"Nobody can say that running 135 miles in the desert is healthy, " said Dr. Lisa Stranc Bliss, the head of the medical staff, who herself has run Badwater.

CNN: Badwater Ultramarathon: 135 miles in 130-degree heat

As the race wore on, its 60-hour course limit blurring the days, plastic cups labeled with runners' names who'd suffered serious dehydration began dotting a hotel room that served as Badwater's medical center.

CNN: Badwater Ultramarathon: 135 miles in 130-degree heat

Paterson's runner Tim Kjenstad, a 51-year-old California firefighter, has run Badwater before, but this year, sacked by severe dehydration and bodily functions that don't need to be mentioned, he had to DNF (the dreaded initials for Did Not Finish) at mile 44.

CNN: Badwater Ultramarathon: 135 miles in 130-degree heat