
Ashley Paulson and pacer descend Towne Pass into the Panamint Valley during the 2022 Badwater 135.

Ashley Paulson and pacer descend Towne Pass into the Panamint Valley during the 2022 Badwater 135.
THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST FOOT RACE CELEBRATES 45th ANNIVERSARY OF ICONIC ROUTE FROM DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK TO MOUNT WHITNEY
For the duration of the 2022 race, fans can follow the race through a “live” webcast at this link (which will remain archived there.)
NEW FOR THIS YEAR: Facebook Live-Streaming at the Start Lines and along the route, thanks to our new satellite internet system!
Follow the 2022 time splits and results at this link.
To download the basic Press Release along with the Media Kit and Media Credential Application in PDF format, click here.
To download the July 2022 issue of BADWATER Magazine, click here.
See the bottom of this page for many more useful links.
Lone Pine, CA: On July 11-13, 2022, AdventureCORPS will present its legendary BADWATER® 135 Ultramarathon, the 135-Mile World Championship. Now in its 45th year, this world-renowned event pits up to 100 of the world’s toughest athletes against one another and the elements in a crucible like no other. From below sea level in scorching temperatures to altitudes as high as 8,360 feet (2548m), 94 endurance athletes representing 23 nations plus 28 American states and the Navajo Nation will face off in a grueling 135-mile trek non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA. Widely recognized as “the world’s toughest foot race,” the invitational Badwater 135 is the most demanding and extreme running race on the planet.
The start line is at Badwater Basin, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ (85m) below sea level. The race finishes at Whitney Portal at 8,300’ (2530m). The course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 14,600’ (4450m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 6,100’ (1859m) of cumulative descent. Whitney Portal is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through places with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil’s Cornfield, Devil’s Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Darwin, Keeler, Alabama Hills, and Lone Pine.
The Badwater 135 Ultramarathon is held under permits from – and in close collaboration with – Death Valley National Park, California Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service, and the County of Inyo.
Above: Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds welcomes the 2021 Badwater 135 runners, crew, and staff (2022 video coming soon)
AdventureCORPS – on behalf of all competitors and support crews – also gratefully acknowledges that these lands have been lived upon for at least 1000 years by native peoples, including the Timbisha Shoshone and the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone tribes who live on the race course today. We honor and share their deep reverence for these lands.
While runners began running the course in the 1970s, the race itself has been part of the fabric of life in Inyo County since 1987. A recent study indicated an annual economic impact of 1.2 million dollars, half of it spent in Death Valley National Park and surrounding gateway communities such as Lone Pine, CA. The race is supported by former U.S. Congressman Col. Paul Cook (Ret.) of California’s 8th District, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, and a wide panorama of businesses and charities which are positively impacted.
THE 2022 RACE FIELD
The ultimate “challenge of the champions,” the 2022 Badwater 135 features 32 Badwater veterans and 62 rookies: die hard “ultra-runners” who have the necessary running credentials to not only apply for, but be selected, to compete in the race.
As always, the race will boast a very international field. The 94 athletes in the 2022 Badwater 135 represent twenty-three nations: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, Venezuela, and with the Navajo Nation. See the full roster here.
Twenty-eight different American states are represented: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.
There are 32 women and 62 men. The youngest runners are Lindsay Phenix, 31, of Los Angeles, CA, and Iván Penalba Lopez, 31, of Valencia, Spain; both are rookies. The oldest runners are Pamela Chapman-Markle, 66, of SanLeon, TX, and Bob Becker, 77, of Fort Lauderdale, FL; both are many-time finishers. The overall average age is 49.
Of special note, this year Gerald Tabios is going for his seventh finish, Amy Costa is going for her eighth finish, Joshua Holmes is going for his eighth consecutive finish, Kimberlie Budzik is going for her ninth finish, Karla Kent is going for her tenth consecutive finish, Harvey Lewis is going for his eleventh consecutive finish, Ray Sanchez is going for his 14th consecutive finish, and Danny Westergaard is going for his 15th consecutive finish.
Every year is a new year at the Badwater 135, with both veterans and rookie athletes impressing everyone with incredible, gutsy performances. With every single runner hungry to go home with the coveted Badwater 135 Official Finisher Belt Buckle – and give their absolute best performance – both known and new stars will shine as the race unfolds.
COURSE RECORDS and FINISHING TIMES:
Men’s: Yoshihiko Ishikawa, 2019, Japan: 21:33:01.
Women’s: Patrycja Bereznowska, 2019, Poland, 24:13:24.
For Age Group records and more info, click here.
It is expected that the winners of the 2022 Badwater 135 will finish in near record time for both men’s and women’s divisions. The average finishing time is approximately 40 hours, while the overall time limit is 48 hours. For those who finish in less than forty-eight hours, their reward is the coveted Badwater 135 belt buckle, referred to as “the Holy Grail of Ultra Running.” There is no prize money.
Above: The 2022 edition of the Holy Grail of Ultra Running. On the obverse is engraved DETUR DIGNIORI, which means “Let it Be Given to those Most Worthy“ in Latin.
