– I think I had the best support group with me. They did everything for me, and couldn’t have been better, she says in an interview that Badwater has published on its Facebook. Line Caliskaner (52) won the women’s class. She finished second overall in a time of 27:36:27. Caliskaner is the first Norwegian woman to have participated in the world’s toughest ultra race. Line Caliskaner won the Badwater 135. Here from the start on Tuesday morning. Photo: Arnold Begay / Badwater.com The race starts from Badwater Basin in Death Valley, which is the lowest point in the USA at 86 meters below sea level, and ends at Whitney Portal, 2550 meters above sea level. The total distance is 217 kilometres, and over 4,400 meters of altitude are climbed. All this in around 50 degrees Celsius. The body swelled up Last year, Simen Holvik (47) became the first Norwegian ever to complete “the world’s toughest ultra race”, Badwater 135. That time he came second, but he was the best among the men with a time of 22.28.08. This year, Holvik’s goal was to win, and he was well on his way to doing that. For around 140 kilometers he led the entire race. Then it slammed, and he had to break. – I gradually noticed that I was getting dizzy. And maybe I went to the bathroom a little too many times. I got stomach problems. There were many signs, which confirmed that I had to think about my health and drop out, says Holvik. Simen Holvik had a team with him during Badwater 135. Photo: Magnus Throud He broke the race after 20 hours and 180 kilometres. When news talks to him just after 06.00 on Wednesday morning, it is a few hours since he broke. Last year, Simen Holvik set a Nordic record in prestige races – with stomach problems. Now the body hurts. – The feet are swollen. I have red blisters all over. It hurts to sit. I dread showering. I have no sense of taste. It takes a few days before I’m level again, so to speak. – Doesn’t this tell you that what you’re doing is crazy? – If I had just continued it would have been madness, but if you put your health first. After all, no one has died in this race. There are probably people who are crazier than others, and it is hardly healthy. But it’s fun, says Holvik. With him on the journey, Simen Holvik had a team of four who followed him during the race. Photo: Magnus Thorud Had problems with his kidneys Simen Holvik considered for a long time whether he should run the last four miles to reach the finish line, but after an assessment together with his coach, he decided not to. Simen Holvik ran in 22 hours and 28 minutes during last year’s Badwater 135. It was the best among the men, and held second place overall. Photo: Arnold Begay / BADWATER.COM Holvik has already gone through what went wrong in the race. – I probably opened a bit hard. I also didn’t get enough nutrition, and probably not enough drink and salt in relation to the weather. When you then gradually start to feel dizzy, it may indicate that there are problems with the kidneys. Then you just have to stop and take a check, he says. Holvik has a team with him, and received good advice from them along the way. – There was no point in risking anything. It’s not that important, he concludes. There were a total of 100 starters. 17 of them have broken the race. Last year, Simen Holvik ran the Spartathlon ultra race with stomach problems. It ended with a Nordic record. Photo: Private Published 24.07.2024, at 10.23 Updated 24/07/2024, at 12.08
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Norske Line Caliskaner ran victoriously to the finish line during the world’s toughest ultra race – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
