Badwater

By Lisa Trexler

First, I'd like to apologize for neglecting to post a new blog lately.
Charlie and I are in the process of up-dating the website and as soon as we get that together we will be more consistent with our information.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Remember, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you.

And for those of you who signed up for the newsletter - you can expect one by the end of the week.

***BADWATER 2007
It started with the normal preparations for this race that Charlie has now finished 4 times.
We organized our crew of 5 people this year, gathered our supplies, and headed to Death Valley.
As we arrived to the "Furnace Creek Ranch Inn," situated in the town of Furnace Creek, we exited the vehicle and stepped out into a mere 115 degree atmosphere, compared to the normal 128 degrees we've grown accustomed to expect in the middle of Death Valley.

Charlie started out right away with a short run to acclimate to the harsh surroundings. He and his crew mate, Chuck Dale who was there for the 3rd time and also accompanied him during the Sahara run, quickly adjusted to the temperature, discussed plans for the race, and made their way back to the room for a good massage. (Chuck is a certified Massage Therapist)

I, being the crew captain and having made my 3rd appearance as well, gathered the rest of the crew - Mario and Sonya Zamora from Newport Beach, along with Chuck Weissman. This was their 1st time to crew for Badwater and had no idea what was about to happen!
I gave them a brief synopsis of what, when, and how to do everything. I told them it could be difficult at times but they would definitely enjoy the experience and have fun. (suckers)

We stocked all the coolers, prepared all the neck-wraps, decorated the vans (support vehicles), ate dinner, checked out the local gift shop, attended the race meeting, went for a quick run, and baked a pie - all in a day's work! Now we were ready to get some rest for the "big day" coming up.

7am wake-up call. Load the vans. Check. Help Charlie prepare. Check. Give orders. Check. Eat a quick, nutritious breakfast of cinnamon bagels. Check. Last Will and Testament. Check.
And we're off!

Charlie's in the 10:am wave. (all the faster runners) As we were driving the way to Badwater, 280 feet below sea level, we pass runners from earlier waves of 6:am and 8:am and cheer them on in our best synchronized yelp of "wooh - hoo!!!"
The start is full of people, runners and crew, and all are waiting in anticipation of the National Anthem to be sung in unison - no, waiting for the line up to get this thing started!!
Seriously, after we pay tribute to our wonderful country - the runners line up, a few words are spoken by the race coordinator, the countdown begins, and they're off!! Only 135 miles to go!!!

The crew jumps in the van and heads out about a mile. We have to stop about every 1/2 mile to a mile, in a leap-frog fashion, to attend to Charlie and make sure all is good for him. We may literally stop over 250 times during the next 26 - 28 hours. Our job consists of: filling hand-sewn neck wraps (by me - $25.oo sets to be sold) with ice. These are to be wrapped around Charlie's neck and placed over each carotid artery to help keep his core temperature cool. We alternate a new wrap about every mile with fresh ice. We also provide a cold, wet, washcloth dipped in ice water so he can squeeze this over his head. This also keeps him cool. Next we check to make sure his legs are kept dry, make sure he has some nutrition (bars, gels, food), and always, ALWAYS a fresh, cold bottle of Gatorade or water. He will also take some salt tabs and electrolytes along the way. This is what we do at every stop, every single time. He, of course, keeps running in the process. We look like a well, seasoned pit crew at the Indy 500. (one person with a bottle, one with a towel, one with a washcloth, one with a sprayer, one with gels and bars, and Mario making bolt remover sound effects) You could imagine the sight!

After mile 17, the runners are allowed to have pacers. So we all took advantage of tagging along behind Charlie, alternating with each other about every 4 - 5 miles. This is not necessarily for pacing - we just like keeping Charlie company, talking with him to take his mind away, and getting a little exercise ourselves. It also gives us a feel for exactly what he is going through. (though were able to go back to the van at any time - whew!)

During this race it is important to remember the rules and safety. We, of course always followed these rules and never veered from them. Unless you want to count the times Chuck and I played chase in the middle of the road or at night when Sonya and I were trying desperately to keep Charlie entertained by blasting the music and doing a little "pole dancing" against the metal post that marked the curves in the road. LOL! Good times!!
Seriously, the road was long, the cars that passed were fast, and it was difficult to see at night. Not to mention, it was hot, we were tired, and lacked several hours of sleep. This makes all for dangerous times out there.
But we DID have some fun! (at least the crew did) It's a great time for us to chat, get to know each other, bond, and what-not. We have the pleasure of satellite radio, all the food we can cram in, and the cool air from the vehicles blasting out of the vents at highest speeds! When late night rolls around and we are beginning to experience some sleep deprivation, we tend to get a little silly which makes for more fun and excitement!
I'm sure Charlie enjoyed our attempts to entertain and try to keep him awake. (can you sleep and run at the same time?)

