Transcript: Runnin' with the Devil

At 3 p.m., the mercury peaks at one-hundred-twenty-eight. To run through the hottest part of the day seems impossible.

To take it slow just prolongs the agony.

Chris Bergland is hanging tough.

Chris: Last year I steamed through here and walked the end. So maybe this year I’ll walk this part and steam through the last half. So I’m optimistic.

But optimism alone won’t get even this three-time Iron Man champ through the race. Each runner must have a support crew working to cool them down with every step.

Crew member: “We started out with 25 gallons of water and about 500 pounds of ice. We still got some water – we haven’t used all our 25 gallons.”

“It’s like walking into a wall. It’s so hot I can’t even begin to describe it.”

The crews tangle with the heat themselves, but keep it all in perspective.

“It’s harder for them, right? So we can’t really complain, I guess.”

Pam Reed: “This is extreme, extreme. And you know it’s not something to fool around with. The pain is unbelievable.

Pam Reed has been down this road before. She’s a two-time winner of this race.

We humans cool ourselves by sweating, but here, perspiration vaporizes instantly. Pam does her best to rehydrate by drinking often, but the effect is only temporary.