Badwater Ultramarathon General Information

RACE DATE: Monday-Wednesday, July 15-17, 2013.

SUNRISE / SUNSET: Civil Twilight (AM): 5:18am | Sunrise: 5:47am | Sunset: 8:06pm | Civil Twilight (PM): 8:35pm.

DISTANCE: 135 miles.

WHO: An international, invitational field of approximately ninety-five endurance athletes representing approximately nineteen countries and twenty-four American states. Roster.

APPLYING TO ENTER: The Badwater Ultramarathon is, and always has been, an invitational race. See above for the 2012 application timeline. Click here for the qualifying standards and application procedures.

RACE MAGAZINE: Click here to download the 2012 edition (3.4 meg, 44-page PDF file).

EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: If you are racing or if you are crewing, you should be receiving the regular email updates from the race office. If not, please subscribe to our email newsletter! Please also "Become a fan of" our Facebook pages (AdventureCORPS & Badwater) and subscribe to our Twitter feed.

IMPORTANT FORMS: All entrants need to download the Entrant Risks Waiver, the Standard Waiver (for all entrants AND for all crew members), the Medical History Form (for all entrants), and the Check-In Form (for all entrants). Please have all crew members complete and sign the Crew Waiver. Bring all these forms, fully completed, to Racer Check-In on Sunday. Be sure to pay your $20 per car Park Entrance Fee BEFORE Runner Check-In.

MEDIA: All journalists must apply for a Journalist Credential at least one moth in advance of the race. Click here to download the Press Kit and Credential Application. Contact us with further questions.

MANDATORY RUNNER CHECK-IN: As outlined above and held July 14, 2013 in the Marquez Room, Furnace Creek Inn (Park in gravel lot with entrance near the Badwater Road intersection. Do not drive up to the main entrance to the Inn.)

Every runner, along with their designated Crew Chief only (crew may attend if space allows), must personally attend at some point during the two hour timeframe. No exceptions. Photo identification is required for all runners. Please bring the completed Runner Check-In Form and signed waivers for all crew members and the runner. All paperwork must be complete before walking in the door. Be sure to pay your $20 per car Park Entrance Fee at the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center (and bring proof of same) BEFORE Runner Check-In.

MANDATORY PRE-RACE MEETING: As outlined above, runners will attend one of three Pre-Race Meetings on July 14, 2013 in Marquez Room, Furnace Creek Inn (Park in gravel lot with entrance near the Badwater Road intersection. Do not drive up to the main entrance to the Inn.). The specific meeting is based upon the Wave Start assigned for each runner: Wave 1 600am runners attend at 200pm; Wave 2 800am runners attend at 300pm; Wave 3 1000am runners attend at 400pm. Every runner must attend the entire designated meeting with his or her crew chief and 1-2 crew only; no more than total of three crew with each runner).

MEDIA MEETING: There will be a brief, mandatory meeting of all journalists after the final Pre-Race Meeting in the Marquez Room at the Furnace Creek Inn. All media must contact us and request Media Credentials at least two weeks in advance of the race.

ROOKIE (AND VETERAN) CREW TRAINING
5:00 to 8:00PM, Sunday, July 14, 2013, outside near the cabins at the front of the Furnace Creek Ranch (near Cabin 226): No matter how many ultras you’ve crewed, this informal session will help you with tips and tricks to make sure you, your runner, and the rest of your crew have a great time in Death Valley. We’ll cover common mistakes, give an overview of race rules, and even help with ideas to organize your van and be prepared for almost anything. Hosted by Cory Linkel (7-time crew and 5-time race official at Badwater) and CHP Scott Wall (1-time crew and 7-time race official at Badwater)

HOTELS: We have reserved blocks of rooms in Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Lone Pine during our event. Information about our special pricing is provided ONLY to confirmed entrants in the race, as well as media and sponsors. That special information is necessary to make reservations and to secure the special rates that we have obtained for Badwater Ultramarathon racers, crew, and staff. Entrants, media, and sponsors: do not delay in making your reservations; the Death Valley and Lone Pine areas are very popular destinations in the Summer.

STARTING LOCATION: Badwater, Death Valley, CA, 282 feet below sea level.

STARTING TIMES: 6:00AM, 8:00AM, and 10:00AM, July 15, 2013. App. 33 runners per group, as assigned by the race organizers. Runners may attend only their assigned start time. Runners must check in, ready to race, 30 minutes prior to their start.

ENDING LOCATION: The end of Whitney Portals Road, above Lone Pine, CA, on Mt. Whitney, elevation 8360 feet. The race does not continue up the Whitney Trail further onto the mountain.

ENDING TIME: The event is officially over 48 hours after each starting group, so either 6:00AM, 8:00AM, or 10:00AM, July 17, 2013.

