HI TEC BADWATER WHITNEY RACE VIII 1995

Starts at Badwater,
Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, to Mt. Whitney Portals, 8,300 feet,
135 miles; climb to top of Mt. Whitney optional (not part of race), 14,496
feet, 146 miles.

“HEAT AND HUMIDITY HUMBLES HI TEC HARRIERS

WITH HYPERTHERMIA,

HYPEREMESIS AND HEMATURIA”

     This was the
eighth year Hi Tec Sports USA, Inc., has put on the race from Badwater,
Death Valley, to Whitney Portals. It is regarded as an extreme event. It
seems to be even more popular now along with the Eco Challenge, Extreme
Games and the Raid Galouises. So far, no one has been in Badwater and the
Raid. This year there were four competitors from the Eco Challenge and the
Extreme Games, including Marshall Ulrich, Cory Shane, Lisa Smith and Whit
Rambach.
     The main extreme
is always the heat of 120 130 degrees at the start with 100 degree cooler
temperatures 146 miles away at the top of Mt. Whitney. The risk of heat
exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration is great all 135 miles to Whitney
Portals. Those who go to the top risk electrocution from lightning strikes
during summer storms, as well as hypothermia from worsening weather. En
route, there can be sidewinders, scorpions, tarantulas, rabid bats, mountain
lions and bears for additional thrills. There have been no problems with
these during the race in previous years, but it is good to be fore warned.
Sleep deprivation and accompanying hallucinations are other interesting
factors. Physical training and adaptation to these elements is about a third
of the battle. The next third is physiologic. Three of the surfaces of the
body have to make it: skin, gastric lining and urinary tract lining. The
skin must be protected from direct and reflected sunlight and feet have to
be protected from getting blisters. The gastric lining must be presented
with the perfect balance of fluids, calories and electrolytes. Otherwise,
dehydration from hyperemesis (vomiting) may occur. The urinary tract lining
is influenced, also, by the same balance of fluids and nutrients, and, if
not, either hematuria (blood in the urine) or worse, no urine formation at
all, can occur. The last third is mental attitude and adjustment. It helps
greatly to have trained on the course for what I call
"imprinting."
Practicing on various segments of the course and watching the environment
slowly go by really help in doing the event. Knowing what kind of emergency
can exist ahead of time makes for a safer passage. I have an advantage of
having treated about every kind of emergency between the low and high spots.
A prerequisite to actually doing the race might be to crew it one year. By
the way, it almost wore me out more to crew it than do it this year.

