Badwater Ultramarathon 2006 - Akos Konya

Eighty-five runners from fourteen countries and twenty American states ran 135 miles non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney on July 24-26, 2006 in the 29th 135-mile Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon. Placing first for the second year in a row was Scott Jurek, who was nearly beaten by a previously unknown rookie named Akos Konya, a citizen of Hungary who resides in Oceanside, CA.
The start line is at Badwater, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere at 280' (85m) below sea level. Following 135 miles of paved roads, the race finishes at Mt. Whitney Portal at 8360' (2533m). The Badwater course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 13,000' (3962m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 4,700' (1433m) of cumulative descent. The Portal is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through places or landmarks with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil's Cornfield, Devil's Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Keeler and Lone Pine.
The race began with the traditional wave start, with 26 runners beginning at 6am, 28 at 8am, and 32 at 10am. This is done because of lack of parking at the start line and, even more so, to minimize congestion of runners, crew, and vehicles on the roadway in the National Park. Because hosting food and drink checkpoints along the side of the road in this forbidding environment is impossible, each entrant brings their own support vehicle and at least two support crew members to tend to all their needs.
Chris Kostman, Mike Schafer, Chris Ragsdale, Rachel Schmitt, Kai Norwood. http://www.badwater.com

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kiehl's
• badwater
• ultramarathon
• 135
• miles
• multiday
• ultra
• distance
• endurance
• run
• death
• valley
• Scott
• Jurek
• Dean
• Karnazes

[TheProphiting1]

For people who do not run, the amount of mental strength NECESSARY to run well for any distance at all is so great that words will never come close to explain.

[badderthanyou]

Amazing.

[onestepbeforeu]

He is my trainer :) And I AM VERY PROUD OF HIM

[extravoltage1]

Great vid!

[trentonsz]

I can't believe it! Congratulations Mr. Hungarian Akos! This guy was also my waiter at Ruby's where I (normally) live in Oceanside, CA. I've been living in Japan for about 2 yrs. now and just happened to start watching all of these videos about ultramarathons after watching the UltraMarathon Man movie with Dean Karnazes when I come across this. What a small world!!!

[azzamalbritani]

It's Marshall from How I Met Your Mother at 2:56

:P

[campbpar]

@TheProphiting1 Words can come close.

[jewjewfruit95]

This guy was my waitor at ruby's

[MissBunny850]

I thought Bad-water was all about the heat and elevation change was another ultra marathon ehhh I'm going to have to look it back up

[Xcountry3794]

Fatty.

[Xcountry3794]

The strength needed for a simple 5k xc race is amazing. I've experienced the thoughts that go through your head.

[BombHillsNotTests]

just like TheProphiting1 said, you can watch this video and get an idea. but you will NEVER be able to comprehend until you do an ultramarathon. well done sir.