What kind of mettle does it take to run from 85m below sea level to an elevation of 2533m? What is one's mindset when they run through 120F scorching temperatures?? What is one's approach when they sign up for a race known as the "toughest footrace in the world"???

Let me introduce you to middle school teacher and cross country coach from Littleton, Colorado, USA. Jamie Donaldson has answered all of the above questions and more when it comes to trying the toughest challenges that this sport of ultrarunning has to offer.

The name Jamie is not unfamiliar to ultrarunning enthusiasts. She finished 5^th in the 2008 IAU 24hr World Challenge in Seoul and 4^th in the 2009 version of the IAU race in Bergamo leading the US team to a silver medal finish.

On July 13^th, Jamie will once again tie her shoes, wear her long sleeve shirt with the signature bandana behind her neck and compete against some of the best ultrarunners in the world. She will be returning to the infamous "toughest footrace" also known as BADWATER not only as returning champion but also the course record holder running 135 Miles from the California's Death Valley to Whitney Portal.

A few weeks after the IAU 24hr World Challenge I had the opportunity to speak to Jamie about her next challenge. When asked about going back to Badwater as the returning champion, she said, "I still get goose bumps thinking about that journey last year!  It was a dream come true for me!  There is a lot of pressure to perform after winning a big race like Badwater, so I do feel a lot of extra pressure this year."

This race is well known for its extreme environmental conditions that are a challenge for runners who embrace this fact and go for the glory. I asked Jamie on how she trains for something like this. She said, "I train with getting in lots of miles each week, running in the mountains too, and spending time in the sauna."

It is said that one lives a few lifetimes during an ultra-race filled with a myriad of emotions accumulating in several 'up' and 'down' feelings. Jamie explained her run from last year, "I went into the race with a pacing plan.  Everything was going as planned until a bout of nausea hit me over Towne's Pass.  I spent about 3 hours of my night throwing up while running.  I had a lot of trouble getting my stomach back to feeling normal."

Human body does not know the difference where one is running in the pack. We all go through the same motions. Jamie's race did turn around. She goes on to say, "Finally at about mile 70, I was able to run hard again up to Darwin and started to feel really good again. Around mile 100, I was able to pick up my pace a lot and moved into 1^st soon afterwards."

The unique aspect of ultrarunning is that every race is so different. There is no comparison between running the 24 hr race and the Badwater. Both are difficult in their own right. Jamie agrees and explains that the main difference between the two is the extreme heat. As she says that it like running continuously into a "blowing hairdryer".

The astonishing fact about Jamie's run this year is that after finishing the race she is planning on completing another 11 miles to the top of Mount Whitney. This is how the race was originally intended to run but for the past few years due to permit issues, the race is limited to 135 Miles.

After she is done with this run, Jamie is going to pay homage to where her ultrarunning career took off with a run at Leadville Trail 100 Mile. But a lot depends on her recovery after Badwater.  

Asked if her life has changed after establishing herself, over the last 2 years, as one of the premier distance runners in the business, she was humble as ever, "Probably not because every time I finish a race, I look on to my next one." Spoken like a true champion!

On July 13^th, I will be travelling back from the IAU World Trail Challenge in Serre Chevalier. I am sure that I will try and locate internet access at my lay-over locations to see how Jamie and the rest of the athletes are doing in California. I hope you do the same.  

Nadeem Khan

Director of Communications

nadeem.khan@iau-ultramarathon.org

Disclaimer: This article is in the series of 'Champions Amongst Champions: In A League of Their Own'. If you are or know someone who has performed well at IAU world events and is returning to a race where they have performed well, please feel free to contact me for a story. Please contact at least 3 weeks prior to the event.