– It was completely unreal to cross the finish line. It was absolutely fantastic. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, she tells NRK late Wednesday evening.
Line Caliskaner (52) won the women’s category. She finished second overall with a time of 27:36:27.
Caliskaner is the first Norwegian woman to participate in the world’s toughest ultramarathon.
Line Caliskaner won Badwater 135. Here from the start on Tuesday morning.
Photo: Arnold Begay / Badwater.com
The race goes from Badwater Basin in Death Valley, which is the lowest point in the U.S. at 86 meters below sea level, and ends at Whitney Portal, 2550 meters above sea level. The total distance is 217 kilometers, and it climbs over 4400 vertical meters.
All this in around 50 degrees Celsius.
– It was hard. It was a long race, but it was fantastic, she tells NRK late Wednesday evening.
Caliskaner emphasizes her support group of four people as a crucial reason why she won the race.
– I believe I had the best support group with me. They did everything for me and couldn’t have been better, she says in an interview published by Badwater on its Facebook.
The body swelled up
Last year, Simen Holvik (47) became the first Norwegian ever to complete the “world’s toughest ultramarathon”, Badwater 135.
Back then, he finished second, but he was the fastest 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. For about 140 kilometers, he led the entire race. Then it happened, and he had to drop out.
– I gradually noticed that I was getting dizzy. And I might have gone to the restroom a few too many times. I had stomach issues. There were many signs that confirmed I needed to think about my health and drop out, Holvik says.
Simon Holvik’s body took a hit after 20 hours of running.
Photo: Private
He dropped out of the race after 20 hours and 180 kilometers. When NRK spoke with him shortly after 6:00 AM on Wednesday morning, it was just a few hours since he had dropped out.
Last year, Simen Holvik set a Nordic record in the prestigious race – despite stomach issues.
Now his body is in pain.
– My feet are swollen. I have red blisters all over. It’s painful to sit. I dread showering. I have no sense of taste. It will take a few days before I’m back to normal, so to speak.
– Doesn’t this just show how crazy what you’re doing is?
– If I had just continued, it would have been madness, but when you put health first. No one has died in this race. There are certainly people who are crazier than others, and it’s hardly healthy. But it’s fun, Holvik says.
Simen Holvik had a team of four with him during the race.
Photo: Magnus Thorud
Had kidney issues
Simen Holvik considered for a long time whether he should run the last 40 kilometers to reach the finish line, but after discussing it with his coach, he decided not to do it.
Simen Holvik ran in 22 hours and 28 minutes at last year’s Badwater 135. It was best among the men, and held for a second place overall.
Photo: Arnold Begay / BADWATER.COM
Holvik has already gone through what went wrong during the race.
– I think I started a bit too hard. I also didn’t get enough nutrition, probably not enough fluids and salt considering the weather we had. When you gradually start to feel dizzy, it might indicate that there are kidney issues. So you just have to stop and get checked, he says.
Holvik travels with a team 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.
Last year, Simen Holvik ran the ultramarathon Spartathlon with stomach issues. It ended with a Nordic record.
Photo: Private
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