The 25th Badwater Ultramarathon

An hour after the sun goes down, a little blue sky can still be seen as Ralph Klingenhoff of Port Hueneme whizzes by quickly while he works as a crew support member for U.S. Marine Major William Kirk Mapler in Death Valley.  (RICHARD HARTOG / LAT)

Minutes after the sunrise start of the Badwater Race, Marshall Ulrich, right, is silhouetted against the sun-drenched mountains in Death Valley. At left is runner Angela Brunson.  (RICHARD HARTOG / LAT)

More than 14 hours after starting the race, Lisa Smith-Batchen, left, takes a moment as crew member Robin Maffei, center, puts ice on her knees. In the few minutes that she allows herself to rest in the support vehicle, Smith-Batchen’s support staff makes sure she gets iced, eats some chips, drinks, talks strategy, and—because of swelling—changes into a larger size shoes.  (RICHARD HARTOG / LAT)

Lecturer Dan Gordon of Anglia Poly Tech in Cambridge, right, tries to get Marshall Ulrich’s body temperature during a short afternoon break.  (RICHARD HARTOG / LAT)

Relief is obvious as Ulrich stops just long enough to jump in a pool during his short afternoon break, when the temperature was around 120 degrees.  (RICHARD HARTOG / LAT)

Less than an hour after the sunrise start of the Ultramarathon, a lone runner dressed as a rabbit brings up the back as he makes his way up and over just one of the many hills.  (RICHARD HARTOG / LAT)

More than 14 hours after starting the race, Lisa Smith-Batchen makes her way around a bend and greets the setting sun. After running and walking up 4000 grueling feet, she is happy to begin a descent.  (RICHARD HARTOG / LAT)