WAVE STARTS
As detailed on the race roster, the race will begin in three waves on Monday evening, July 11. They are assigned according to their predicted finishing time, with the Fast Runners going first, Faster Runners going second, and Fastest Runners (at least on paper) going third.
• Wave 1 (800pm): 23 men and 12 women; 26 rookies and 9 veterans = 35 runners
• Wave 2 (930pm): 23 men and 6 women; 19 rookies and 10 veterans = 29 runners
• Wave 3 (1100pm): 16 men and 14 women; 16 rookies and 14 veterans = 31 runners
A LEGENDARY HISTORY
This year’s race celebrates the 45th anniversary of Al Arnold’s original trek from Badwater Basin to Mt. Whitney in 1977. Arnold, an ultrarunning pioneer, human potential guru, and health club manager, competed in a solo effort: it was just Arnold and his support crew against the elements and the clock. It took him three efforts before he was successful, having first attempted the route in 1974 and then 1975.
Four years later, Jay Birmingham also completed the course, in 1981. The official head-to-head race began ten years after Arnold’s pioneer trek, in 1987, and has been held annually since then without serious incident, fatality, or any citations issued by any branch of law enforcement. (The race was sadly canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020.)
AdventureCORPS brought Al to the race in 2002, the 25th anniversary of his run, and he was treated like a rock star by everyone in attendance. Sadly, we lost our incredible friend Al Arnold when he passed away on September 6, 2017 at the age of 89. He is sorely missed, but his spirit lives on with each year’s edition of the world’s toughest foot race.
Jay Birmingham, who turns 77 in July, remains very active with the world of Badwater, not only by serving on the Badwater 135 Application Review Committee for more than 15 years, but also as an athlete. He has competed in all of the Badwater races over the past nineteen years.
The first women to complete the course were Jeannie Ennis (USA) and Eleanor Adams (United Kingdom), both of whom competed in the inaugural race in 1987. Ennis was brought to the race as a special guest in 2005 and inducted into the Badwater Hall of Fame.
Al Arnold at the start line of the 2002 Badwater Ultramarathon.
For more info about Al Arnold and the original race click these links:
1977 Al Arnold / 1981 Jay Birmingham / 1987 Race
The Badwater 135 is the final event in the Badwater® Ultra Cup, a three-race series which began with the 51-mile Badwater® Cape Fear in March, continued with the 81-mile Badwater® Salton Sea in late April, and now concludes with the Badwater 135 in July. Those runners who complete all three events in the same calendar year are featured on the Badwater.com website and their virtues are extolled throughout the Internet and in future editions of BADWATER Magazine. In 2014, seven athletes completed the entire Badwater Ultra Cup, nine completed it in 2015, sixteen in 2016, fifteen in 2017, eight in 2018, eleven in 2019, and six in 2021. Seven 2022 adwater 135 runners have already completed both Badwater Cape Fear and Badwater Salton Sea this year, and will now attempt the final – and most difficult – leg of this epic, three-event series.
OFFICIAL SPONSORS AND CHARITIES
Now in its twenty-third year producing this race, AdventureCORPS is pleased to welcome Joe Nimble Shoes, NSNG Foods, and Pure Vitamin Club as Official Sponsors of Badwater. We also thank the Oasis at Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells Resort, Panamint Springs Resort, and Dow Villa of Lone Pine, the community of Lone Pine, CA, the County of Inyo, the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, and other generous companies and individuals who support Badwater 135 each year. More info about our sponsors.
Official Charities of Badwater include the Challenged Athletes Foundation. As one of the very few charities that provides grants directly to athletes with a physical disability, the Challenged Athletes Foundation has raised over 112 million dollars and directly assisted more than 26,000 challenged athletes in 70 countries world-wide. Since 2002, we have raised over $800,000 for Challenged Athletes Foundation.
AdventureCORPS also supports the Bald Head Island Conservancy, Death Valley Natural History Association, Conservation Alliance, and One Percent For The Planet. One of the goals of the Badwater 135 is to raise funds for, and awareness of, these organizations. More info. Additionally, many of the race entrants are competing on behalf of a charity of their choice, and these are noted and linked from the race roster.
For the duration of the 2022 race, fans can follow the race through a “live” webcast at this link (which will remain archived at that link.)
Follow the 2022 time splits and results at this link.
Follow the race on Twitter @Badwater: http://twitter.com/badwater
Official Hashtag across all social media: #Badwater135
Follow the race staff’s live photostream on Instagram @BadwaterHQ
Follow the race director’s live photostream on Instagram @ChrisKostman
Follow the AdventureCORPS race staff’s photostream archive on Flickr
Follow our Facebook @Badwater135 page and the #Badwater135 Facebook conversation
Download the July 2022 issue of BADWATER Magazine at this link.
WEBCAST, RACE UPDATES, PRESS CREDENTIALS, AND FURTHER INFO:
A stock image gallery – for bona fide media use only – may be accessed at this link, with Photographer Name / Badwater.com attribution required.
