Lone Pine. That is not a bad idea. He was crewed by his son, Chisolm, and one of his friends, Charles Gates.      Keith Pippin is well known for his contributions to ultrarunning, especially his articles in UltraRunning each month. He has great respect for the course and adds a special sensitivity to this event. He was crewed by Norm and Helen Klein. In his spare time, Norm had his eye on the desert cactus and Helen was trying to experience some heat, as she will be doing the Moroccan Sahara next April.      Jack Denness was back for the fourth time. Rochester, England, is his home and he works for Lloyd's of London as a driver. He has done 80 marathons and ultras. Each

year, with his running, he raises funds for local hospitals, emergency transportation and cancer research. There were thirty minutes to spare in reaching the Portals. He was conserving energy as he then went to the top of Mt. Whitney and the back to Badwater!      Steve Kerr did the course in 1992 and is also from England where he works for Lloyd’s of London. He returned to do the race for the second time; he crewed it in 1991. Extremes and adventure are why he comes back. The same charities are supported by his running. Jack and he were  neck and neck to the Portals and then to the top and then back to Badwater! So, the three Brits did the out and back; that's an all time total of six so far.     Tom Kruger got his endurance training raising children; a different approach to the sport. He wanted to prove his insanity by finishing this race, which he did on horrible blisters, with six minutes and forty seconds to spare. At Panamint Springs (72 miles), Denise and I provided a "hospitality room" for Hi Tec and the runners, walkers, crews and pacers. It had three double beds, a bathroom and a shower. Refreshments were provided. As teams came off the course to "crash," it almost  looked like a Rwandan Refugee center. Others thought it resembled a "crack house" or "shooting gallery" with all of those syringes and needles around; they were, however, for aspirating blisters. It was there that I personally treated his blisters by draining them and then patching them. I and others didn't think he could go any further. It was the insanity which prevailed. This man has shear guts and determination and was admired by everyone.      Next is the Joe Oakes' "RPTBW" (Runners Pretending to Be Walkers) category. Scott Weber has completed 16 100 mile races. Extreme environments and adventure are his favorites. He is a race organizer and operator of Team Ultrasport. Teresa Daus Weber is his wife whom he coaches. She is one of America's top women ultrarunners. In doing Western States just four and a half weeks earlier, he developed horrible blisters. Therefore, he decided to do the walk version. At first, he was going to do it unassisted using water stashes and pushing a jog cart filled with supplies. At the last minute, he  came up with a father and son crew, Dave and Lane Cooper. Struggling to the finish, almost on tip toes, because of new blisters on top of the old ones, he was able to come in second in the walk division to win a buckle and $500. (At the time of this writing, Scott is back on the course doing a solo, unassisted, Oasis to Oasis trek with a fully loaded jog cart. He is attempting a triple crossing between Badwater and the top of Whitney!)     The men non finishers and reasons why are as follows:      Marshall Ulrich had recently completed the Pike's Peak Quad. On 07 04 1994, he did the first crossing of Death Valley from the south Park boundary 133 miles to the north Park boundary in 120 degree temperatures in just over 28 hours. He had not quite recovered from these achievements and wisely dropped at 20 miles. He has the course record to the Portals and to the top of Whitney and has won the event in 1991, 1992 and 1993. After partially recovering, he spent the rest of the time on the course cheering and encouraging the lead runners as well as dropping back to the rear most competitors advising them and making

