Oceangoing bubble’s voyage cut short
Bubble-runner Reza Baluchi began running to Catalina Island at 7:30 a.m. but due to conditions inside the bubble was towed back to shore around noon. Photo Philanthropic runner Reza Baluchi has run cross-country across the world’s harshest terrains. Early Friday morning, he attempted to conquer the water by running across the Santa Monica Bay to Catalina Island in an inflatable bubble. Iranian-born Baluchi originally estimated the over 35-mile trip would take approximately 12 hours, going about two mph, but after three hours in the bubble he called it quits. “I will try again,” Baluchi said. “I never quit.” Jeff McGrail along with runner Reza Baluchi, cameraman Douglas Quill and Cyrus Khorasanian. Photo After running about six miles in the bubble, conditions inside the plastic orb became too difficult to continue the journey. Because of the turning motion of the ball, the breathing tube he constructed broke, cutting off airflow and forcing him to use one hand to hold the mask to his face. He also realized that the bubble might need to be reconstructed—with two holes instead of one for more air flow. “The temperature got up to 120 degrees,” he said. “It’s like a giant sauna.” To…
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