For media attending the event in person, download the full 2022 Badwater 135 Press Kit at at this link.
Oak Park, CA-based AdventureCORPS®, Inc. has made its name producing the world’s toughest endurance races in dramatic, remote locations that few people would ever visit, let alone run or bike across. Held under the Badwater® banner, these events have allowed runners and bicyclists to explore the Death Valley, Salton Sea, Cape Fear, Mojave Desert, and the Nevada outback regions in the USA, as well as the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Mustang region of Nepal, and the Yunan Province of China.
AdventureCORPS®, Inc. owns and represents BADWATER®, “The World’s Toughest Brand, Gear, and Races.” As a brand, BADWATER represents digging deep and going farther; it is the lifestyle brand for all who push their limits while exploring the outer and inner universes.
Badwater® is a federally registered trademark owned by AdventureCORPS, Inc.
More info: www.adventurecorps.com and www.badwater.com.
Chris Kostman
Chief Adventure Officer and Race Director
AdventureCORPS, Inc. 638 Lindero Canyon Road, #311
Oak Park, CA 91377 USA
In 2013, Arthur Webb, a 15-time competitor in the Badwater 135 – who set a personal record and new 70+ Age Group Record during his final appearance at age 70 in 2012 – was inducted into the Badwater Hall of Fame.
His plaque reads:
Arthur Webb is proudly inducted into the Badwater Hall of Fame
in recognition of his fifteen years of devotion to the world’s toughest foot race
July 2013
OFFICIAL CHARITY: Bald Head Island Conservancy: Please join and donate to BHIC today!
• 2022 Pre-Race Activities, Racer Check-In, Social Mixer, and Badwater Beer by Chris Kostman & Robert Lee (Visit BadwaterLife.com to learn more about the Beer!)
• 2022 Racer Mugshots by Robert Lee of BeamCatchers.com
• 2022 Start Line and the first few miles by Chris Kostman
• 2022 Runners Rounding Cape Fear at Mile 13.1 by Chris Kostman
• 2022 Finish Line at Bald Head Island Conservancy + Post-Race Breakfast + Post-Race Activities by Chris Kostman
• Massive gallery of incredible images from the bridge and on the beach by Robert Lee of BeamCatchers.com
• Live from Cape Fear, the Tuesday prior to the race
• Live from the Maritime Forest trail section of the race route, the Tuesday prior to the race
• Live from the Ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher, the Wednesday prior to the race
• Live from Fort Fisher, location of Aid Station 3, the Wednesday prior to the race
• Live from the 2022 Racer Check-In, Part 1. Part 2.
• Live from the 2022 Start Line
• Live as the 2022 Badwater Cape Fear gets under way
• Live from Cape Fear itself on race morning as racers round the Cape
The eighth Badwater Cape Fear 50km / 51mi ultramarathon took place on March 19, 2022 on Bald Head Island and Fort Fisher, North Carolina. A field of 124 runners competed in either the 50km race or the 51.4-mile race, with all but five finishing either the 50km or the 51.4-mi race officially. Click here for the race results. Click here to register for the March 19, 2023 race.
The 2022 race featured 124 runners representing Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Iran, Mexico, Philippines, and United States, plus 27 American states: Arizona (2), California (9), Colorado (2), Connecticut (3), District of Columbia (1), Florida (13), Georgia (5), Illinois (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Nevada (1), New Jersey (3), New Mexico (1), New York (4), North Carolina (39), Ohio (4), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (4), Tennessee (2), Texas (7), Utah (1), Vermont (2), Virginia (5), and Wisconsin (2). Ages range from 14 to 77. There were 31 females and 93 males, 91 rookies and 33 race veterans. For the full race roster, click here.
With 50km and 51-mile race options and a start line at the foot of Old Baldy, Badwater® Cape Fear features a twelve-mile warm-up on the car-free, one-lane-wide roads and maritime forest trails of Bald Head Island, followed by either 19.6 or 39 miles of running on the wild and secluded sandy beach between Cape Fear and Fort Fisher. The beach stretch features spectacular views of the Frying Pan Shoals to the east and the wild and undeveloped Cape Fear River marshlands to the west. Running this remote coast is a dramatic, invigorating, and inspiring manner in which to experience Bald Head Island, Fort Fisher State Recreation, and the Cape Fear region in all its grandeur!
This exquisite natural setting is the perfect antidote to the “real world” and a wonderful counterpart to the desert sands and mountains of Death Valley and Anza-Borrego Desert featured in the two West Coast BADWATER® races.
Race Report on the Bald Head Island Conservancy Website: Click here!
These are the first two of several drinks – including non-alcoholic drinks – being launched in conjunction with Badwater Cape Fear runner Sean Tracy and his brewery and Hewn Spirits distillery in Pennsylvania. Order Badwater Whiskey here. Sign up for further updates at BadwaterLife.com and “Find Your Epic!!
