Valmir Nunes, a 43-year-old Brazilian ultrarunner, was the first to complete the 135-mile run from Death Valley to the portal at Mount Whitney this morning. Nunes finished what some call the world’s most difficult race in 22 hours, 51 minutes, 29 seconds--almost two hours better than the previous course record set in 2005 by American Scott Jurek (24:36:08). Some say that the break in temperature had much to do with the time improvements. Yesterday, with a chance of thunderstorms, temperatures in the desert were a mild 112 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the average of 120 degrees. This year marked the 30th anniversary of Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon.