     Bill Menard

returned this year after winning the men's running race last year. He set a
priority in 1995 to do the "Grand Slam," which is completing four
of five of
the following 100's: Western States, Old Dominion (Virginia), Vermont,
Leadville and Wasatch. He might even add Angeles Crest for the "Western
Slam." He almost buckled at Western States, had it not been for getting
held
up at a medical aid station. He and another front runner took a wrong turn
 at Old Dominion and went 15 miles out of the way and got disqualified for
riding in a truck back to the missed turn. That meant he had to do Vermont,
which was the weekend prior to Badwater. He finished that one in around 20
hours. I called him two days before the Badwater Race and told him that Joe
Schlereth was injured at Western States and would not be coming and that
Marshall Ulrich was attempting to do the Badwater Race self contained with a
200# bike cart! He told me that he would check the airlines and, if it did
not cost lot, he would come. He called back and said it cost a fortune and
he was on his way anyway. His crew member, Dave Burke, also had about two
hours to get ready. They arrived in Las Vegas about 18 hours before race
time. They still had to face jet lag, get some sleep, rent a car and
purchase provisions. Nevertheless, he got to the race in time and started
with the idea he would not win. He was never further back than fifth and
gradually nibbled away at the runners in front. He does not waste any time
taking aid. He does not like gum drops, pretzels or jerky. Instead, he
slurps down small jars full or cans full of mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.,
"anything I would ordinarily eat." He sent Dave ahead to Panamint
Springs
resort at 72 miles for a breakfast order of six eggs and half pound of
hamburger cooked about medium. It was ready for him when he arrived. He
gulped it down in five minutes and was off to win another buckle and
$500.00. He goes to a lot of races and does altitude training in multi level
parking garages. Bill is more than happy to talk about his training methods
and run strategy. His approach has to be appreciated and admired.
     David Jones'
arrival was preceded by phone calls from the media at Murfreesboro,
Tennessee. He flashed through the course smiling all the way. He did admit
to feeling the "blast furnace" effect upon arrival at,
appropriately enough,
Furnace Creek Ranch. After Bill Menard passed him, the two crews exchanged
messages about encouraging each other to do some walking. His crew admitted
to being more used to attending tennis matches, so this was a real change.
     Judy Overholzer
crewed Keith Pippin in 1993 and was injured before the 1994 Race, so she
entered the walk division instead and won it. This year she entered the
run division and took only two hours to rest for another win. Living in
Arizona and running there is ideal for heat training. She is a real champion
and was admired by everyone for her performance, politeness and wonderful
attitude. She tried to do the mountain, but was turned back by cold, high
winds. This kept some others from ascending.  
     I might mention
that the team approach to this race does not usually work out too well.
Denise and I tried walk it last year after I had done the race successfully
the three previous years as a runner. Last year, I had to drop out at 41
miles, because I was not processing fluids well enough and I was holding her
up. I let her go. I skipped ahead later and wound up doing about 75% of the
course to the top with her. Jack and Margaret Spear did an A.M. start
several years ago and were the first husband and wife team to finish and did
it in about 97 hours. (Marshall and Willette Ulrich became the second
husband and wife couple to do the course simultaneously this year). Cory
Shane and Lisa Smith were crewed by Susan Babson, Julie Tieger, Sharon
Moratta, Tim Key and Joe Shane (Cory's uncle). Everything went all right
until just two miles beyond Panamint Springs Resort (72 miles), when Cory
started to experience peeing cranberry colored urine. He was later able to
get back on the course, but the team crewing became impossible without
revision. Lisa was fourth overall and the second female finisher. Cory was
ninth overall.
     Michael Gleman
 came here with the full intention of winning and setting a course record. He
arrived with his fiancée, Mary Kay Thomas, and a pacer and was joined by my
step daughter, Angie Habegger, who agreed to crew at the last minute. He ran
a consistently strong race, but had to settle for fifth place.

     Harry Deupree

returned for the fourth time for his personal best on the course. He was in
second place at the half way point. Effortlessly, he cruised along as if he
were on his way to one of his banker's meetings. His son, Chisolm, helped
again. Jack Christian was also a crew member. It was nice having him around
again as he put in some good race times in 1990 and 1991. 
     Tim Neckar was one
of five to try to settle an account here this year after having to quit in
1993 at about 85 miles. After being in the lead for about the first marathon
distance, he started to have stomach problems. He continued to Stovepipe
Wells Village at 41 miles and crashed. Stomach problems were very prevalent
this year. It might have had something to do with the heat plus the humidity
(heat index). The humidity in Death Valley is usually zero. Any humidity
adds to the temperature making it feel hotter than it really is; sort of the
reverse of the chill factor. By not taking on enough fluids and electrolytes
at first, the stomach just does not seem to function. Lots of salt is lost
through perspiration. An adequate salt level in the tissues is needed in
order for osmosis to take place across the gastric lining into the blood
stream and then into the tissues. Fluids seem to slosh in the stomach.
Peristalsis does not seem to take place to allow the gastric contents to
flow into the small intestine. Hyperemesis (vomiting) is likely to occur
making the problem even worse. He had several hours of down time for
rehabilitation. His crew and family stayed with him the remaining 95 miles
to the Portals.
     Jim Dill was the
quietest person for being an ex marine and just minded his business the
entire way. He had 25 sponsors and raised over $3,000 for Marine Corps
League's Toys for Tots program and youth scholarship as he marched along the
course.
     The above runners
finished within Hi Tec's 45 hour time limit to get belt buckles. All other
runners finishing within 60 hours get recognition for finishing. Walkers get
a buckle and recognition for finishing in 60 hours. Richard Benyo keeps a
Master List of all those who do an A.M. or P.M. start from Badwater to
Whitney; however the time to the Portals is not considered.
     Marty Coffey was
another who had come back after not being able to get much further than 41
miles last year because of stomach problems. He started to have the same
problems this year, but not as bad. He was an attendee of the Jones clinic
and from then on he was able to trot and run most of the rest of the way to
the Portals. I call him "the Zebra" for his work off season
"imprinting" on
that white line on black asphalt.
     Scott Weber
returned this year after having gained the reputation of "Gravel
Man" on the
course last year. He won the men's walk division in 1994 and returned later
to go to the top and then start a triple crossing between Mt. Whitney and
Death Valley. Four crossings were made by him during the July August
"window." I called him "Gravel Man" because of the three
wheel tracks made
with the baby jogger on the side of the road carrying supplies from oasis to
oasis. Also, because of the numerous times I found him lying in a trash bag
 along the highway. He was a runner this year to the Portals and was the
first of four finishers to go to the top. No telling what he will come up
with this season to cap off the summer. He wants to be known as "Diaper
Man"
this year for the interesting way fluids seemed to concentrate in that area
padded with a tee shirt and for the way waddled along the highway with that
wide based gait.
     Beacham Toler, age
67, was here last year to crew Don Kesinger and this year became the oldest
to finish the race to the Portals. The oldest to complete the course to the
top was Richard Kegley, age 68 at the time, when he did a solo effort within
five days about eight years ago.

