The grueling 135-mile journey of a 66-year-old runner through one of the hottest places on Earth

Death Valley National Park, California – When the race becomes difficult in this desert nicknamed “Hell on Earth”, Danny Westergaard says to himself: “Slow and stable” or “Smooth like butter”.

For 18 years, Westergaard, 66, has braved the hot summer heat of the death of California in an ultramarathon presented as the most difficult in the world. Last week, 99 runners from around the world organized an exhausting competition of 135 miles (217.26 kilometers) from the lowest point under the sea level in North America to the beginning of the path of the highest summit of the contiguous United States, they had 48 hours to do so. Little have completed the competition as many times as Westergaard, although the finish is not a fact.

“It has become like a summer ritual and a family meeting,” he said. “I feel at home when I’m here. It’s my tribe. ”

For the 37th year, the ultramarathon athletes from Badwater 135 have challenged at the challenge of resisting this dry and burning desert. The race takes place in July, when temperatures increased in the 130 F (54.44s C). Even as an extreme place, Death Valley is not immune to global warming. According to the National Park Service, seven of its hottest summers have taken place over the past 10 years. And if the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate, more places could feel its grill temperatures.

For two days, Westergaard was walking from top to bottom of mountains, sand and salt dunes, through picturesque cities and large desert landscapes in the middle of temperatures up to 117 F (47.22 C). He tried to smile throughout, even when he felt miserable.

“This raises you,” he said about Souling so that others submit.

At 8 p.m., the first wave of runners takes off. Westergaard jogs a ramp in the pale light of twilight. It is 113 F (45 C), and it looks like a dryer in the face.

Leap Grenoud in a van behind him is his joy team and his support team – Jennifer Drain, her cousin smiling for the 17th year, and the girls Meagan, who has already attended, and Madison, a first timer. The crew, which calls with playful Westergaard “Wiener Dog”, transports everything it needs: food, ice, water, electrolytes.

This heat can kill. Flood body temperatures can cause organ failure and stretch the heart, especially for people with heart disease, and cause a thermal stroke. To prevent them from keeping it cool. They spray the mist on him and pour ice into his hat and a bandana wrapped around his neck. Its drinking water is frozen.

A few hours, Meagan asks his father if he peed. “Long stream,” he replied about his amount of urine. Staying hydrated is critical. While he is sweating, he loses liquids that can critically emphasize the kidneys if they are not reconstructed. Dehydration can lead to the failure of the organs of lack of blood, oxygen and nutrients, resulting in convulsions and death.

No runner died by competition, but heat -related problems are common, said Megan Dell, medical director. Stomach problems can lead to vomiting and dehydration. Hyponatremia – which occurs when the sodium of your blood is too low – sent runners to the hospital.

Westergaard learned to kiss the roller coaster. For a moment, he feels like Superman – the next one that he could vomit on the side of the road, wondering if he will get there. “You suck it, just like in life, and you cross the stockings, and it’s always better.”

The runners rush towards the Mile 50.8 (81.75 kilometers), the critical cutting point to which they must reach at 10 am or be eliminated. The sun culminates on the mountains, throwing a warm glow on the fields of dune. It is 85 F (29.44 C).

“Living the dream, Ey?” Said Westergaard with a smile, his force willed now a falling mixture.

He pours water on his face and arms and nibbles from watermelon. Madison arrives behind him when they make jokes. “Make an emergency!” Junior Wiener in training! ” Shouted Meagan.

Westergaard arrives at the cut -off point before 9 a.m., it is 90 F (32.2 C).

Mile 56 (90.12 kilometers): After having moved for 14 hours in a row, Westergaard rests and eats toast to the lawyer. “Great! Allow the engine! ” He said that after 10 minutes sitting on a chair.

Miles later, he begins his descent into “Le Four” that is Panamint Valley, usually the hottest part of the race during the hottest game of the day. It is 96 F (35.56 C) and the sizzling heat at the top and below. Westergaard runs on the white line on the road because it is cooler. In the warmer years, asphalt became so hot that the bottom of its shoes felt sticking on the floor.

Westergaard trains all year round to acclimatize to heat. As they get older, he does not also tolerate heat and slowed down. His two -hour sauna sessions are now one, and he runs a few times a week instead of everyday.

“I’m just there longer,” he said, “but always do it.”

Tony Wolf, professor of kinesiology at the University of Georgia, said that aging adults generally have a reduced heart function compared to young adults. When combined with cardiovascular demand for exercise and thermal stress, this can cause difficulties.

There is not much research on how the bodies of the elderly in shape, including competition athletes, regulate the internal temperature. “There are not a ton of people in sixties and more who do this kind of event,” said Wolf.

Studies have focused on adults before and after a training program revealed that exercise improved heart function and thermoregulation. This could suggest that the deficiencies of the heart and thermoregulation linked to aging are largely attenuated by physical form for life, said Wolf.

The runners are distributed now, their flashing lights sparkled in the distance. This night is the most difficult for Westergaard while sleep deprivation is installed. He zigzags on the road, barely awake. The runners in front of him seem to run towards him.

In recent years, his hallucinations have included people who attracted him to rest on sofas that were actually bushes. Another time, he started a conversation with a children’s skateboard with a dog. And once he looked for hours while a guy was sworn from the edge of the crescent moon, making him beaten.

“It was just clear as the day,” said Westergaard about hallucination.

At 3:10 a.m. at Mile 98 (157.72 kilometers), he sleeps 15 minutes under the moonlight.

“No one really understands” why he does that, said Madison.

At 11:50 a.m. and about the Mile 123 (197.95 kilometers), Westergaard crosses the city of Lone Pine. Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States, rises to around 14,500 feet (4,420 meters) in the blue sky.

A crowd applauds and applauds as it passes.

“Come on Danny, go!” cried a man.

It is 92 F (33.33 C) as the mountain ascent of 4,750 feet (1,447.8 meters) approach the finish line. Westergaard walks at a snail rate and says he falls asleep. But her smile has not decreased.

“We have gone a long way,” said Westergaard, Madison putting in a stellar and spraying it.

“Brandie for a hamburger!” She answered. They grove while thinking of the vegetarian burger that they will buy in the end.

Then he does it, crossing the finish line with his crew at exactly 45 hours and 29 minutes.

It was by far his most special race Badwater 135, he says, says Misty, with Meagan and Madison by his side.

___

The Associated Press receives the support of the Walton Family Foundation for water coverage and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all the environmental coverage of AP, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-environment