Racer Check-In: Ted Williamson, Bob Becker, Keith Weitz, Scott Kollins, Julie Lee, Robert Lee, Emily Lyons, Bernadette Dubois, Rachel Belmont, Geoff Moore, Chris Shank, and others
Trail Prep: Bob Becker
Start Line: Keith Weitz, Scott Kollins, Emily Lyons, Julie Lee, and Chris Kostman
Broom Wagon (first 10.5 miles): Brian Million
Trail Sweep: Emily Lyons
Morning Directions: Chris Shank, Julie Lee, Craig Bandoroff, Margaret Piscano, Scott Tuttle & Becca Kenney, BHI Conservancy interns, and others
UTV Pilot: Maddie Talnagi of BHIC
AS1 at Bald Head Island Conservancy: Emily Ryan, Anne-Marie Brock, Thomas Brock, Emily Lyons, and Brian Million
AS2 at Mid-Beach: Ted Williamson, Jeff Winchester, and Marcia Bosch (with assistance from Fort Fisher State Recreation Area rangers!)
AS3 at Fort Fisher: Eleanor Erickson, Keith Weitz, and Scott Kollins
Timing: Julie Lee with assistance from Robert Lee and others.
Finish Line: Chris Kostman, Bethany Cazenave, Sandy Kades, Emily Lyons, Chris Shank, and others
Photography: Robert Lee of BeamCatchers and Chris Kostman
Public Safety Support: Village of Bald Head Island Public Safety and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Rangers
To download the basic Press Release along with the Media Kit and Media Credential Application in PDF format, click here.
To download the July 2021 issue of BADWATER Magazine, click here.
See the bottom of this page for many more links.
Lone Pine, CA: On July 19-21, 2021, AdventureCORPS will present its legendary BADWATER® 135 Ultramarathon, the 135-Mile World Championship. Now in its 44th year – with the 2020 race canceled last-minute due to the pandemic – this world-renowned event pits up to 100 of the world’s toughest athletes against one another and the elements in a crucible like no other. From below sea level in scorching temperatures to altitudes as high as 8,360 feet (2548m), endurance athletes from 17 countries and 29 American states plus the Navajo Nation will face off in a grueling 135-mile trek non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA. Widely recognized as “the world’s toughest foot race,” the invitational Badwater 135 is the most demanding and extreme running race on the planet.
The start line is at Badwater Basin, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ (85m) below sea level. The race finishes at Whitney Portal at 8,300’ (2530m). The course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 14,600’ (4450m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 6,100’ (1859m) of cumulative descent. Whitney Portal is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through places with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil’s Cornfield, Devil’s Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Darwin, Keeler, Alabama Hills, and Lone Pine.
The Badwater 135 Ultramarathon is held under permits from – and in close collaboration with – Death Valley National Park, California Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service, and the County of Inyo.
Above: Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds welcomes the 2021 Badwater 135 runners, crew, and staff
AdventureCORPS – on behalf of all competitors and support crews – also gratefully acknowledges that these lands have been lived upon for at least 1000 years by native peoples, including the Timbisha Shoshone and the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone tribes who live on the race course today. We honor and share their deep reverence for these lands.
While runners began running the course in the 1970s, the race itself has been part of the fabric of life in Inyo County since 1987. A recent study indicated an annual economic impact of 1.2 million dollars, half of it spent in Death Valley National Park and surrounding gateway communities such as Lone Pine, CA. The race is supported by former U.S. Congressman Col. Paul Cook (Ret.) of California’s 8th District, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors, the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, and a wide panorama of businesses and charities which are positively impacted.
THE 2021 RACE FIELD
A true “challenge of the champions,” the 2021 Badwater 135 features 38 Badwater veterans and 46 rookies: die hard “ultra-runners” who have the necessary running credentials to not only apply for, but be selected, to compete in the race.
Despite COVID-caused international travel restrictions which will keep at least 15 foreign runners from competing this year, the race will still boast an international field. The 84 athletes in the 2021 Badwater 135 represent seventeen countries: Armenia, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States of America, along with the Navajo Nation. See the full roster here.
Twenty-nine different American states and territories are represented: Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia.
There are 24 women and 60 men. The youngest runners are Ryan Fecteau, 28, of Malden, MA and Mollie Melton Yonker, 38, of Winter Park, FL; both are rookies. The oldest female is Norma Roberts, 62, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a rookie entrant. The oldest male is Bob Becker, 76, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, a three-time finisher. The overall average age is 49. Full roster details, including links to personal website, charities, social media, race results, and more are available here.
COURSE RECORDS AND FINISHING TIMES:
Men’s: Yoshihiko Ishikawa, 2019, Japan: 21:33:01.
Women’s: Patrycja Bereznowska, 2019, Poland, 24:13:24.
For Age Group records and more info, click here.
It is expected that the winners of the 2021 Badwater 135 will finish in near record time for both men’s and women’s divisions. The average finishing time is approximately 40 hours, while the overall time limit is 48 hours. For those who finish in less than forty-eight hours, their reward is the coveted Badwater 135 belt buckle, referred to as “the Holy Grail of Ultra Running.” There is no prize money.
