The Pride of Columbus

Rita and her "Ultra" Son

The Start

The Start with the Girls!

Bad Water

So since Jenn has not had a chance to post (even though she said she would last night :-p), I figured I would post something to let everyone know how the race went. My mom, Rita, finished the race in 42 hours, 21 minutes, and 13 seconds. The race had its ups and downs, which I'm sure Jenn will discuss in her upcoming posts, but it was an amazing race. As I type this she is on the phone with a publication back in Columbus and discussing the race. Pictures will be posted soon from my mom and Jenn. Overall the experience was incredible, everything from Bad Water in Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Portal was amazing. The landscape in this area is incredible, which I'm sure my mother would say was worth the battered feet she now has at the bottom of her legs. By the way, I would like to thank Jenn, Maria, and John for making this race a dream come true for my mom. She has been talking about this race for 4 years now, and I'm thankful that the four of us could help to make this dream a reality. Check back soon for Jenn's "detailed" race blog, pictures, and videos of the Bad Water race.

P.S. Congrats to my mom's "Ultra-Son", Jeff Schmidt on his completion of the race as well.

Best Wishes from Lone Pine California,
Michael Reggie

Las Vegas

Rita, John, and Mike have arrived in Las Vegas and are awaiting Maria and Jennifer. Vegas is unusually cool for this time of year. It's only 85 degrees in the middle of the day. It seems as though the weather followed her here just as it did a few years ago when we were here in april and it snowed. If this keeps up in Death Valley there will have to be an astereix next to the record breaking results.

blackberry test

Just a test to see if we can post via blackberry.

Welcome!

We've created this blog to track Rita Barnes' experience at the Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, July 2008. From the Badwater website:

"Covering 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F (55c), it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet.

The start line is at Badwater, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280' (85m) below sea level. 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. Whitney Portal is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through places and landmarks including Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil's Cornfield, Devil's Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Keeler and Lone Pine."