The long-running story of Death Valley Jack... continues with a magnificent 12th finish

By Tony Watts - Editor - 15/07/2010

Feeling a bit warm lately with the unseasonally (unseasonal in Britain anyway) warm weather? Then spare a thought for part time school caretaker Jack Denness from Kent, who will be making history as the oldest runner ever to compete in the Badwater Death Valley Ultra Marathon on 12 July.

Yes, that’s ‘Death Valley’ as in one of the hottest places on earth. Daily temperatures reach 55oC – or 131 degrees in old money. It is not even an ordinary, 26 mile marathon, but 135 miles non-stop from sub sea level Death Valley to over 7,000 feet up Mt. Whitney, making it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet.

This paper consciously avoids mentioning people’s ages unless it is absolutely relevant to the story. It is here, as Jack is 75. Jack is now a Death Valley legend, having already competed in the event 11 times.

Jack, who has also competed in marathons in New York, Boston and the Sahara, was inspired to take up marathon running after he quit smoking in his early 50s.

He has been taking Cod Liver Oil since he was a child and throughout the war – he now swears by Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil Pills, who are supporting him on the run, and he credits it as one of the secrets of his ongoing ‘youth’ and not having one joint problem.

“It used to taste terrible in the war,” he says. “Thank goodness it’s in capsules now! They used to give it to us at school, and I’d come home and my mum would insist on giving me another spoonful. It doesn’t seem to have done any harm though!”

The marathon runs have also helped Jack to support local charities and he has raised over £100,000 since his running career began. In 2010 he will be supporting Kent organisation Cerebral Palsy Care of Cliffe Woods. Readers can follow Jack’s progress through video and photo updates on Facebook by becoming a fan of his official page – ‘Death Valley Jack’.

You can also follow him on online videos where Jack will take you through his slightly unusual training regime and diet ahead of the race itself. “I don’t hold with all these healthy breakfasts,” he laughs. “I often race after a huge full English!”

So what sort of training does he do? “Not as much as you’d think,” he says. “A bit during the week, but I always go out for a 25 miler on Sundays. About 40 miles in total. I don’t rush. I don’t feel the need. I’m not doing this for a fast time.

“To be honest, the ordinary marathons seem a bit short now – my best time was three and a half hours, but I wouldn’t manage that these days. New York is my favourite – all those people, and the atmosphere is just wonderful.”
Jack is one of a growing army of people who look upon marathons as speed training – their sights are set on the growing number of ‘Ultra’ events that are springing up. A great many of these are run by senior runners who find that, over time, their out and out speed diminishes but their stamina improves.

“I only started this in the 1980s,” he says. “I’d given up football and was becoming a couch potato and was smoking too much. I did my first half marathon, really enjoyed it and it helped me give up smoking too.”

And he even has his own fan club: the youngsters at the school where he still works. “They’re great – they really take a lot of interest and support me. Hopefully I can show them that exercise is good for you – whatever your age.” I think that Jack has more than made that point.

STOP PRESS: this just in from the Badwater Marathon Twitter feed - "Jack Denness retires at age 75 with his 12th finish. He had a finishing time of 59:13:02, but his effort was timeless. Bravo, Jack!"

And congratulations from us all at Mature Times

Relevant links

• Facebook link (Opens a new window)