The 2021 edition of the Holy Grail of Ultra Running. Difficilia Quae Pulchra = “Beauty is Difficult to Attain“ in Latin.
MEET SOME OF THE COMPETITORS
The 2021 race field is particularly competitive. Veteran men’s contenders include 2018 champion Michele Graglia, 37, of Big Bear City, CA (Italian citizenship), 2015 and 2016 champion Pete Kostelnick, 33, of Brunswick, OH (who also broke the 36-year-old Trans-USA running record in 2016); 2014 champion Harvey Lewis, 45, of Cincinnati, OH (who placed 2nd in 2016, 3rd in 2017, and 3rd in 2019), 2011 men’s champion Oswaldo Lopez, 49, of Madera, CA (Mexican citizenship), and others including multiple Badwater Salton Sea champion Ray Sanchez, 54, of Sacramento, CA and David Jones, 69, of Murfreesboro, TN, the 1997 Badwater 135 race champion, ten-time finisher, and 60+ age group record holder. There are 33 rookie men and 27 veteran men.
The women’s field is also stacked with talent, but includes no previous women’s Badwater 135 champions. The women’s field of 24 female runners includes 13 rookies and 11 veterans. Notable veteran contenders include several who finished impressively in 2019: third place Lisa DeVona, 45, of Pompano Beach, FL; fourth place Caryn Lubetsky, 50, of Miami Shores, FL; and 6th place Suzi Swinehart, 49, of Fort Wayne, IN who is also a Badwater Cape Fear champion. Making her rookie debut is Lori Mitchener, 44, of Lynnfield, MA, who has won multiple 100-mile races, including the legendary Keys 100. Hoping to dramatically improve on previous performances are Sally McRae, 42, of Huntington Beach, CA, who struggled valiantly – and finished – at her rookie race in 2018 and Nancy Levene, 53, of New York City, who had to drop out in 2019 when her support vehicle broke down.
Notably – due to the pandemic-imposed travel bans – only one non-USA resident female is competing, Norma Roberts of Canada. Others carrying their home country flags – but who live in the USA – are Telma Ghazarian Altoon representing Armenia, Sandy Geisel representing Canada, and Karla Kent representing the Czech Republic.
Both Harvey Lewis and Ed “The Jester” Ettinghausen will be attempting their tenth finishes this year, while Danny Westergaard is going for his 14th consecutive finish, Karla Kent is going for her ninth consecutive finish, and Kimberlie Budzik is going for her eighth finish.
This brief handicap of the race notwithstanding, every year is a new year at the Badwater 135, with both veterans and rookie athletes impressing everyone with incredible, gutsy performances. With every single runner hungry to go home with the coveted Badwater 135 Official Finisher Belt Buckle, both known and new stars will shine as the race unfolds.
WAVE STARTS
As detailed on the race roster, the race will begin in three waves on Monday evening, July 19. They are assigned according to their predicted finishing time, with the Fast Runners going first, Faster Runners going second, and Fastest Runners (at least on paper) going third.
• Wave 1 (800pm): 21 men and 13 women; 23 rookies and 11 veterans = 34 runners
• Wave 2 (930pm): 19 men and 5 women; 13 rookies and 11 veterans = 24 runners
• Wave 3 (1100pm): 20 men and 6 women; 11 rookies and 15 veterans = 26 runners
The Badwater 135 is the final event in the Badwater® Ultra Cup, a three-race series which began with the 51-mile Badwater® Cape Fear in March, continued with the 81-mile Badwater® Salton Sea in April, and now concludes with the Badwater 135 in July. Those runners who complete all three events in the same calendar year are featured on the Badwater.com website and their virtues are extolled throughout the Internet and in future editions of BADWATER Magazine. In 2014, seven athletes completed the entire Badwater Ultra Cup, nine completed it in 2015, sixteen in 2016, fifteen in 2017, eight in 2018, and eleven racers completed the Badwater Ultra Cup in 2019. Time will tell how many complete this three-event challenge in 2021.
OFFICIAL SPONSORS AND CHARITIES
Now in its twenty-second year producing this race, AdventureCORPS is pleased to welcome Pure Vitamin Club, Joe Nimble Shoes, NSNG Foods, and First Discount Brokerage as Official Sponsors of Badwater. We also thank the Oasis at Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells Resort, Panamint Springs Resort, and Dow Villa of Lone Pine, the community of Lone Pine, CA, the County of Inyo, the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, and other generous companies and individuals who support Badwater 135 each year. More info about our sponsors.
Official Charities of Badwater include the Challenged Athletes Foundation. As one of the very few charities that provides grants directly to athletes with a physical disability, the Challenged Athletes Foundation has raised over thirty million dollars and directly assisted thousands of challenged athletes world-wide. AdventureCORPS has – as of 2021 – raised over $776,000 for Challenged Athletes Foundation, and AdventureCORPS athletes have also raised impressive sums for CAF.