     Marshall Ulrich

has been in every Badwater Race since 1990 at which time he was second to
Tom Possert. In 1991 he set the course record to the top of Whitney. In 1992
he beat his own record to Whitney Portals. The next year he twisted his
ankle and, after being first to the Portals, he and Willette got married and
later did the top. Last year he dropped out at 17 miles with exertional
asthma after having done a 33 hour and 133 mile crossing of Death Valley
from the south to the north boundary three weeks before the Badwater Race.
This year he attempted to do a self contained, un supported crossing from
Badwater to the top of Whitney. He modified a bicycle trailer/cart with
eight different ways to pull or push it. It would carry a large ice chest
filled with iced supplies and fitted with an insulated drain hose for him to
suck in fluids and nutrients. It had flashers and reflective tape on it for
the no moon darkness this year. Everything had to be pre planned and be
on board at the start to cover the whole 146 miles! Unfortunately, he had a
twelve minute delay off the start line. After six miles, he developed a
severe headache, which he thinks he got from sucking on the feeding tube,
while exerting in the 127 degree heat and 20 % humidity. Although my wife,
Denise, and I were crewing Dave Thorpe, race walker, I dropped back to take
him to a room at Furnace Creek Ranch for rehabilitation. After I got back
out on the course, I found out he had gotten bussed back to the six mile
mark. From there, he gave up the cart idea and ran seven minute miles for 35
miles to catch his wife, Willette, who was in the walk division. From the
time they met, they walked the rest of the course to finish at the Portals
and later at the top of Whitney (second and third ones). Marshall later said
that he now appreciates the prolonged times that the slower runners and
walkers spend out on the course exposed to the extremes. He developed no
blisters while wearing Hi Tec ABC Bridge Sierra Light Boots. Willette wore
Hi Tec Whitewater sandals from Badwater 17 miles to Furnace Creek Ranch and
again from Lone Pine 13 miles up the Portal Road to Whitney Portals. The
other times she had to wear conventional running and hiking shoes to be able
to wear orthotics.

