Badwater Ultramarathon facts for kids
The Badwater Ultramarathon is a super long and tough running race. It's about 135 miles (217 km) long! The race starts way down in Badwater Basin, California, which is 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level. It finishes high up at Whitney Portal, which is 8,360 feet (2,548 meters) above sea level.
This amazing race happens every year in mid-July. This is when the weather is super hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching 130°F (54°C)!
Contents
The Race Course
The Badwater Ultramarathon is known as one of the toughest foot races in the world. It covers a huge distance through very hot and challenging desert land.
Original Course Idea
The first idea for this race was to run from the lowest point in the USA (Badwater) to the highest point (Mount Whitney's summit). These two spots are only about 80 miles (129 km) apart on a map. But the actual running route is much longer, about 146 miles (235 km). This is because runners have to go around dry lake beds and over mountain ranges.
If a runner wanted to reach Mount Whitney's very top, they would have to run a total of 157 miles (253 km). Along the way, they would climb over 19,000 feet (5,791 meters) in total!
Current Race Course
Today, the official race finishes at Whitney Portal. This is a trailhead near Mount Whitney, not the very top. The reason for this change is that the United States Forest Service needs special permits to climb Mount Whitney. Also, competitive events are not allowed in the John Muir Wilderness area.
So, the current race course is 135 miles (217 km) long. Runners still climb a lot, with about 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) of total elevation gain.
How the Race Started
People started hiking across Death Valley in the 1960s. The first hikes between Badwater and Mount Whitney happened in 1969.
First Attempts to Run It
In 1974, a runner named Al Arnold tried to run the whole route. He had to stop after 18 miles (29 km) because he was very dehydrated. He tried again in 1975, but a knee injury stopped him at 50 miles (80 km).
Finally, in 1977, Al Arnold successfully ran the entire course! He reached the summit of Mount Whitney 84 hours after starting. He was the first person to run this incredible distance.
Becoming an Official Race
In 1981, Jay Birmingham completed the run. Then, in 1987, the Badwater crossing became an official organized race. Gill Cornell ran the 146 miles (235 km) in 45 hours and 15 minutes that year, setting a new record.
In the early years, runners could choose their own path between Badwater and Whitney. Some even tried "shortcuts." For example, Adrian Crane used skis to cross the salt flats!
Since 1989, the race has been called the Badwater 135. This is because the finish line was shortened to Whitney Portal. It was too hard to get permits for all the runners to go the last 11 miles (18 km) to the top of Mount Whitney.
The Badwater Ultramarathon Today
Today, a group called AdventureCORPS organizes the yearly race. To join, runners must be invited, and only a limited number of people can take part. Many more people want to run than there are spots!
Race Rules and Support
The race has its own rules. For example, runners are not allowed to get fluids through an IV. If they do, they are disqualified.
Runners do not get support from the race organizers. Each runner must bring their own support team and vehicle. This team helps their runner with water, ice, food, gear, and first aid. They also run alongside the runner to help them keep going.
In the past, runners had 60 hours to finish the course. Now, they have 48 hours. There's also a cutoff time of 28 hours at Panamint Springs Resort. Finishers get a special belt buckle and a medal, but no prize money.
Race Records
The record for the original 146-mile (235 km) race was set in 1991 by Marshall Ulrich. He finished in 33 hours and 54 minutes.
For the current 135-mile (217 km) course, the men's record is 21 hours, 33 minutes, and 1 second. This was set by Yoshihiko Ishikawa. The women's record is 24 hours, 9 minutes, and 34 seconds, set by Ashley Paulson in 2022.
In 2002, Pam Reed became the first woman to win the entire Badwater Ultramarathon. She won again in 2003.
About 90 people compete in the race each year. Around 20-40% of them don't finish. Luckily, no one has ever died during the race.
The 2020 race was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. All the runners who were signed up for 2020 were allowed to enter in 2021.
