by Jo Earle

Imagine running 135 miles over 60 hours in heat touching 55 C.

That is what a 75-year-old grandfather from Kent is will be doing on July 12 as he runs the Death Valley Ultra Marathon in California's Nevada desert.

Jack Denness, from Rochester, is aiming to be the oldest person to finish the Badwater Ultra-marathon in the United States and break his own record.

Nicknamed, Death Valley Jack, he has already finished the event 11 times.

Runners in the Badwater Ultra-marathon will battle temperatures of 55C (130F. Jack's training schedule consists of 26 mile runs every Sunday and during the week he'll run around the park.

Jack says people are right to call him mad and says he does it for the challenge.

"You've got to have some sort of challenge. I'm after that record, and then it will be my last one."

Medway Messenger reporter Keyan Milanian will be joining Jack on the ultramarathon but is saving his feet.

The 27-year-old will be on the pensioner's support team helping him through the gruelling challenge by keeping him fed and watered.

He said: "When Jack called me to ask if I'd like to join him I jumped at the chance, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I just can't wait."

For more on Jack and his Death Valley run see the Medway Messenger, out on Friday.