The Badwater 135 Ultramarathon is one of the most grueling and dangerous races in the world, stretching 135 miles through California’s Death Valley — the hottest place on Earth — in the middle of July.

This year, an Associated Press team set out to take audiences into this brutal environment and showcase what it says about human endurance and climate change. Photographer John Locher, reporter Dorany Pineda and videojournalist Ty O’Neil followed runner Danny Westergaard, a 66-year-old retiree tackling the race for his 18th year. Their intimate coverage captured the punishing highs and lows of Westergaard’s race — from his heat-induced hallucinations to his resolve to “just keep going.”

The story was more than a profile. With support from data journalist Mary Katherine Wildeman, the team embedded temperature and climate data into the reporting to illustrate the broader environmental context. Climate photo editor Alyssa Goodman crafted a dynamic visual presentation and climate editor Peter Prengaman edited the text, helping elevate the storytelling across platforms.

The result was a digital-forward, immersive package that brought the searing experience of Death Valley and the willpower of one man into sharp focus — while also underscoring climate trends through data and imagery.

For compelling, cross-format storytelling under extreme conditions, John Locher, Dorany Pineda and Ty O’Neil earn this week’s Best of the Week – Honorable Mention.