AdventureCORPS also supports the Bald Head Island Conservancy, Death Valley Natural History Association, Conservation Alliance, and One Percent For The Planet. One of the goals of the Badwater 135 is to raise funds for, and awareness of, these organizations. More info. Additionally, many of the race entrants are competing on behalf of a charity of their choice, and these are noted and linked from the race roster.
A LEGENDARY HISTORY
This year’s race celebrates the 44th anniversary of Al Arnold’s original trek from Badwater Basin to Mt. Whitney in 1977. Arnold, an ultrarunning pioneer, human potential guru, and health club manager, competed in a solo effort: it was just Arnold and his support crew against the elements and the clock. It took him three efforts before he was successful, having first attempted the route in 1974 and then 1975.
Four years later, Jay Birmingham also completed the course, in 1981. The official head-to-head race began ten years after Arnold’s pioneer trek, in 1987, and has been held annually since then without serious incident, fatality, or any citations issued by any branch of law enforcement. (The race was sadly canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020.)
We brought Al to the race in 2002, the 25th anniversary of his run, and he was treated like a rock star by everyone in attendance. Sadly, we lost our incredible friend Al Arnold when he passed away on September 6, 2017 at the age of 89. He is sorely missed, but his spirit lives on with each year’s edition of the world’s toughest foot race.
Jay Birmingham, now 76, remains very active with the world of Badwater, first by serving on the Badwater 135 Application Review Committee, but also as an athlete. He has competed in all of the Badwater races and plans to run our Artsakh Ultra Stage Race Armenia in 2022.
Al Arnold at the start line of the 2002 Badwater Ultramarathon.
For more info about Al Arnold and also the original race click these links:
WEBCAST, RACE UPDATES, PRESS CREDENTIALS, AND FURTHER INFO:
A stock image gallery – for bona fide media use only – may be accessed at this link, with Photographer Name / Badwater.com attribution required.
For media attending the event in person, download the full 2021 Badwater 135 Press Kit at at this link.
For the duration of the 2021 race, fans can follow the race through a “live” webcast at this link (which will remain archived at that link.)
Follow the 2021 time splits and results at this link.
Follow the race on Twitter @Badwater: http://twitter.com/badwater
Official Hashtag across all social media: #Badwater135
Follow the race staff’s live photostream on Instagram @BadwaterHQ
Follow the race director’s live photostream on Instagram @ChrisKostman
Follow the AdventureCORPS race staff’s photostream archive on Flickr
Follow the race director Chris Kostman’s photostream archive on Flickr
Follow our Facebook @Badwater135 page and the #Badwater135 Facebook conversation
Download the July 2021 issue of BADWATER Magazine at this link.
Oak Park, CA-based AdventureCORPS®, Inc. has made its name producing the world’s toughest endurance races in dramatic, remote locations that few people would ever visit, let alone run or bike across. Held under the Badwater® banner, these events have allowed runners and bicyclists to explore Death Valley, the Salton Sea, Cape Fear, the Mojave Desert, and the Nevada outback in the USA, as well as the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Mustang region of Nepal, Yunan Province of China, and now in the Republics of Artsakh and Armenia.
AdventureCORPS®, Inc. owns and represents BADWATER®, “The World’s Toughest Brand, Gear, and Races.” As a brand, BADWATER represents digging deep and going farther; it is the lifestyle brand for all who push their limits while exploring the outer and inner universes.
Badwater® is a federally registered trademark owned by AdventureCORPS, Inc.
More info: www.adventurecorps.com and www.badwater.com.
Chris Kostman
Chief Adventure Officer and Race Director
AdventureCORPS, Inc. 638 Lindero Canyon Road, #311
Oak Park, CA 91377 USA
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oak Park, CA: AdventureCORPS®, the organization behind the legendary Badwater® brand and world-wide series of Badwater races, is pleased to announce Joe Nimble® as the Official Shoe of Badwater® for 2021. Joe Nimble® is the German shoe pioneer that has been championing the cause of toefreedom® since 1982 and has a long history with Badwater and ultramarathon events.
Joe Nimble® is the pioneer in the field of Functional Footwear with the mission to enable runners to run pain-free with toefreedom®. This family-owned Germany shoe company brought the foot-shaped, zero-heel elevation footwear concept known as toefreedom® to the world marketplace forty years ago. Since 2004, multiple athletes wearing their shoes have competed many times in the invitational Badwater 135, widely recognized as the world’s toughest foot race because of its epic 135-mile (217km) route from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in the heat of summer. While other competitors were forced to change into increasingly larger pairs of shoes during the race, or even resort to cutting out the toe box to account for the swelling of their feet, those in the Joe Nimble shoes have completed the race in just one pair from start to finish.
Joe Nimble® CEO Sebastian Bär was a member of Badwater 135 runner support teams in 2004 and 2007 and witnessed the debilitating effect of 135 miles (217km) of running in the world’s hottest place. “The Badwater 135 is legendary and I am amazed at the human achievement, every single time. The two times I was crewing at the race, I realized there are no tougher test conditions for material in the whole world. With our toefreedom philosophy we can bring a unique benefit to the runners and help them run more pain-free!”
