Pensioner to run Death Valley

A 75-year old school janitor plans to race in ultramarathon against the odds

A septuagenerian part-time school caretaker is set to race 135 miles across Death Valley in this year’s Badwater Ultramarathon.

Jack Denness, a 75-year old grandfather from Rochester, Kent, aims to be the oldest man ever to attempt the race, beating his own record. He’s run this race 11 times before and has become known to the locals as ‘Death Valley Jack’, but this time the clock is against him. 

He’ll be running for 60 hours and face temperatures of up to 55C (130F), and has not faced these conditions since turning 70 back in 2005. 

A seasoned long-distance runner with 150 UK marathons to his credit, Jack first started running at the age of 45 after giving up smoking. 

"I'm not an elite runner, I'm just an ordinary bloke who, as it turns out, has been quite successful at running,” he told the BBC. “I definitely won't do another one. I can't afford to push my luck too much at my age."

Find out more at badwater.com