special trips with supplies. With his efforts, Tom Kruger was able to finish, barely within the 60 hour time limit. Marshall is a true champion. His wife, Willette, and his pacer, Dr. Scott Schneider, also contributed a lot to the race. While in Lone Pine, as the race was continuing, I took him to my office for an examination and his vital signs were normal. An ECG was also normal. I wired him with a Holter monitor, which was also normal.      I, (Ben Jones), Runner Pretending to Be a Walker, was not properly processing fluids and manufacturing urine. This, I realized after the first hour, during which time I had not voided. This problem had not occurred in the last three years of being able to complete the course to the top. Early, I began to have feelings that I might not make it, also a new feeling for this course. Under hydration before the race was probably a big factor. At 27 miles, I had a pow wow with my wife, Denise, also in the walk division, and decided to try some IV's. I stretched out on the casket (containing water for future immersions) and started the IV myself, with the help of Bruce Pottenger, chief crew member, and Elaine Perry, another crew member, doing her 12 hour shift. Blood ran down my arm and onto the casket before the tubing could be connected. With the third liter of 5% Dextrose and half Normal Saline, I finally had to pee. The battery of the U Haul truck went dead at the same time, because of all of the flashing hazard lights draining it. While waiting to get a jump start, I took a fourth liter. We lost two hours during this time. On reaching  Stovepipe Wells Village at 40 miles and 14 hours and 15 minutes, I decided I had better quit. I was slowing up my wife and, more  importantly, I didn't want to wind up with renal failure and on a renal dialysis ward. I had completed the course the three previous years and let myself be content with that. In 92 marathons and 44 ultras, I have only DNF'd twice. The first was a marathon 15 years ago, when it was real hot and I got leg cramps; I was last by about a half an hour and quit, because there was no aid. The next was about a year ago when the Shadow of the Giants 50K was called off during the race, because of a snow storm. We gave up the concept of the "Mayor and First Lady" effort. Marshall and I made very good decisions and we were complimented for it. We did not want to jeopardize Hi Tec by becoming casualties or our own internal organs with potentially lethal problems. His experience with being a lead pack runner prevailed. My experience as a back of the pack runner and with my medical and course knowledge also prevailed. Let these be valuable lessons in the future for you, who might want to do the course.            Marty Coffey came out to one of the "clinics" the last week end in May. We covered the course from Emigrant Station at 50 miles, up over Towne's Pass at 59 miles and on to Panamint Springs Resort at 72 miles. The heat in the desert is what he wanted to experience. He is the head waiter at the Broiler Room Restaurant at Caesar's in South Lake Tahoe. When he wasn't in the Broiler Room, he was in a sauna drinking a gallon of fluid. In the race at about 45 miles and 15 hours, he was having so much stomach trouble and projectile vomiting that he had to quit and go back home.      George Staub hoped to get to Towne's Pass at a rate of five miles per hour, which he did. From Stovepipe Wells (40 miles) to Towne's Pass (59) miles, he had to assume the position of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, because of problems with the popliteal area of each knee. He said that he was not bio mechanically ready and quit at 59 miles in about 11 hours.

     Don Kesinger had crewed Bob Givens in the past. When Bob decided not to compete, Don got accepted, but had a broken toe. He became a RPTBW (Runner Pretending To Be a Walker). He gave it his best shot and quit from fatigue after 70 miles and about 26 hours.      Joe Oakes did Western States in 1979 in 23:03 and has done the Ironman Triathlon six times. He has run many marathons, ultras and done many triathlons. On 07 20 1993, he completed a self propelled circum navigation of the earth. The Supermarathon of the Golden West in 1992 was one of his productions. He also organized Marat Jilanbaev's recent 800 mile run through the deserts of the southwest including Death Valley. This race he refers to as "Baaadwater". While wearing open toed shoes, he picked up a lot of gravel and he got "baaad" blisters and quit at Panamint Springs after 72 miles and about 24 hours. He still qualifies being "certifiably nuts" by doing what he did.      Gary Hoover is a 56 year old Baptist pastor who started running in 1991 so far completing 13 ultras. He became inspired to do this run after reading Richard Benyo's book the "Death Valley 300." Stomach problems caused him to  quit at 85 miles after about 36 hours. "This was about as close to hell as I hope to get," he remarked at the post race meeting. WOMEN'S RACE:      Judy Overholzer was familiar with the course after crewing and pacing Keith Pippin last year and from covering the course the last week end of May.  She has been running ultras since 1976, mainly for health. A hamstring injury several months ago made her decide to be a RPTBW (Runner Pretending To Be a Walker). She moved forward the whole time except for a two hour break to become first in the walk division to the Portals and get a buckle and $1,000.         Denise Jones has run at least 50 marathons and ultras including the Nanisivik Midnight Sun Run, the Kilimanjaro Marathon and climb, the double crossing of the Grand Canyon, the 100 mile Himalayan Run/Trek and next winter will do the first Antarctic marathon. She crewed me in 1991, 1992 and 1993. We covered the course about three times in the last two months getting ready. We averaged 10 miles a day walking in temperatures no cooler than 85 degrees and worked out at Badwater when it was 132 degrees. Altitude work outs were done on the Whitney Trail the last three weeks before the race. She was off the course two hours with my problems and then crashed twice at Panamint for a total of five more hours. Her daughter, Angie Habegger, and her boy friend, Bruce Pottenger, were the chief crew members. Bruce made our "Mayor and First Lady" T shirts again this year. Jane Byng, ultra photographer, was with us most of the time. She loves to feature women athletes. Elaine Perry, tri athlete was with us the first twelve hours. Dave Thorpe, racewalker, was accepted by Hi Tec and was entered in the walk division, but had to withdraw because of a major business deal and also because he couldn't convince his wife that the adventure was a safe thing to do. He crewed and paced me in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He sweeps up and down the course offering encouragement and Haagen Dasz bars to the participants. Denise and I have offered to help him bag the course next year. Heidi Anderson, ultra runner, and USFS Whitney Trail Ranger, helped her from mile 95 to 122. Marshall and Willette Ulrich

