photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
lbliss | profile | all galleries >> 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon: The Challenge of the Champions - - THE RACE! tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

2004 Badwater Ultramarathon: The Challenge of the Champions - - THE RACE!

Badwater was also a chance for me to give back to those in need. What comes around goes around: http://www.spokanevalleyonline.com/ads/lisa_bliss/lisa_bliss.htm Research at Badwater 2004: http://tinyurl.com/89mcz and another article "Dry Run": http://umanitoba.fitdv.com/new/articles/article.html?artid=538 and check out the official Badwater webcast for hundreds of pictures from the 2004 race: http://www.badwater.com/2004web/index.html
All dressed up and ready to go!
All dressed up and ready to go!		 Pre-race breakfast in Furnace Creek of a bagel with peanut butter and scambled eggs
Pre-race breakfast in Furnace Creek of a bagel with peanut butter and scambled eggs		 On the way to the 10 am start. The 6 am and 8 am runners are already on the course.
On the way to the 10 am start. The 6 am and 8 am runners are already on the course.		 Always think positive thoughts
Always think positive thoughts
Heat sensor pill by HQ Inc. will record my core temperature. How many will I need?
Heat sensor pill by HQ Inc. will record my core temperature. How many will I need?		 goes down easy
goes down easy		 Core temp recorder. My crew recorded my core temp every couple miles.
Core temp recorder. My crew recorded my core temp every couple miles.		 Happy to finally get the run started
Happy to finally get the run started
Badwater basin 282 feet below sea level
Badwater basin 282 feet below sea level		 My pacer
My pacer		 The turtle will probably win
The turtle will probably win		 start
start
Bonnie
Bonnie		 Jeff Key, medic '03, '04
Jeff Key, medic '03, '04		 Lisa and Larry
Lisa and Larry		 u39/lbliss/medium/32445374.Badwater2004075.jpg
10 am line-up
10 am line-up		 Lots of pictures and time to contemplate the task I am about to voluntarily endure.
Lots of pictures and time to contemplate the task I am about to voluntarily endure.		 The hoopla seems surreal. 6 months of training for this day.... and it's finally here.
The hoopla seems surreal. 6 months of training for this day.... and it's finally here.		 I am a experienced ultrarunner but feel like a virgin among these ultra giants.
I am a experienced ultrarunner but feel like a virgin among these ultra giants.
Christopher Berglund far left
Christopher Berglund far left		 Jody Lynn Reicher (Badwater veteran) and me
Jody Lynn Reicher (Badwater veteran) and me		 Jody Lynn, Lisa, Chris Frost
Jody Lynn, Lisa, Chris Frost		 Imagine your most embarrasing moment...
"Imagine your most embarrasing moment..."
Chris Kostman, RD videotapes the runners
Chris Kostman, RD videotapes the runners		 scramble to the start line
scramble to the start line		 Chris Berglund in red (#4) & Art Webb (#62)
Chris Berglund in red (#4) & Art Webb (#62)		 My boyfriend Art Webb (Dean Karnazes in yellow shorts & Francesca Conte #32 in yellow shirt)
My boyfriend Art Webb (Dean Karnazes in yellow shorts & Francesca Conte #32 in yellow shirt)
Art Webb (#62) and Marshall Ulrich (#12)
Art Webb (#62) and Marshall Ulrich (#12)		 Marshall Ulrich summited Mt. Everest a couple weeks prior to the run.
Marshall Ulrich summited Mt. Everest a couple weeks prior to the run.		 Spectator's view
Spectator's view		 Start line: Carolyn Smith (#80) next to Pam Reed (#1). Pam will finish 2nd female this year and Carolyn will finish 4th.
Start line: Carolyn Smith (#80) next to Pam Reed (#1). Pam will finish 2nd female this year and Carolyn will finish 4th.
Dean Karnazes in yellow - He will take 1st place this year. Pam Reed #1 (1st place overall previous 2 years) on the left.
Dean Karnazes in yellow - He will take 1st place this year. Pam Reed #1 (1st place overall previous 2 years) on the left.		 And we're off! Some of these runners start out too fast. Where's the fire!
And we're off! Some of these runners start out too fast. "Where's the fire!"		 Monica Scholz (#3). I start out nearly last and will end up catching all but 14 other runners before the race is over.
Monica Scholz (#3). I start out nearly last and will end up catching all but 14 other runners before the race is over.		 View of the 1st mile
View of the 1st mile
Media and congestion early in the race. It won't last for long.
Media and congestion early in the race. It won't last for long.		 Chris Frost (#53)