These insights led to Bär and his team developing road-specific ultra running shoes in 2008 and now a special Badwater-inspired Joe Nimble shoe being specially developed and offered to every 2021 Badwater 135 competitor. These limited Badwater® Edition Joe Nimble® shoes feature the toefreedom® shape combined with the latest technology such as Michelin’s long-lasting and durable outsole, energy return foam, super breathable upper, and soft inner lining, plus light colors to reflect the desert sun and reflectivity to increase visibility at night.
Chris Kostman, the chief adventure officer at AdventureCORPS and race director of the Badwater events, added “I have been a huge fan and proponent of Joe Nimble’s foot-shaped shoes ever since wearing my first pair in 2008. And now we are super excited to work with Sebastian Bär and his Joe Nimble performance team to develop a Badwater-specific shoe and to offer every Badwater 135 runner the opportunity to run in the most comfortable, long-lasting, and performance-driven shoes on the planet! This will benefit not just our athletes, but every runner who embraces and realizes the benefits of toefreedom!”
Runners and race fans can follow the July 19-21, 2021 Badwater 135 – and all the Badwater races – at Badwater.com and can learn about Joe Nimble shoes at joe-nimble.com/int/.
ABOUT JOE NIMBLE:
Joe Nimble® is the creator of the Functional Footwear design concept based on the philosophy of toefreedom® which CEO Sebastian Bär’s father developed 40 years ago. Together with world renowned bio-mechanist Lee Saxby and other industry experts, Sebastian has taken these four decades of family shoe-making know-how and created a shoe concept that helps runners to run pain-free.
Learn about Joe Nimble, the German shoe pioneer with the mission to enable runners to run pain-free with toefreedom® at joe-nimble.com/int/.
Joe Nimble® is a registered trademark owned by Bär GmbH.
ABOUT BADWATER 135:
Covering 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA, the Badwater® 135 is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet. The start line is at Badwater Basin, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ (85m) below sea level. The race finishes at Whitney Portal at 8,300’ (2530m), which is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. The Badwater 135 course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 14,600’ (4450m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 6,100’ (1859m) of cumulative descent. The 43rd edition is scheduled to take place Monday-Wednesday, July 19-21, 2021. More info at Badwater.com
ABOUT ADVENTURECORPS, INC.:
Founded in 1984 by Chris Kostman, Oak Park, CA-based AdventureCORPS® owns and represents BADWATER®, “The World’s Toughest Brand, Gear, and Races.” BADWATER represents digging deep and going farther; it is the lifestyle brand for all who push their limits while exploring the outer and inner universes. AdventureCORPS’ world-class events for athlete-adventurers include epic races such as the Badwater® 135, BADWATER® Salton Sea, and BADWATER® Cape Fear, Artsakh Ultra Stage Race, and other events. More into at AdventureCORPS.com
BADWATER® and AdventureCORPS® are registered trademarks owned by AdventureCORPS, Inc.
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OFFICIAL CHARITY: Bald Head Island Conservancy: Please join and donate to BHIC today!
2021 Badwater Cape Fear Image Galleries:
• 2021 Racer Mugshots by Robert Lee
• 2021 Pre-Race, Race Day, and Post-Race iPhone Images by Chris Kostman
• 2021 Runners Rounding Cape Fear Images by Chris Kostman
2021 Badwater Cape Fear Facebook Live Videos:
• Live from the Maritime Forest trail section of the race route, the Tuesday prior to the race
• Live from the Ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher, the Wednesday prior to the race
• Live from Fort Fisher, location of Aid Station 3, the Wednesday prior to the race
• Stuffing the 2021 Badwater Cape Fear goodie bag, with Ted Williamson
• Live from the 2021 Racer Check-In
• Live on The Weather Channel from the Start Line
• Live from the 2021 Start Line, and than the first several miles of the race!
• Live from Cape Fear itself on race morning
The seventh Badwater Cape Fear 50km / 51mi ultramarathon took place on October 2, 2021 on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. A field of 125 runners competed in either the 50km race or the 51-mile race, with all but seven finishing officially. Click here for the race results.
The 2021 race featured 125 runners representing Armenia, Canada, India, Norway, Philippines, Sweden, and United Kingdom, plus 21 American states: Alabama (2), California (8), Colorado (1), Florida (11), Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Iowa (1), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (1), New York (7), North Carolina (48), Ohio (6), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (1), South Carolina (6), Tennessee (3), Texas (2), Vermont (3), and Virginia (6). Ages range from 21 to 76. There were 30 females and 95 males, 102 rookies and 23 race veterans. For the full race roster, click here.
With 50km and 51-mile race options and a start line at the foot of Old Baldy, Badwater® Cape Fear features a twelve-mile warm-up on the car-free, one-lane-wide roads and maritime forest trails of Bald Head Island, followed by either 19 or 38 miles of running on the wild and secluded sandy beach between Cape Fear and Fort Fisher. The beach stretch features spectacular views of the Frying Pan Shoals to the east and the wild and undeveloped marshlands to the west. Running this remote coast is a dramatic, invigorating, and inspiring manner in which to experience Bald Head Island, Fort Fisher State Recreation, and the Cape Fear region in all its grandeur!
