Between the Lines: 

Marshall Ulrich on "Badwater" 

Many people would want to know how you prepare for such a race. Additionally, how do you prepare for "when the plan isn't working"?

Preparing for Badwater is not much different than preparing for any other long distance run of 100 miles or more, except for the heat and endless pavement. Like any other event, it's important to train in the same environment and terrain you'll experience during the race. So, for Badwater, do heat training in the sauna or bundle up in dark clothing and run long miles on pavement.

You often speak about the science of running. What's happening in the body in the confluence of extreme heat, increasing elevation, and demanding exertion?

In Death Valley the body is challenged mostly by the extreme heat, and I have found that the body is unable to absorb food as readily as it does with a typical 100-mile race; not that racing 100 miles is typical! I turn to diluted drinks that will then contain less sugar, but still afford calories that are essential. Protein drinks add calories and snack food such as chips, pretzels (love the ones with peanut butter in them), canned fruits with syrup, very small portions eaten often help with digestion. These small portions help by not taking blood flow from leg muscles to the stomach (which is required for digestion). The body is preoccupied trying to keep the core cool and appropriately is focused on staying hydrated. When Dave Heckman and I did the circumnavigation of Death Valley National Park, although we buried plenty of food in caches, I lost 10 pounds and Dave lost 25 pounds in just over 16 days. Our bodies were focused on shedding fat and getting leaner to keep cool. Additionally, even though we were heat trained before starting, after a few days our water consumption went down almost 30% as our bodies achieved a transformation. I've found that during these transformations, which include exertion and altitude, one must be patient, listen to your body, and let it be the guide for fueling and hydration. 

If you could add one more race to our list of the 10 most important ultras, which would it be?

London to Brighton; it is the second oldest ultramarathon in the world and widely considered to be among the most prestigious until its retirement in 2005. The race had wide reaching popularity that extended into and influenced American ultrarunners such as Ted Corbitt (one of my favorites). Many of the Bunion Derby participants also ran this extraordinary event.   

Marshall is the author of Running on Empty, which was reviewed by M&B

http://marathonandbeyond.com/reviews/RunningOnEmpty.pdf  

Marshall is also an acclaimed speaker for race expos, conventions, corporate events, and university programs. To learn more about having him speak to your group, contact us at [email protected] 

Run home to America's premier summer marathon. In July 2014 the Eugene Marathon moves to be part of a weekend celebration of running in TrackTown USA.

Imagine spending a summer weekend at the birthplace of distance running where you can run in the footsteps of history, watch elite athletes perform, and be a part of sport's future. That's the 2014 Eugene Marathon.

With an average temperature of 54 degrees at the starting line, times will be fast on this flat, beautiful course that includes 10 parks and miles of riverside trails. Finish inside historic Hayward Field, where legends like Steve Prefontaine, Alberto Salazar, and most recently world-record holder, Ashton Eaton, have competed.

This weekend is about one thing: the runner's experience. The weather, the hard-core running fans, grassroots community support, and overall experience make TrackTown USA the ideal place for America's premier summer marathon.

Runners rave about this race, which has been named a "Best of the Best Marathon."  And now the Eugene Marathon is part of a memorable family summer vacation. Join us for an all-comers youth meet, a Celebration of Running Expo, and watch athletes from nearly 200 countries compete at the 2014 IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships.