Jack, 75, beats Death Valley run record

A 75-year-old British grandfather has beaten his own record of being the oldest person to finish an ultra-marathon in Death Valley, billed as the world's hottest endurance race.

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Jul 2010, 13:26 BST

Updated 16th Jul 2010, 13:26 BST

Part-time school caretaker Jack Denness competed against 90 other runners from 14 nations on the inhospitable 135-mile course in California.

The superfit pensioner, from Rochester, Kent, crossed the finish line in 59 hours, 13 minutes and two seconds – the 12th time he has completed the race.

Regarded by some as the world's toughest foot race, the Badwater Ultramarathon pits runners, triathletes, adventure racers and mountaineers against one another in temperatures of up to 55C (130F).

Described as a "Death Valley legend", Mr Denness was already the oldest person to have finished the event after completing it 11 times before and has been inducted into the Badwater Hall of Fame.

California Kent