This exquisite natural setting is the perfect antidote to the “real world” and a wonderful counterpart to the desert sands and mountains of Death Valley and Anza-Borrego Desert featured in the two West Coast BADWATER® races.
Registration is already open for the March 19, 2022 edition, and there is a 200-runner limit which will sell out. Whether you are a grizzled Badwater veteran, or looking to take on your first Badwater race, we hope you will join us!
Pre-Race Support: Ted Williamson, Bob Becker, Jay Lee, Stacey Shand, Luke Way, Keith Weitz, Telma Altoon, Noora Alidina, Julie Lee, and Robert Lee.
Trail Prep: Bob Becker and Jay Lee
Start Line: Keith Weitz, Stacey Shand, Barry Siff, Brian Recore, and Chris Kostman
Broom Wagon (first 10.5 miles): Brian Recore
Directions: Chris Shank, Julie Lee, Barry Siff, Sebastian Prieto, BHI Conservancy interns (Abigail, Adele, Judith, Jenn, and others)
AS1 at Bald Head Island Conservancy: Emily Ryan and Leslie Carboni
AS2 at Mid-Beach: Ted Williamson and Bonny McClain (with assistance from Fort Fisher State Recreation Area rangers!)
AS3 at Fort Fisher: Keith Weitz, Hailey Leon, and Eleanor Erickson (with assistance from Fort Fisher State Recreation Area rangers!)
Timing: Julie Lee with assistance from Barry Siff and Robert Lee.
Finish Line: Stacey Shand, Chris Kostman, Chris Shank, Brian Recore, Sebastian Prieto, and others
Photography: Robert Lee of BeamCatchers and Chris Kostman
Public Safety Support: Village of Bald Head Island Public Safety and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area Rangers
There’s a question we’re asked all the time and it goes like this:
“I’ve done X, Y, and Z races. Will I get into Badwater 135 next year?”
EVERYBODY who sends us that email receives the same reply, and here it is:
Thanks for writing and for your interest in the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon. We really appreciate your enthusiasm, however we have a policy of not “giving odds” on the likelihood of being accepted to race.
Every year we receive a greater number of applications than the year before, despite the fact that we routinely raise the minimum qualifying standard required to apply. The system is clearly explained on the website for all to see and review. In other words, we don’t give “secret tips” to people who take the time to email us for more information.
We will say that It’s a good idea to plan a few – or several – years in advance for this race, not only to prepare yourself mentally and physically, but also to line up the qualifications and experiences that will give you a decent shot at being invited to compete.
Additionally, we encourage all prospective Badwater 135 applicants to do the following:
1. Very carefully study the minimum qualifying standards to apply, as outlined on this website, and which are occasionally refined or redefined. Be sure to take special note of Section C: Preferred Qualifying Races.
2. Compete in, and successfully complete, other official Badwater® races, such as Badwater Salton Sea, Badwater Cape Fear, and Artsakh Ultra. They all provide an authentic Badwater® experience: They are held in fantastic, beautiful, little-known locations; they offer an extremely challenging, iconic route; they are produced with a world-class attention to detail and provide an intimate, personal experience for every participant. They also help you get to know the world of Badwater, and connect with Badwater veterans.
3. Attend the Badwater 135 as a pacer / crew member. Not only would you be helping somebody complete the race, but you would learn a lot in the in process and also acquire another important component for any future Badwater 135 application. You can post your interest in the Badwater Participants/Crew/Pacers group on Facebook as well as on the 2022 Facebook Event Page. We encourage you to pay attention during the runner selection and announcement process – or check the roster when it is published – and look for anyone that you might know, live nearby, or have some sort of connection with, then contact them directly and see if you can join their crew. (Move quickly, most runners select their crew immediately in February when they are invited to competed.)
4. Consider the various avenues available for Badwater 135 Automatic-Qualification outlined on the Entry Tab of the Badwater 135 webpage.
5. Do hard races! Tackle the toughest 100-mile (or longer) ultras and have those bona fides ready to submit on your Badwater 135 application!
Finally, we encourage you follow us on Twitter (@Badwater) Instagram (@BadwaterHQ) and our Badwater 135 page on Facebook, so that you stay in the loop.
Thank you again for your inquiry. We hope to see you “out there” in the near future!
Pete Kostelnick and crew at the 2019 Badwater 135 finish line.
Kim Budzik and crew at the 2019 Badwater 135 finish line.
Ted Williamson and crew at the 2019 Badwater 135 finish line.
Wendy Murray and crew at the 2019 Badwater 135 finish line.
Behold the 2019 edition of the Holy Grail of Ultra Running: Detur Digniori means “Let it be given to those most worthy.” and it truly was given to those 79 runners! (“XX” represents 20 years of AdventureCORPS organizing and Chris Kostman directing the race.)
NOTE: This was posted to the Badwater page on Facebook on August 3, 2019 and received a lot of commentary. You can view that here.