COURSE RECORDS: Men’s: Valmir Nunes, 2007, Brazil: 22:51:29. Women’s: Jamie Donaldson, 2010, USA, 26:16:12.

POST-RACE GET-TOGETHER: 12:00PM, Wednesday, July 17, 2013, Lo-Inyo Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room, Lone Pine, CA. All racers are encouraged to complete the race in time for this event! Pizza and drinks will be served. No charge (up to six crew per runner).

AWARDS: All racers who begin the event will receive a Badwater Ultramarathon t-shirt, hat, Race Magazine, and a goodie bag. All racers who officially complete the event within 48 hours will receive a finisher's t-shirt and commemorative Badwater Ultramarathon buckle.

RACE HEADQUARTERS: This will be set up during the race in at the Furnace Creek Ranch on Monday, then in Lone Pine at the Dow Villa from the first evening onwards.

WEBCAST: Spread the word that we will post time splits, commentary, and images on a continual basis for the duration of the 48 hour race at this link. We will be "live" throughout the race in July, plus we keep the entire webcast archived forever. We will post time splits, results, images, video, and much more, beginning a few hours after the start of the race. As for time splits, keep in mind that the first time station is 17 miles into the race and it will take people several hours to get there. And remember, this is a webcast, not television. You have to be patient and keep in mind that you are not "viewing" the race in "real time." That said, it's going to be great! (Please do not email us or ask us to pass along any information to any runner during the race. We don't even check email during the race. Enjoy the show, everyone!)

PERMITS: This event is held under special use permits from the Inyo National Forest, Death Valley National Park, California Department of Transportation, and Inyo County, and is overseen by the California Highway Patrol. (If one of these agencies won’t issue us a permit, this race could be cancelled. Please keep that in mind!)

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

OFFICIAL CHARITY: The official charities of the Badwater Ultramarathon are the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Major Taylor Association, and Death Valley Natural History Association. We are also members of 1% For The Planet and the Conservation Alliance. Click here for all the info about these wonderful organizations and what you can do to get involved. Click here for info about our environmental efforts.

Entry Fee Refunds via CAF Fund-raising: Race entrants may have their entry fee reimbursed by raising at least $6000 for Challenged Athletes Foundation, an Official Charity of the Badwater Ultramarathon. Fund-raising for CAF is made simple with a fully automated and personalized webpage where friends, family, and co-workers may donate in a secure and simple manner. The $6000 must be raised in full by June 1, 2013. On approximately August 1, those race entrants who raised at least $6000 - as verified by CAF - will have their entry fee refunded.

Free Guaranteed Entry in the Race For One or Two Major CAF Donors: The race organizers will give one or two qualified applicants the opportunity to be guaranteed acceptance into the race in exchange for a $7,500 donation to Challlenge Athletes Foundation. Here are the guidelines for this opportunity:

A full and acceptable application must be submitted during the February 1-15 timeframe. Within the application, the applicant must state "I am willing to make a $7,500 donation RIGHT NOW to Challenged Athletes Foundation, in order to guarantee my acceptance in the race." The Race Committee will immediately review the application, and if they unanimously agree to accept the applicant, the applicant will receive an Entry Acceptance email within three days. At that time, the applicant must immediately donate $7,500 to CAF via the special weblink provided. Upon confirmation of that donation by CAF, the applicant will receive notice of their Confirmed Entry in the race. NO ENTRY FEE will be required. No more than two of these CAF Entry Slots will be available.

PLEASE NOTE: This offer is only available during the February 1-15 timeframe. It may not be utilized later, for example by an applicant who was not accepted into the race, in order to gain entry.

Also please note: under NO circumstances should an applicant make the $7,500 donation - with the intention of earning Guaranteed Acceptance - until advised to do so by the Race Committee.

Finally, any applicant who utilizes this offer to enter the race must take advantage of this opportunity in 2013. If he or she is unable to race in 2013 for some reason, entry will NOT be guaranteed in a later year.

DONATE YOUR LEFT-OVER GEAR: After the race, when you're staring at coolers, folding chairs, umbrellas, and things you can't get on the plane with you, please donate them to a good cause! Click here for links to the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, Good Will of Santa Monica, and the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. Thanks to Elizabeth Mullen of www.litterproject.com for her help with this effort.

DRIVING DISTANCES:
Las Vegas Airport to Furnace Creek: 140 miles
Los Angeles Airport to Furnace Creek: 250 miles
Lone Pine to Las Vegas Airport: 240 miles
Lone Pine to Los Angeles Airport: 210 miles

DIRECTIONS TO FURNACE CREEK FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND LAS VEGAS:
Click Here: Pdf download of the best route to drive to and from Death Valley. Print this and use it for your drive to and from the event! NEVER USE A GPS TO NAVIGATE TO DEATH VALLEY!