For many runners, a marathon represents the ultimate challenge of the sport.

For Jeff Gleason and his running buddies, though, a marathon barely gives them enough time to stretch their legs.

Gleason, 51, and his crew are ultramarathoners. Monday, Gleason, who lives in Marshall Township, will attempt the true pinnacle of running: the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile race -- the equivalent of five marathons placed back to back -- that begins in Death Valley, Calif., which is 280 feet below sea level, covers three mountain ranges and ends up at the Mount Whitney Portal, 8,360 feet above sea level.

Makes a marathon seem like a walk in the park, doesn't it?

"Fifty [miles] is a good length," Gleason said. "One hundred is the upper end. One hundred thirty-five is crazy."

He might be crazy, but he is well-trained. More than 1,000 people apply for the 90 spots available in what is considered "the world's toughest foot race." Gleason did nine ultramarathons last year (an ultramarathon is technically anything longer than 32 miles, but Gleason normally runs 50s and 100s) to increase his chances of being accepted.

He applied last January thinking he had a 50-50 chance of getting in on his first attempt and was surprised to hear from his wife that he had been selected.

"It's a compliment to him; they only pick the best," said Tony Mauro, 66, a former world champion in the dualathelon, which combines running and biking. "Jeffrey's credentials are outstanding."

All 90 runners are required to bring a crew with them to the race. Gleason's consists of six friends who are also ultramarathoners. In addition to Mauro, Jeff's wife Kelly, Scott Finelle and his wife Judy, Lou D'Angelo and Andy Karnavas will ride in two vehicles and tend to Gleason's needs while he focuses on running.

Competing in temperatures as high as 130 degrees and as "low" as the mid-90s presents a bevy of potential problems. D'Angelo said "heat and feet" were the groups' two main concerns, and his friends will monitor his fluid and food intake closely as well as take turns running with him when the rules allow.

For hydration, Gleason will drink water and beverages with adequate amounts of electrolytes. As for food, he will eat small amounts constantly, and his race diet will consist of pretzels, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, soups and special 440 calorie cookies Mauro found through a co-op he belongs to in Wilkinsburg.

"It's 440 calories in an organic cookie 3 inches square and a half inch thick," Mauro said.

"It's hard to keep food in your stomach. This gives him lots of nutrition in a few bites. It's a pretty good cookie."

While the crew's job is to focus on Gleason's needs, it cannot ignore its own. The Badwater medical team treats more crew members for dehydration than runners.

"They keep talking about hydration for me, but no easy task for them either, being out in 120 degree heat for two days," Gleason said. "I'm just as concerned about them as they are about me."

While the crew is prepared for race day, Gleason's preparations started much earlier. It is not possible to simulate the race conditions in Western Pennsylvania, but Gleason is doing his best. Instead of running through North Park at 6 a.m. or earlier, Gleason has shifted his runs to the afternoon, and he has been wearing three shirts, a sweatshirt and a winter coat while he trains. The longest distance he will run in one training session before the race will be 33 miles.

"North Park is a great park to run in," Gleason said. "The gear I wear in 0 degrees is what I'm wearing to train in now. Getting acclimated to the heat is the biggest challenge of the race."

Gleason hopes to finish between 33 and 34 hours. If he does, he will win a T-shirt and the coveted Badwater belt buckle, awarded to those who finish in less than 48 hours. The time limit to finish the race is 60 hours.

Gleason's company, Thermo Fischer Scientific, is helping finance his trip so that the $6,000 he and his crew have raised can go to the Challenged Athlete Foundation, which supports disabled people looking to lead active lifestyles.

With his charity and crew in place, Gleason needs only one more thing for race day: Jimmy Buffett.

"I'll probably listen to Jimmy Buffett singing about the beach," he said with a laugh.

Anything to help beat the heat.