The Death Valley 300: Near Death and Resurrection on the World's Toughest Endurance Course

What a chronicle by Benyo! In this book, he writes about his completion on foot of the 300 mile course from Badwater, the lowest and hottest place on earth, to the Summit of Mt Whitney. AND BACK! His story preambles with man's Quixotic vision of conquering impossible feats into the abyss of the unknown. The book ends up with the reality of such accomplishment that ultimately symbolizes man's insignificance. In between, Benyo humorously shares how the idea of attempting the course came about ironically in a sort of hedonistic manner over few beers too many next to a grill of "cremated hamburgers" on a barbeque grill. He then goes into the history of the run and then provides an interesting geography and history lesson about Death Valley. I actually found the passage of the usurped water rights taken from the Lone Pine region that were rediverted to Los Angeles to be interesting. He then talks about the mental and physical conditioning program he and his buddy, Tom Crawford, each used to complete their feat. The section called "Chasing Rainbows" humorously and poignantly looks at his 10 months of time he spent trying to find a corporate sponsor. I suddenly have huge desire to buy a dozen pairs of Thor-lo socks. The final 140 pages looks at his journey with many surreal anecdotes and brutally honest insight into the demise, torture and despair of the collapsing mind that attempts such a masochistic and arguably self-destructive feat in a region where, without excerising or exerting energy in a fixed state, one could die of dehydration without 4 gallons of water, in a single hot Death Valley day. Benyo places the reader into the footsteps of the ultra-runner to the point that the reader sacrifices sleep to stay on course. Having finished the final 100 pages, even after taken vicotin for my broken right pinky, at 1:30am, I find myself typing this review with one hand (the right one immobile in cast)in order to emphasize its impact on me. It is ashamed that this well-written book hasn't gotten more attention than it deserves. To me, this story was remiscent of other great adventure stories such as Kerouac's "On the Road" or Brautigan's "Trout Fishing in America" only, this story was even better: it wasn't hidden in fiction. It is a very personal chronicle that is heart felt, at times funny, at times painful to imagine, and ultimately quite philosphical. Obviously, the mind goes through a lot of emotions during such a run. Benyo effectively guides the reader through the emotional and physical peaks and valleys that come with such a run. He also goes greatly into the depths of his internal relationship with Death Valley. The journey through Death Valley is like a like journey through one's emotions and how one keeps going against the world's most oppressive dryness and heat. A brilliant read to anyone who appreciates one's need of finding a greater challenge.