Chris Frost (#53)		 Long pants and shade caps protect us from the burning sun. It is already over 125 degrees!
Long pants and shade caps protect us from the burning sun. It is already over 125 degrees!		 Lisa, Chris Frost, David Bliss, and Art Webb. My crew is cautioning me to slow down but I'm feeling fine.
Lisa, Chris Frost, David Bliss, and Art Webb. My crew is cautioning me to slow down but I'm feeling fine.
Lisa, Chris & Marshall approach Furnace Creek, mile 17 on the course.
Lisa, Chris & Marshall approach Furnace Creek, mile 17 on the course.		 Creating our own little town
Creating our own "little town"		 Art Webb #62, Chris Frost #53, Marshall Ulrich #12 (all Badwater veterans), & Lisa #36 (rookie)
Art Webb #62, Chris Frost #53, Marshall Ulrich #12 (all Badwater veterans), & Lisa #36 (rookie)		 C.R.E.W. = Crabby Runners, Endless Waiting
C.R.E.W. = Crabby Runners, Endless Waiting
Here's Bonnie in polkadots
Here's Bonnie in polkadots		 The pavement radiates heat over 200 degrees F. Running on the white IS cooler! (Thanks Dave!)
The pavement radiates heat over 200 degrees F. Running on the white IS cooler! (Thanks Dave!)		 With Nikki, my main pacer
With Nikki, my main pacer		 team work
team work
Nikki Seger - world class pacer...
Nikki Seger - world class pacer...		 Wassup with the leather???!
Wassup with the leather???!		 u39/lbliss/medium/32445636.Badwater2004101.jpg pacing in leather
pacing in leather
The long and winding road
The long and winding road		 Everlasting Bliss
Everlasting Bliss		 u39/lbliss/medium/32445644.Badwater2004133.jpg David pacing
David pacing
Still, there is a long way to go.
Still, there is a long way to go.		 Notice the long shadows and how the foliage has changed
Notice the long shadows and how the foliage has changed		 Little traffic. Exotic views.
Little traffic. Exotic views.		 u39/lbliss/medium/32447002.road3.jpg
u39/lbliss/medium/32447003.road4.jpg The Panamint grade is 15 miles long, I've run about 3 consecutive marathons so far. 2 to go.
The Panamint grade is 15 miles long, I've run about 3 consecutive marathons so far. 2 to go.		 Walking with Kent Wang (left photo), physician and friend from Chicago (now in Sacramento)
Walking with Kent Wang (left photo), physician and friend from Chicago (now in Sacramento)		 The crew sleeps little
The crew sleeps little
night - the first one!
night - the first one!		 the next morning
the next morning		 Brushing my teeth. I hit mile 90 at about 10 AM, 24 hours after I started.
Brushing my teeth. I hit mile 90 at about 10 AM, 24 hours after I started.		 Tooth wipes...mmmm!
Tooth wipes...mmmm!
By breakfast time, it is already warming up
By breakfast time, it is already warming up		 Kenten Wang, DO (Sacramento) and Liza Carlson, RN (Spokane) headed up the medical team for this year's race
Kenten Wang, DO (Sacramento) and Liza Carlson, RN (Spokane) headed up the medical team for this year's race		 Thank goodness it's not a beauty contest! McDonald's bathroom in Lone Pine (mile 122) - a 12 minute stop to change clothes
Thank goodness it's not a beauty contest! McDonald's bathroom in Lone Pine (mile 122) - a 12 minute stop to change clothes		 Up the portal road the second night.: a 13-mile 4,750 foot climb to the finish.
Up the portal road the second night.: a 13-mile 4,750 foot climb to the finish.
Watch your head Larry!! My crew is getting goofy. What the HELL are bug wipes??! Cleary entropic at this point
Watch your head Larry!! My crew is getting goofy. "What the HELL are bug wipes??!" Cleary entropic at this point		 David paces to the finish
David paces to the finish		 37 hours, 41 minutes later! 3rd place female, 15th overall.
37 hours, 41 minutes later! 3rd place female, 15th overall.		 finish
finish
u34/lbliss/medium/33185874.finish2DR.jpg I actually pushed David pretty hard on the final miles of climb to the finish.
I actually pushed David pretty hard on the final miles of climb to the finish.		 looking for a chair
looking for a chair		 Bonnie, likely thinking of her own Badwater finish the year before.
Bonnie, likely thinking of her own Badwater finish the year before.
Getting my medal from Chris
Getting my medal from Chris		 Tired
Tired		 but very satisfied!
but very satisfied!		 always something to say
always something to say
My Badwater family - You are the BEST! I could never have had such a successful race without each & every one of you!
My Badwater family - You are the BEST! I could never have had such a successful race without each & every one of you!

comment | share
click on thumbnails for full image