On July 18, almost 100 people will take off for a 135-mile race across Death Valley, California.
The two-day Badwater 135 ultramarathon dubs itself the "world’s toughest foot race," starting at — the trail goes from 280 feet below sea level and climbing to 8,300 feet above sea level it, with temperatures up to 120 degrees along the way.
A homegrown crew of family and friends usually follows each runner with and provides water, food and a place to rest if needed.
People all over the world apply to the race, and only 100 are selected by the race director and others who go through the applications.
This year as in the past, race also has a military presence, with several service members are hitting the trail.
Military Times caught up with some of this year's military participants:
Army Reserve Capt. William LeMieux
Charleston, South Carolina (currently studying at The Citadel)
LeMieux, who would eagerly await the arrival of Runner's World magazine in the mail when he was deployed to Afghanistan, said he read several books that mentioned this race. Then two years ago, one of his friends asked LeMieux to be his crew chief for the race. "I knew this race was no joke." He likens the heat to a blow dryer on high that's turning you into beef jerky.
WHY: "Most people will never know how far they can go because they never try," LeMieux said. "That's one of the reasons why I got into running … to find out if I can push the human element against nature."
He said ultramarathons provide the time and solitude to really think about an issue or decision you're dealing with.
"It's like a chest. I'll take [an issue out] and examine it and mull it over," he said. "Sometimes I decide to stop thinking about it forever, or I put it back in the chest."
Beyond personal reasons for running, LeMieux is also raising money for the Warrior Surf Foundation, founded by surfers and combat vets.
Army Reserve Capt. William LeMieux said ultramarathons provide much-needed solitude.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of William LeMieux
TRAINING: LeMieux prefers using other races to train instead of just running more than 20 miles on his own.
"For a 135-mile race, you're certainly not going to go up to that," he said. "You rely on race-day adrenaline."
In order to get used to the inevitable desert heat, LeMieux has been training himself to drive in the car without air-conditioning. Living in Charleston, South Carolina, provides a hot, muggy training area as well.
Nutrition is a huge part of ultra training, he said, and he’s going to rely on his race crew for when he should be drinking water or consuming calories. A homegrown crew of family and friends usually follows each runner with and provides water, food and a place to rest if needed.
Since he'll be burning so many calories, he can afford to eat and drink some less-than-healthy snacks.
"I like Mexican Coke, and I'm anticipating that I'm probably going to go through 12-24 of them," he said.
He said he typically eats meat-free, but he’s been known to have eat spicy chicken wings or a slice of pizza during the race, as well — so not all carbs and sugar. However, it’s not all carbs and sugar.
"You've got to kind of watch what foods you eat," he said. "I had two ice cream cones [during a race] last weekend, and that was a mistake."
GOAL: LeMieux said his future goal is to represent the United States at a world event.
"It would be such an honor to wear USA across my chest," he said.
Marine Reserve Gunnery Sgt. Derek Dowell was motivated to run farther after reading "Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner" by Dean Karnazes.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Derek Dowell
Marine Reserve Gunnery Sgt. Derek Dowell
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans
Gunnery Sgt. Dowell has been running ultramarathons for six years, and Badwater 135 has always been on his bucket list. Dowell He said the minimum standard to apply for Badwater is three 100-mile races — he's done 17.
WHY: Dowell said he was motivated to run farther after reading "Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner" by Dean Karnazes.
"I knew immediately after reading that book that I had to do an ultra, and I did a few months later," he said.
Dowell has experienced extreme heat all over the Middle East, but he's never run such an extreme distance in it, which he said makes him a little nervous.
TRAINING: Dowell said lately he has been running about 90-100 miles a week, and part of his routine includes jogging in place in the sauna.
"I get funny looks from the other guys," he said. " 'Don't mind me — I'm training to run 135 miles across Death Valley.' "
He's done would do anything he could think of to make himself miserable, such as running up and down bridges in the humidity while wearing a hoodie.
"Just to simulate being as hot as I possibly can," he said. "The heat with the humidity down here is perfect training."
He also lifts weights and competes in triathlons.
Marine Reserve Gunnery Sgt. Derek Dowell
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Derek Dowell
CHALLENGES: Dowell said he runs lots of trail races, but there aren't many trails where he lives. He also said it's been tough training while working full time, and especially when he was in school.
"I'd be sneaking out at lunch or after class at night," he said.
He's worried about the lack of sleep since he might be up for a couple days straight. During a different 130-mile race, he took a nap, which made it worse.
"It took a couple hours to get coherent again, so I'm going to try to just power through this thing," he said.
ADVICE: Dowell said once you get to this kind of race, there's not a plan that has a set distance that you run every day. He said other aspiring ultrarunners shouldn't let the distance scare them.
"Take it one step at a time, one mile at a time," Dowell said. "You can't think about the totality of it when you start, or mentally you'll screw yourself up."
Maj. Patrick Castello
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Patrick Castello
Marine Reserve Maj. Patrick Castello
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Maj. Castello has always preferred running longer distances, and he got involved with Badwater through the Hawaii ultrarunning team where he lives.
"The short [races] are harder because you're expected to go faster," he said.
WHY: Castello is looking forward to the beauty and peacefulness of the desert. As an F-18 pilot, his first squadron was at Naval Air Station Lemoore, in La Mar, California, and he worked right over parts of the Badwater course.
"All the valleys in between start and finish line were basically our training areas," he said. "I'm running the same ground I've flown over."
Marine Maj. Patrick Castello was part of a crew at Badwater the past two years, but this year he's running it for himself.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Patrick Castello
TRAINING: "Similar to a marathon, they say work up to 80 percent of your distance," he said.
Like others, he's trying to get used to running in extreme heat — "whatever trick you can do to try to replicate that extreme temperature."
Back-to-back long runs help Castello prepare, as well as running up hills and changing elevation — or running then heading into the sauna.
ADVICE: If you want to get into running, Castello suggests not caring about how far it is, as long as you just get out there.
Races like Badwater can be overwhelming, and he said there's no great way to train for something like it.
"Just get out there and give it your best," he said.
To prepare for Badwater, Capt. Jared Struck been running six days a week, including running in place in a 190-degree sauna for up to an hour.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jared Struck
Air Force Capt. Jared Struck
Hill Air Force Base, Utah
About a decade ago, Capt. Struck saw the movie "Running In the Sun: The Badwater 135." He was just getting started running marathons at the time, and he knew he had to try Badwater in the future.
"The past three years, I tried to get in with no success," Struck said.
"This year they picked me up."
TRAINING: Struck has run five 100-mile races before, but "135 miles through Death Valley is definitely going to be crazy," he said.
To prepare, he's been running six days a week, including running in place in a 190-degree sauna for up to an hour.
He tried to lose a little weight coming into the race, but as far as the actual race goes, he said you can come up with a plan but might not be able to stick with it.
"Ultimately, the heat is going to decide what you’re able to eat and what you’re able to keep down." he said.
Capt. Jared Struck
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jared Struck
He said the crew is the biggest part of this race since they'll have everything he needs during the two-day event.
"Typically, you have aid stations that cook food all night and gives aid to the racers," he said. "This has no aid stations."
Even though training consumes much of his time, but he's happy to be running for Fisher House charity.
ADVICE: "Just get out there and do it," he said. "Don't think about it. Sign up for a race. You'll have fun and enjoy it."
Charlsy Panzino covers veterans education, employment and transition issues, as well as travel, entertainment and fitness. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