Charlie did really well up until around mile 3. - LOL! Just kidding. He did very well considering he hadn't been able to train much before the race and he was feeling a little overweight. There are always problems with the stomach during such times of putting your body through this kind of stress. So it was inevitable that Charlie would experience the pain of stomach cramps and bloating. (now he knows how I feel once every month!) It's difficult to eat and drink when you don't feel like it and the heat doesn't' help. So for a while, almost every bit of food that Charlie tried to eat came right back up about a 1/2 mile later. This continued to happen over and over again. I think he left a lot of his "soul" out there on the pavement!
It's also difficult to urinate during this time. Running usually make you want to pee, especially after drinking so much. And even though he wanted to go, he just couldn't. The feeling was there but nothing was coming out. The body was using up all the liquids going in but wasn't processing properly. (again with the stress)
Anyway - after several miles of "wear and tear," Charlie finally was able to eat his dinner and keep it down.

Going into the 2nd day - we go through a section at the bottom of a long, steep hill t0 which he just climbed the other long steep side up - and just when we think the worst is over...... OUCH!!
- Biting flies!!! I remember these nasty little buggers from last year. They're always in the same section of about 5 - 10 miles, swarming over you like you just ran through a bee's nest. They are so annoying and don't make for very good running. You have to constantly swat them away - and they are relentless.
We still have not figured out why they are only in that one section and why there are so many. But at least they are only in that one section.
This is also where a Borax company is resting and where we get a lesson by Chuck W. (an engineer) about the dust particles swept up by the wind and blown several hundred miles into the atmosphere - not a good thing. (Chuck kept Charlie quite entertained himself with all his good wit and knowledge)

On our way to the portal of Mt. Whiney we go through a quaint little town of Lone Pine.
(population: 2000 people) (why would you want to ever live in Lone Pine?) It's hot there too!
Very friendly people, very friendly town. It has everything you need. (one grocery store, one post office, one gas station, one gift shop, one hotel, one car wash, one bank, one Carl's Jr., and one stoplight) Perfect!!
Seriously, if you ever get a chance to visit Death Valley, you have to see Lone Pine. It really is a nice town with ONE HECK-OF-A view - Mt. Whitney! Absolutely beautiful.

Okay, so were at mile 122 and 3700 feet. It's the final climb and boy is it ever steep! I don't know many people who have ever actually run up this part. A good steady hike is fine for me. Charlie is still doing well and pushing forward. This is the part where I get to walk along beside Charlie and reminisce the past several hours of being inspired by such an experience. It puts life into perspective and gives new hope for better things. There is something special about doing such a challenging event that makes you more appreciative of life and nature.

After a grueling, tiresome, long haul up the portal - we are nearing the finish. We have the vehicles parked then we all line up beside Charlie for the final 1/4 mile and cross the finish line. At 8371 feet, it must feel so good to have accomplished such a feat. I can only imagine what Charlie thinks and feels during this time. (and all along the route)

As any other event may go, the anti-climactic ending was just that. A few photos, a medal, some pats on the back, lots of hugs, and some tears, then try to make Charlie get in the car by bending his ever-so -sore legs to a seated position.
Driving back down the mountain is always meaningful too. (not to mention easier) We pass the other runners, climbing up, with appreciation of what they are doing - cheering them on - "It's all up hill from here, almost there!"

To end this journey, we find ourselves at a hotel in Lone Pine for a night of rest. The awards ceremony will be held the following day where we get to enjoy all the clapping and cheering of everyone, the congrats to all the runners, and lots of pizza!!
The race has a 60 hour cut-off time. It's difficult to think about how it must be to be out there that long, as some runners do. But for most, they finish - first or last, weak or strong, 22 hours or 60 hours - This is Badwater - this is how the race "runs."
Congrats to all the fine runners of this year's Badwater race. Hope to see you again next year.

As for Charlie - his next event is the Furnace Creek 508. This is a 508 mile bicycle race across some of the same route as Badwater. He is going for the Death Valley Cup - a combined time of the two races. (Badwater and 508)
Stay tuned.........