Photos: Badwater Ultramarathon

The first runners off the mark at the Badwater Ultramarathon are Kayla Delk, 30, and her husband, Kevin Delk, 34, from Greenville, TN.

This is the view from the starting line of the Badwater Ultramarathon. In 114 degree heat, runners set off on a 135-mile race that, for some, will last almost two days.

The van that will follow runner Lisa Sherak, a runner from Georgia, is festooned with the slogan “No Sleep til Whitney,” where the Badwater Ultramarathon ends 135 miles away at Whitney Portal near Lone Pine.

Attorney and running coach Dave Krinski, a veteran of Badwater, crewed for education official Noelani Taylor, who had to drop out early. Krinski said this race is “obscenely tough.”

Personal trainer Jared Fetterolf was advised to lie down in his support van to quell stomach pain, which he did as a paramedic looked on. He only lasted a couple minutes before he couldn’t stand not moving, and rejoined the race.

Mark Matyazic, 50, of Irvine takes a dip in the pool of the Stovepipe Wells Inn, at Mile 42 of the Badwater Ultramarathon. Floating in the water for 10 minutes cools him down and centers him, he said.

Each runner at Badwater has four support crew members, who follow along in vans, dispensing water, ice, food, medicine, and comfort. Here, they watch their runners assemble at the starting line at Badwater Basin. (Robin Abcarian / Los Angeles Times)  (Robin Abcarian / Los Angeles Times)

CHP motorcycle officer Scott Wall shows the “AAA” embossed rock he uses to help race crews when they accidentally get locked out of their vans. Getting in through a broken window is far more efficient than waiting hours for a locksmith, he says. (Robin Abcarian / Los Angeles Times)  (Robin Abcarian / Los Angeles Times)