by Death Valley National Park, California (AP) – If running in this desert is called “Hell on Earth”, Danny Westergaard says: “Slowly and stable” or “smooth as butter”.
For 18 years, the 66 -year -old Westergaard of the scorching summer heat of the California Death Valley in an ultramarathon that has been charged as the most difficult in the world. Last week, 99 runners from all over the world started a strenuous competition of 135 miles (217.26 kilometers) from the lowest point under the sea level of North America to the starting point of the highest summit in the trendy US Units, which they had 48 hours. Few have completed the competition as often as Westergaard, although the conclusion is not a matter of course.
“It’s just like a summer ritual and a family reunion,” he said. “I feel at home when I’m here. It’s my trunk.”
For the 37th year, the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon asked the athletes to withstand stretches of this dry, scorching desert. The race will take place in July when the temperatures have increased to the 130s (54.44s C). Even as a place of extreme, Death Valley is not immune to global warming. According to the National Park Service, seven of its hottest summer have taken place in the past 10 years in the past 10 years. And if the planetary inflow of greenhouse gas emissions are continued at your current pace, more places can experience its burning temperatures.
Westergaard hiked in the mountain ranges, sand dunes and salt surfaces, through picturesque cities and huge desert landscapes in the middle of temperatures of up to 117 f (47.22 c) for over two days. He tried to smile consistently, even if he felt miserable.
“It just raises you,” he said about the smile so that others smile back.
First night: the race begins
The first wave of runners starts at 8 p.m. Westergaard hurls a ramp into the pale light of dusk. It is 113 f (45 ° C) and it feels like a hair dryer for the face.
Jumping frogs in a van behind him is his cheers and his support crew -Jennifer Draw, his smiley cousin for the 17th year, and the daughters Meagan, who previously visited, and Madison, a first timer. The crew, the Westergaard “Wiener Dog”, calls a playful call, drags everything he needs: food, ice, ice, water, electrolytes.
This heat can kill. High -flying body temperatures can lead to organ failure and strain the heart, especially for people with heart diseases, and causes heating. To prevent you from keeping it cool. They spray fog on him and pour ice into his hat and a bandana that is wrapped around his neck. Its drinking water is freezing cold.
A few hours later, Meagan asks her father if he is peed. “Long electricity,” he replied from his amount of urine. It is critical to remain hydrated. As he sweats, he loses liquids that can critically strain kidneys if they are not filled. Dehydration can cause organs to fail due to a lack of blood, oxygen and nutrients, which leads to seizures and death.
No runners died with the competition, but heat -related problems are common, said Megan Dell, the medical director of the race. Stomach problems can lead to vomiting and dehydration. Hyponatremia – what happens when the sodium of your blood is too low – has sent runners to the hospital.
WESTERGAARD has learned to accept the roller coaster ride. At one moment he feels like Superman – the next one could hand over to the roadside and asked if he would make it. “You just suck it up, just like in life, and survives through the depths, and it is getting better and better.”
The next day: run through “the oven”
The runners race towards mile 50.8 (81.75 kilometers), the critical cut -out point, to which they have to be reached or removed by 10 a.m. The sun reaches over the mountains and throws a warm appearance over dune fields. It is 29.44 C.
“Live the dream, ey?” Westergaard said with a smile, his cheeky is now striving for a limp shuffle.
He pours water on his face and arms and knew some watermelon. Madison opens behind him as they crack jokes. “Do he finished! Junior Wiener in training!” Screamed Meagan.
WESTERGAARD will make it until 9 a.m. to 32.2 C (90 f).
Mile 56 (90.12 kilometers): After WESTERGAARD is moved for 14 hours, she rests and eats some avocado toast. “Great! Let’s engine it!” He said in a chair after 10 minutes.
Mile later he begins his descent into the “oven”, which is Panamint Valley, usually the hottest part of the race during the hottest part of the day. It is 96 f (35.56 C) and the heat sizzles from above and below. Westergaard runs on the white line on the street because it is cooler. In hot years, the asphalt became so hot that the bottom of its shoes on the floor felt sticky.
Westergaard trains all year round to get used to the heat. When he gets older, he does not tolerate heat and slowed down. His two-hour sauna sessions are now one and he runs a few times a week instead of daily.
“I’m only out there for a longer,” he said, “but still does it.”
Tony Wolf, professor of kinesiology at the University of Georgia, said that aging adults generally had a reduced heart function compared to younger adults. In combination with the cardiovascular demand for movement and heat stress, this can lead to difficulties.
There is not much about how the bodies of older adults, including competitive athletes, regulate the inner temperature. “There are no lots of people in the 60s and older who make such events,” said Wolf.
Studies that focused on adults before and after a training program showed that exercising an improvement in the heart function and thermoregulation. This could indicate that the cardiac and thermoregulation disorders associated with aging are largely reduced by lifelong fitness, said Wolf.
Second night: sleepy hallucinations
The runners are now spread out, their flashing lights turn in the distance. This night is hardest for Westergaard because sleep deprivation starts. He zigzag on the street, hardly awake. The runners look like they are running on him.
In recent years, his hallucinations have been people who lured him to sofas who were actually bushes. Another time he hit a conversation with a Kid skateboard with a dog. And once he watched for hours a man swing off the edge of the crescent moon and hung him.
“It was only clear like the day,” said Westergaard about hallucination.
At 3:10 a.m. at Mile 98 (157.72 kilometers) he sleeps in the moonlight for 15 minutes.
“Nobody really understands” why he is doing it, “said Madison.
Last day: the pressure to the goal
At 11:50 a.m. and around Mile 123 (197.95 kilometers) westergaard shuffled through the city of Lone Pine. Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental USA, rises about 4.420 meters into the blue sky.
A lot claps and cheers when he led past.
“Go Danny, go!” screamed a man.
It is 92 f (33.33 C) when he approaches the last 4,750 foot (1,447.8 meters) uphill to the finish line. Westergaard goes at a snail’s pace and says he falls asleep. But his smile didn’t let up.
“We went a long way,” said Westergaard, Madison went behind and sprayed it.
“Long path for a burger!” She replied. You giggle while thinking about the vegetarian burger that you will buy when you finish.
Then he crosses the finish line with his crew with exactly 45 hours and 29 minutes.
It was by far his special Badwater 135 race, he says that Misty Eyed had at his side with Meagan and Madison.
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