time

were relentless in their help and support. At the finish area at the Portals, Marshall chased away a bear in Bill Menard's vehicle, so Denise could safely finish. She didn't realize it at the time. After I dropped out at 40 miles and recovered a bit, I rejoined to assist from mile 55 to 95 and from mile 105 to 135 and later do the Mt. Whitney ascent/descent. Denise was the second woman walker (RPTBW) to the Portals and got a buckle. She became the first ever woman walker with an A.M. and P.M. start from Badwater to the top of Whitney. She is in the same company as Eleanor Adams, Jean Ennis, Linda Elam, Barbara Alvarez + Angelika Castaneda = The Twin Team and Margaret Speer. It was a humbling experience for all of us. The whole adventure brought us closer together and it brings tears to our eyes reviewing tapes and pictures of her performance and the performances of all of the others. It is an overwhelming feeling when the "Hi Tec Badwater Family" gets together on this pilgrimage each year. It grows all the

and is what brings us back. We're here living at the 122 mile mark anyway.      Eileen Eliot enjoys challenges at work with "special" children and in running ultras, which she discovered through a copy of UltraRunning magazine. In the months before the race, we talked on the phone a lot, particularly about problems which could occur. She kept referring to Mt. Whitney as Mt. McKinley. I silently wondered if she was confused about which event she was doing. Starting and finishing as a very talented runner (VTR), she became a Runner Reduced To Walking (RRTW) in the mid portion. She took several long breaks in the "hospitality room" at Panamint Springs, during which time others thought she couldn't proceed. In the last half of the race she was fifteen miles behind Denise, the second woman walker. By running again on shear guts and determination, she closed the gap to about two miles and became  the first and only woman runner to finish. She's tough, like Tom Kruger, who was last in the men's run division. RESULTS OF HI TEC BADWATER TO WHITNEY: Started at Badwater, Death Valley, California on 07 27 1994 at 1800              &nbs p;             &n bsp;                           &nbs p;   Time to Portals  Time to Whitney 01 Bill Menard            &nbs p;       42    FL       32:00:33            1st     49:49:56         02 Marat Jilanbaev            & nbsp; 30    KAZ    34:36:10 03 Joe Schlereth            &

nbsp;     44    CA      40:19:57            8th   400:40:00 04 Robert Lambert            &nb sp; 37    UK      42:11:21            2nd    50:15:31 05 Rob Volkenrand             63    OR      43:31:52             3rd    64:00:00 06 John Rosmus            &nbs p;     46    CA      46:11:19             7th    400:07:00 07 Judy Overholzer(walk)   53    AZ       46:57:50 08 Mick Justin            &nbs p;       46    MN      47:57:28 09 Harry Deupree            &nb sp;  55    OK       51:06:13 10 Scott Weber(walk)         41    CO       52:30:00             9th  587:50:00 11 Keith Pippin            &nbs p;      54    AZ        53:23:10 12 Denise Jones(walk)        48    CA        55:32:15             6th    90:59:00    (A.M. start 1115 on 07 27 1994)              ;               &nbs p;             &n bsp;  97:44:00 13 Eileen Eliot              ;       50    FL         56:30:00       14 Jack Denness            &nb sp;    59    UK        59:25:06            

5th      75:00:00 15 Steve Kerr                      38    UK        59:25:06             4th    & nbsp; 74:45:00 16 Tom Kruger            &nbs p;      36    CA        59:53:20   Return to Badwater 01 Robert Lambert            &nb sp;        UK      118:57:35 02 Jack Denness            &nb sp;            UK      161:20:00 03 Steve Kerr                              UK      161:20:00         Badwater Mayor Ben Jones