     Whit Rambach is

really in to extremes. In the last year or so he completed climbing the
highest peak in each of the 50 States, while serving as a guide for an
amputee. They did 33 States before doing Mt. McKinley. Then, they decided
they could set a better record by repeating the same 33 peaks before doing
the remaining 16 peaks. They did all 50 peaks in 77 days breaking Adrian
Crane's 111 day record by 34 days. He and Adrian think they can now do all
of them together in 35 days! Whit finished the Eco Challenge and Extreme
Games regarding them as "vacations." He met Marshall Ulrich who
convinced
him and Cory Shane and Lisa Smith to come do Badwater. We will be seeing a
lot more of these people in the future who are after extreme wilderness
 adventure. Badwater to Whitney is such an event with many extremes in this
one event without adding street luge, sky surfing and bungy jumping. Whit
had no crew five days before the race. I talked to him on the phone and
convinced him to come. My wife's daughter, Angie Habegger, arranged for two
local Bishop people, Phil Marchant, a biker, and David Svetich, a physical
therapist, to help. The team of Cory Shane and Lisa Smith also promised at
least one of their six crew members. He arrived in Lone Pine one day before
the Race to climb Mt. Whitney in Hi Tec Badwater sandals. To make it a
little tougher, he camped on top over night. In the race, he did well, until
he had some stomach and crew shift change problems. Realizing he would not
get to the Portals in 45 hours to get a runner's buckle, he dropped out. He
was off the course about 18 hours and was at the Portals, when I convinced
to go back to the 85 mile mark and do 20 minute miles. He did this,
continuing in the sandals, to get back to the Portals in less than 60 hours
for recognition for finishing the Race with 1 hour and 18 minutes to spare.
He still had blisters from the Extreme Games. Denise kept re dressing them.
She and Angie helped crew him from the 85 mile mark to the 118 mile mark.
From there to the Portals at 135 miles, the crew from Cory Shane and Lisa
Smith took over. They were assisted also by Sean Thorpe and Gus Franco, part
of Dave Thorpe's crew. The next day, I convinced him to continue to the top
of Mt. Whitney, again in sandals, to get on Richard Benyo's Master List. He
did just that and was fourth to the top.
     Eight entrants did
not finish this year, which is the greatest number so far. Tom Kruger
finished with eight minutes to spare last year. He had knee trouble at about
33 miles and tried four different times to get from there to Stovepipe Wells
Village at 41 miles before dropping. Emile Laharrague, who finished the
Trans America Footrace several years ago, had to quit with muscle cramps at
the same place as Tom; this was his second attempt for this race. Dean
Karnazes, Steve Benjamin and Don Kesinger all made it to Panamint Springs
Resort at 72 miles and quit with stomach and/or urinary problems. Don got
this far last year as a walker. Vicky Hoover, walker, complained of a female
disorder at about 30 miles, where she quit and later continued with her
husband, Gary, also a walker, to Panamint where he quit.  Dave Thorpe,
walker, helped Denise and me the last four years and in turn, we agreed to
help him this year. His stomach would not allow him to proceed beyond
Panamint. All of the non finishers made a valiant effort and should be
recognized for their heroic efforts.
     John Rosmus ran
the Hi Tec Race in 1993 and dropped out with stomach problems at 50 miles.
He completed the race with Hi Tec to the Portals in 1994 and later went to
the top of Whitney. This year, he was entered in the Hi Tec race, but
decided to do a 6:00 A.M. start on 07 26 1995, twelve hours before the
Hi Tec Race. We worked out on all portions of the course during the last
year and he was really prepared for this more difficult start. He was going
after Tom Crawford's 55:08 one way A.M. solo crossing time. David Warady
lined up a photojournalist, Gail Fisher, to cover the story. He was two
hours slower to the Portals this year, but the morning start made it more
difficult.

RESULTS OF HI TEC
BADWATER/WHITNEY RACE
Started at Badwater, Death
Valley, on 07 26 1995 at 1800

             &nbs
p;             &n
bsp;             
            Time to
Portals  Time to
top/Whitney           &nbsp
;            
01 Bill Menard           
43        
FL      
  34:15:19          &n
bsp;

02 David Jones           
43      
TN        
37:51:06
03 Judy
Overholzer     54      &nbs
p; AZ        
40:44:01
04 Lisa
Smith            &nbsp
; 34      
NJ          41:24:31
05 Michael Gleman    
47      
FL          42:06:54
06 Harry Deupree      
56      
OK         42:42:22
07 Tim
Neckar            33&n
bsp;     
TX         42:55:03

08 Jim Dill         
         53    &n
bsp; 
IN          44:02:58
09 Cory
Shane            26&nb
sp;     
VA         44:59:00
10 Marty Coffey   
      44      
CA         48:58:10
11 Scott
Weber           42 &nb
sp;     CO        
49:00:50            &n
bsp;   1st   68:02:00
12 Beacham
Toler        67    &nb
sp;  TX         50:40:29
13 Keith
Pippin            55&n
bsp;     
AZ         51:26:15
14 Marshall
Ulrich        44    &n
bsp;  CO        
52:40:07            &n
bsp;   2nd   72:20:00
     Willette
Ulrich          45  &n
bsp;    CO        
52:40:07            &n
bsp;   3rd    72:20:00
16 Whit Rambach        
28      
CA         
58:42:07            &n
bsp;   4th    89:41:00
17 Steve
Benjamin        40    
   VA          DNF
18 Gary Hoover           
58      
FL           DNF
19 Vicky
Hoover           54 &n
bsp;    
FL           DNF
20 Dean
Karnazes         32   
   
CA          DNF
21 Don
Kesinger           57 
     
TX          DNF
22 Tom
Kruger            &nbs
p;37      
CA          DNF
23 Emile Laharrague     
45      
FRA        DNF
24 Dave
Thorpe            51&n
bsp;     
CA          DNF
*   John
Rosmus            47&n
bsp;     
CA         
48:36:00           
             99:3
2:00 
    * originally to be in
Hi Tec race, started 12 hours earlier
Ben Jones