Dear Steven,

     Thanks for the

very nice story and compliments. I will forward it to Chris Kostman who will
beam it up to the web sites and send an announcement about it to the
"Badwater Family."
     Congratulations
for your great performances. See you next year.
Ben and Denise

STEVEN SILVER: BADWATER 2000 STORY

Dear Ben and Denise,
     I waited until I
really had some time to write you all about the 2000 Sun Precautions
Badwater Race.
     What do you do to
make a race exciting, special, fun and memorable??? I was faced with that
question this year.  My first race in 1996 was a true adventure. It was
a
real thrill, finishing second to Marshall Ulrich. I was cautious and in
shape and ready to really pop one.  Your help prior to the race did so
much
for me that I counted you as part of my crew. I would be remiss not to
mention my friend, two‑time winner, Bill Menard, who first convinced
me to
run this race as the two of us ran down Sugarloaf Mountain at the 1995
Leadville Trail 100.  Bill taught me what to do and how to do it. I
thank
him and missed him this year at the race.
     A repeat in 1997
was a bit disappointing, finishing sixth, some ninety or so minutes slower
than the previous year (39:07 vs. 37:45).  I did get to meet some more
great
athletes including the sport's pin-up girl, Lisa Smith.  The experience
was
fun, and sobering and worth the time and effort invested.
     After taking a
year off, I was ready for a good one. I had a great one, a tie for 4th in
33:57 with an extraordinary old coot named Art Webb. No, we didn't
get into the movie ("Running
On The Sun"),
but we had a terrific time anyway going back and forth with Lisa again and
running together for 90 miles.
My 1999 BW was a tough event to top, but Art and I had a plan for 2000.'
     Our 2000
race proved to be one that we all ran for a different purposes.  I ran for
fun
when Art developed an injury that prevented him from racing and still he
finished in 43 hours. Lisa did not have the race of her life but ran with her
man Jay as they started their new life together. The "race" between the
USA and
Russia was my 15 minutes of fame as our friends from across the ocean blew the
doors off everyone. Great going guys (Anatoli Kruglikov and Ivan Labutin) and gal
(Irina Reutovich).
     So, as my ex‑wife used
to say, "What's your point?"  My point is that the race needs, at
least for me,
a reason to be. Each year that I run it I have to find that reason and each year
somehow I found it.
     2001 will be another
shot at what is arguably, the greatest road race in the world.
     A huge thanks to all
my crews especially Jim Woolf, a three‑timer and I hope next year will be
four.
And to Chris, we all owe him a major debt of gratitude to take our race over and
make it even better. Thanks Chris and your crew.
     And to all of you who
have run this with me, before me and those who will run after me. Thanks for
being the extraordinary athletes you are.
Adios,
Steven R. Silver
El Paso, TX