A Perfect Ten: Scott Weber

By Steve Matsuda

"Firmly in control of last place!" says Badwater veteran Scott Weber confidently as he strides toward Furnace Creek. To say that Weber is a veteran is actually quite an understatement. He's finished the Badwater race nine times and this year is attempting to join Jack Denness and Marshall Ulrich as the only people to complete the course at least 10 times.

And sometimes, running the race isn't enough for Weber. In 1994, he became the first person to do a triple crossing of the course, 450 miles in ten days. Plus, Scott did a double crossing in 2000. What would compel someone to do this? "There's simplicity here," says Weber. "There are no hard life decisions to make. You just go in one direction. It's the most peaceful time of year for me."

So what about this year? Weber is planning to walk the whole way, mixing in just enough jogging to keep his legs loose.

Of course, you can achieve all this without a lot of support. Weber says he's lucky to have the support of his wife Laura, a family practice doctor who is crewing him for the 5th time. "Sometimes I need a wife and sometimes I need a doctor," says Weber. Also crewing are Laura's three children.