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Former Burton man wins 135-mile 'Badwater Ultramarathon'
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - July 21, 2010)
Former Burton man wins 135-mile 'Badwater Ultramarathon'
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Most people seek the shade in 120-degree temperatures.
But for Zach Gingerich, formerly of Burton Village, it's an opportunity to test his endurance in what is known as "the world's toughest foot race" on the planet.
Known as the "Badwater Ultramarathon," the foot race starts in Death Valley and continues nonstop for 135 miles up two mountains to Mount Whitney, Calif.
Last week, Mr. Gingerich proved himself to be the best in the world, completing the course and finishing in first place with a time of 24:44.48.
It was the 33rd annual Badwater Ultramarathon, also known as the Holy Grail of endurance sports, held July 12 to 14. It was Mr. Gingerich's third try at the grueling race.
Mr. Gingerich, the son of Geauga County Recorder Sharon Gingerich, said his goal was not to necessarily win the race but to give his best effort.
His races are not typical 5-kilometer runs or even the 22-mile Boston Marathon. To even be able to compete in the Badwater Ultramarathon, a runner must complete three races of 100 miles or more in the previous 12 months. Each runner also undergoes a rigorous physical exam before being allowed to participate and also during the race.
Mr. Gingerich said, at this year's start, the temperatures were hovering around 121 degrees in Death Valley, where it's been known to reach 130 degrees. "Everybody was joking that we had nice cool weather for this year's race," he said.
There were times when the temperatures were so hot that runners stayed on the white lines of the roads to avoid the scorching blacktop, he said.
Mr. Gingerich said, to train for the race, he runs twice a day and even ran in place in a sauna.
He said the strategy involves knowing how to pace yourself and when to back off. He said much of the credit goes to his six-person team. That team, positioned with two vehicles, follows along the race, providing water or nourishment at various stops in the race. Team members also will run short distances with him, prodding him on.
"A lot of credit goes to them as they convince you to keep going," Mr. Gingerich said.
He tries not to think of anything in particular during the race, dumbing himself down as much as he can. He said team members help to keep his mind off the demands of the race, joking and spurring him on.
Mr. Gingerich said anyone able to run the race is a winner before anyone steps across the finish line. "Everybody who runs this race is a winner," he said. "Just to make it to the finish in one piece is an accomplishment.
His mother, Mrs. Gingerich, said her son has been running since he was 14, often using Geauga's back roads as his training ground.
She said when he joined the Berkshire cross-country team he already was showing his ability for endurance. "He would always say in junior high that the races he was running weren't long enough," he said.
Mr. Gingerich also ran track for Berkshire.
Even when he ran for Malone College, Mrs. Gingerich said, she would hear the same complaint from him.
Mrs. Gingerich said she can't take too much credit for her son's need to run. "The only thing I run for is office," she said.
Mr. Gingerich's father, Daniel, can take more credit because he was a runner, who often accompanied his son on his Geauga runs.
Mrs. Gingerich jokes that she may be able to take some credit. She said her son is ranked eighth in the world in his sport, while two Hungarian runners occupy the rankings just above him. She said it is the Hungarian blood from her that made him who he is today.
"I am very excited for him," she said. "It's quite an accomplishment for someone from little old Burton, Ohio."
As for Zach, he said he might just have found the courses that are long enough for his liking. "Now, I'm running some of these courses and I don't feel that way," he said.
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