The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/07/sweating-for-survival-extreme-runners-race-135-miles-through-death-valley.html

WoW and people think I'm nuts when I go running 4 short miles in triple digits. That is one tuff grueling event for sure. I would not mind running a few miles in that heat to see what it's like and how my body handles it. A girl who ran in Tulsa's 50 mile race event two weeks ago took part in this Death Valley race one year. :-X

I rode through there one August on the bike.  Pretty harsh in summer.  Amazingly beautiful in winter....camped there at Christmas a couple years ago.  Good trip both times.

135 miles running through the desert.

I ask why.

To get to the other side?

He was stuck to the chicken?

Because it's there.

So is South Dakota. I don't see people running 135 miles around there.

Have you been there and looked?  They are a secretive bunch.  I think it's 135 miles between towns.

apparently those South Dakotans (Dakotites?) like their endurance races also. Take your pick,  run, bike, kayak...

http://marathons.ahotu.com/race/lean-horse-hundred

http://marathons.ahotu.com/race/black-hills-100

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/11/y-12-guard-karns-competing-600-mile-south-dakota-e/?print=1

http://gutcheck212.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9w5fP4-WrM

It's too cold in South Dakota. Half of the challenge in this Death Valley Race is the 130 degree weather. The runners have 48 hours to get to the finish line, so they can't stop and rest too long- if my math is correct they must average around 3 miles each hour to make the deadline.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2365160/The-toughest-marathon-Earth-Extreme-runners-135-mile-race-searing-130F-heat-Death-Valley.html  This link has pictures and some woman are running it. :)

The runners have to change their shoes a lot, the hot pavement is hard on the shoes, I guess the glue used to make the shoes starts to melt and the shoes come apart. The pavement temp can reach 200 degrees~ They say this is the toughest marathon race on Earth. That link from 'rebound' had a tuff race  event too a 600 mile race in South Dakota.

Are you sure it is half? Did someone measure it?

I would have estimated the 130 degree weather would have been at least 60 to 61 percent or more of the challenge.  

You've never been to SD in the summer.

Yes I been there in summer and it's warm, but the season is short, winters are long & harsh. I was only in the SE corner of the state, I went to Sioux Falls and we drove down to Vermillion and went to Clay County Park on the Missouri River, that is some park- and beach- the water is full of whirlpools and eddies. They had some sort of little dock jutting out into the water and about 10 feet away there was a big whirlpool in the water. I just stayed by the shore and kept clear of those things in the water. Dunno how deep the water  was or what was causing all those eddies and whirlpools, but I didn't want to mess around with 'em. My guess is some underwater rock formation was causing all those whirlpools.

It could be- and you may be correct but the 135 miles is also a big chunk of the percentage. That's like running from Tulsa to Joplin, MO or Tulsa to OKC plus kick in 35 more miles

I know a shortcut.

Western SD regularly hits 100+ in the summer.

Death Valley isn't over 100+ all year.  I'm sure you could go give that run a shot in a cooler month.

Everyone claims their race is the most extreme.  The Leadville Trail 100 run (the week after the 104 mile mountain bike race I'm doing again this year) is one of the highest if not the highest Ultra run in the world.  It's a 30 hour cut-off on that one.  It goes from downtown Leadville at a mere 10,200 ft. to the abandoned mining town of Winfield and back via Hope pass at 12,600 feet.  Try catching your breath as you summit that on a run.

Yeah but there is something speical about running when it's 130 degrees. That really pushes the envelope and tests what your really made out of. I heard they have a race event in the Saraha Desert  and they claim it's the tuffest race around.

64.375%

December and January are amazing there!  Lows at freezing, highs in 60's, sometimes 70's.  Absolutely amazing place.  Sliding rocks.  Scotty's Castle.  Lodges!  Old borax mining equipment - wooden wagons abandoned in the 1880's that are still intact - could be used with a little work, they are so well preserved.  Amazing vistas, colors.  Campground.

South Dakota at Sturgis time!  Yay, team!!

We visited parts of death valley back in 1984 and around the furnace creek area. Saw the Borax wagons, they all had signs on them saying things like  "Do not climb"  and  "Stay Off Of Wagons". It was gorgeous in May but cool, deep blue sky. We rented a car from Las Vegas and drove there. The area we  saw was like a park so I don't think the Borax wagons were abandoned, unless they built up the park around the abandoned wagons. There may be other areas that have Borax wagons too.

We went to Las Vegas a lot during the 1980's in July & August, and many times you'd see a runner or cyclist going down highway 160 into the desert, or sometimes even on highway 95 but that was a 4-lane road. In Las Vegas in the morning you'll see a lot of runners out in the morning jogging down the strip, and "running in place" while waiting for a traffic light to change.

Another cool thing about Death Valley - best place I have found so far to watch the Milky Way (galaxy, not the candy bar).  Even better than Tioga Pass coming out of Yosemite!

Another cool thing about Death Valley - best place I have found so far to watch the Milky Way (galaxy, not the candy bar).  Even better than Tioga Pass coming out of Yosemite!

Dark!  Very, very dark at night with no moon....Experience the sensation of seeing late at night by starlight, rather than moonlight!!  Similar, but much reduced visibility.

Death Valley is also a good place to watch the Milky Way candy bar- (not the galaxy). Moon or no moon. Workz for me!