Badwater is today

Eight fierce competitors are running the Badwater 135 today across the floor of Death Valley and half way up Mt. Whitney. Three waves of runners started at 6 a.m., 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Less than half are to the 41 mile marker now. Dean Karnazas is in 4th place and running between 6 1/2 and 7 1/2 miles per hour. So many numbers, but it just can't possibly tell the true story can it? Pam Reed, who's book I just read, is in 7th place and running a steady 10 minute mile. She has 95 miles to go. . . . Its incredible to me, the determination and grit of these ultrarunners.

Here's the link to all the stats if you're interested in tracking them. http://www.badwater.com/2008web/index.html Photos, stories, updates, and later tonight they promise video.

I'm watching Dan Jensen, number 58. He's running on a prosthetic leg. One leg! And Pam Reed, and Dean Karnazas. But really, the true heroes are the ones that are out there twice as long as the big guys. . . .the ones that might not finish. The ones that are on their feet for many, many more hours than everyone else. That would be, after all.