John Darling article in the 9/02/2009 Mail Tribune:
An Ashland ultra-marathoner who fell gravely ill after winning the 100-kilometer Where’s Waldo race east of Eugene faces another daunting challenge: $25,000 to $30,000 in medical bills.
Erik Skaggs, 27, spent six days in local hospitals recovering from acute renal failure, apparently caused by a combination of dehydration and taking ibuprofen after a demanding race.
“I’m pretty excited to be out,” Skaggs said while recovering at home Tuesday. “My renal and blood tests are still not good. It was rough. It takes you out of everything “¦ I might have been in trouble if I hadn’t gotten to the hospital.”
Skaggs won the 62-mile race Aug. 22 in nine hours, 11 minutes, smashing the USA Track & Field national championship course record by more than 56 minutes.