Race Winners
| Year | Champion (m) | Nationality | Time | Champion (f) | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Simen Holvik |  |
22:28:08 | Ashley Paulson |  |
21:44:35 |
| 2022 | Yoshihiko Ishikawa |  |
23:08:20 | Ashley Paulson | |
24:09:34* |
| 2021 | Harvey Lewis | |
25:50:23 | Sally McRae | |
30:48:47 |
| 2020 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | |||||
| 2019 | Yoshihiko Ishikawa | |
21:33:01* | Patrycja Bereznowska |  |
24:13:24 |
| 2018 | Michele Graglia |  |
24:51:47 | Brenda Guajardo | |
28:23:10 |
| 2017 | Wataru Iino | |
24:56:19 | Sandra Villines | |
34:34:43 |
| 2016 | Pete Kostelnick | |
21:56:32 | Alyson Venti | |
25:53:07 |
| 2015 | Pete Kostelnick | |
23:27:10 | Nikki Wynd |  |
27:23:27 |
| 2014 | Harvey Lewis | |
23:52:55 | Alyson Venti | |
28:37:28 |
| 2013 | Carlos Alberto Gomes de Sá |  |
24:38:16 | Catherine Todd | |
29:55:29 |
| 2012 | Mike Morton | |
22:52:55 | Sumie Inagaki | |
29:53:09 |
| 2011 | Oswaldo Lopez |  |
23:41:40 | Sumie Inagaki | |
28:49:27 |
| 2010 | Zach Gingerich | |
24:44:48 | Jamie Donaldson | |
26:16:12** |
| 2009 | Marcos Farinazzo |  |
23:39:18 | Jamie Donaldson | |
27:20:18 |
| 2008 | Jorge Pacheco | |
23:20:16 | Jamie Donaldson | |
26:51:33 |
| 2007 | Valmir Nunes | |
22:51:29** | Lisa Bliss | |
34:33:40 |
| 2006 | Scott Jurek | |
25:41:18 | Monica Scholz |  |
32:07:01 |
| 2005 | Scott Jurek | |
24:36:08 | Pam Reed | |
30:29:55 |
| 2004 | Dean Karnazes | |
27:22:48 | Monica Scholz | |
29:22:29 |
| 2003 | Dean Karnazes | |
28:51:26 | Pam Reed | |
28:26:52 |
| 2002 | Darren Worts | |
32:38:57 | Pam Reed | |
27:56:47 |
| 2001 | Michael Trevino | |
28:18:12 | Anne Langstaff | |
40:13:40 |
| 2000 | Anatoliy Kruglikov |  |
25:09:05 | Irina Reutovich | |
29:48:27 |
| 1999 | Eric Clifton | |
27:49 | Angelika Castaneda | |
36:58 |
| 1998 | Gabriel Flores | |
28:09 | Lisa Smith | |
37:33 |
| 1997 | David Jones | |
29:10 | Lisa Smith | |
37:01 |
| 1996 | Marshall Ulrich | |
33:01 | Judy Overholtzer | |
41:13 |
| 1995 | Bill Menard | |
34:15:19 | Judy Overholtzer | |
40:44:01 |
| 1994 | Bill Menard | |
32:00:33 | Judy Overholtzer | |
46:57:50 |
| 1993 | Marshall Ulrich | |
28:53:00 | --- | ||
| 1992 | Marshall Ulrich | |
26:18 | --- | ||
| 1991 | Marshall Ulrich | |
26:34:10 | Bonnie Boyer | 36:19:20 | |
| 1990 | Tom Possert | |
27:56:20 | Barbara Alvarez & Angelika Castaneda |
|
39:27:00 |
| 1989 | Tom Possert | |
36:10:00 | Barbara Alvarez & Angelika Castaneda |
|
66:00:00 |
| 1988 | |
80:32:00 | Linda Elam | |
61:47:00 | |
| 1987 | Gill Cornell (146 miles) | |
45:15:30 | |||
| 1987 | Tom Crawford | |
58:57:34 | Eleanor Adams |  |
52:45:00 |
(*) Current course record with night start, effective from 2015.
(**) Course record with day start.
Other Badwater Challenges
Besides the main race, some runners take on even bigger challenges related to the Badwater course.
Multiple Crossings
Some super-endurance runners try to complete the course more than once in a row!
- In 1989, Tom Crawford and Richard Benyo did the first "double crossing." They ran from Badwater to Mount Whitney's summit and then back to Badwater again! This was called the "Death Valley 300."
- In 1994, Scott Weber did the first "Triple Crossing." He went from Mount Whitney to Badwater, back to Whitney, and then back to Badwater again! He did this in 10 days.
- In 2001, Marshall Ulrich was the first to complete the "Badwater Quad." This meant two back-to-back Death Valley 300s, for a total of four crossings! He ran over 22 marathons worth of distance in 10 days.
- In 2014, Lisa Smith-Batchen became the first woman to complete the "Badwater Quad." She ran 584 miles (940 km) in 15 days!
Running Without Help
Some runners try to complete the Badwater course all by themselves, without a support crew. This is called an "unassisted" or "self-contained" crossing. They have to carry all their own food and water.
- In 1994, Scott Weber was the first to cross from Mount Whitney to Badwater without a crew. He pushed a special cart with his supplies.
- In 1999, Marshall Ulrich was the first to complete the 146-mile (235 km) Badwater-to-Summit course completely alone. He carried 225 pounds (102 kg) of gear and water in a modified baby jogger! He finished in 77 hours and 46 minutes.
- In 2011, Lisa Bliss became the first woman to complete the 146-mile (235 km) Badwater-to-Summit course totally self-contained. She pushed a 240-pound (109 kg) cart and reached the summit in 89 hours and 38 minutes.
Badwater Solo Ultra
Many runners also complete the Badwater to Mount Whitney course on their own, outside of the official race. These are called "solos." They usually have a support crew, but they are not part of the official competition.
In 2007, Ben Eakin, who was 19 years old, became the youngest person to complete the 146-mile (235 km) solo course. He also became the first person with type-1 diabetes to do it!
Other Related Events
There are other challenges that combine the Badwater spirit with different types of races.
Death Valley Cup
If a runner finishes both the Badwater Ultramarathon and the Furnace Creek 508 bicycle race in the same year, they win the Death Valley Cup. The Furnace Creek 508 is a very long bike race also held in Death Valley.
Marshall Ulrich was the first person to win the Death Valley Cup in 1996.
Badwater World Cup (BWWC)
The Badwater World Cup is a special challenge for ultra-endurance athletes. To complete it, you must finish four very tough races:
- The Badwater Ultramarathon (in the desert)
- The Brazil 135 Ultramarathon (in the mountains)
- The Arrowhead 135 (in the snow)
- The Europe 135
See also
In Spanish: Badwater Ultramarathon para niños
- Running on the Sun: The Badwater 135, a documentary film on the 1999 race
