Blog | Badwater

Badwater 135: Will You Get In?

Jan 03, 2020 - by Chris Kostman

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 years in advance for this race, not only to prepare yourself mentally and physically, but also to line up the qualifications 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. (They were most recently updated on January 3, 2020.)

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.

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 2020 Facebook Event Page.

4. Consider the various avenues available for Badwater 135 Automatic-Qualification outlined on the Entry Tab of the Badwater 135 webpage.

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!

Do Badwater 135 Rookies Just Want That Buckle More?

Dec 16, 2019 - by Chris Kostman

Badwater 135

As we finalize qualifying standards to apply for the July 6-8, 2020 Badwater 135, we’ve been analyzing DNF data from the past five races:

2015:

8 of 38 rookies = 21% DNF’d

10 of 59 veterans = 17% DNF’d

2016:

5 of 46 rookies = 11% DNF’d

8 of 51 veterans = 16% DNF’d

2017:

6 of 38 rookies = 15.8% DNF’d

14 of 57 veterans = 24.6% DNF’d

2018:

9 of 49 rookies = 18.4% DNF’d

21 of 51 veterans = 41.2% DNF’d

2019:

6 of 51 rookies = 11.8% DNF’d

10 of 44 veterans = 22.7% DNF’d

Based on the data, there is a clear trend for veterans (defined as those who have FINISHED the race previously) to be more likely to drop out.

Of course, whether veteran or rookie, DNFs happen because of many reasons, some of them out of the control of the runner. Just a few of a zillion possible examples:

– The runner getting sick right before the race starts

– The support vehicle breaking down during the race

– A crew gets tired of crewing and packs up and leaves the course when their runner just needed a nap, effectively forcing the DNF, even with the finish clearly within reach.

– And this year (2019), your race director couldn’t help but wince when one veteran who DNF’d told him that he dropped because he wasn’t going to meet his time goal.

Finishing as the Top Priority is the foundation upon which ultra running is built.

And there’s a reason that every Badwater 135 finisher – whether first, last, or in between – receives the same “holy grail of ultra running” belt buckle and Official Finisher t-shirt: because finishing the race – above all else – is the goal of the event.

Two-time champion Pete Kostelnick was having issues this year, but he staked out at mile 101 and drove into Lone Pine to rest and recover for six hours. HIs crew member Scott Bridgeman described the situation thusly:

“He was having an unblemished race and had worked his way into 4th position. Around mile 90 I witnessed one of the most superhuman feats of my life, including my 23 years of military service. Pete began having hamstring issues that prevented him from running. He trudged on for many miles. TBH, I was saddened and heartbroken for him. I thought his race was over. Little do I know. Finally, at mile 101 he made the decision to “stake out” and have a rest. He had a cheeseburger and a nap and returned to his stake 6 hours later. He made the final run from miles 101-135 in a blistering 6.5 hours. He did the final 13 mile monstrous climb in 2:23, the fastest known time. I have never witnessed anything like this. I saw many other world class racers from around the globe go through similar issues. These people not only come back from the dead, but they do so with strength, determination and resilience. I am inspired and changed.”

Pete Kostelnick and crew at the 2019 Badwater 135 finish line.

So, hats off to Pete, who was just as much a champion this year as when he won the race in 2016 and 2017.

To state the obvious, the race isn’t over until the 48th hour has passed! We have 100 belt buckles and 100 t-shirts ready to hand out: the runners and their crews just need to arrive within 48 hours to claim theirs!

Consider Kim Budzik: She hit Darwin at mile 90 just one hour ahead of the 500am cut-off there on Wednesday morning. Yet – with her crew supporting her every step of the way – she became the final finisher with a time of 47:34:29. That was her slowest finishing time yet, but you know it was the sweetest of all her seven finishes!

Kim Budzik and crew at the 2019 Badwater 135 finish line.

But what about the last male rookie to finish? Ted Williamson of SoCal had been on a crew last year, but it was his first time competing this year (having completed Badwater Cape Fear in March and Badwater Salton Sea in April.) He hit Darwin at mile 90 in 29.5 hours, so he was 3.5 hours ahead of the cut-off there. He hit Lone Pine in 40:53 (which has a 42-hour cut-off), and then worked his way methodically up the mountain to the finish line. I’m guessing there was nothing “glamorous” about it. But he got it done, with a 46:41:44 finish (a 5:49 half-marathon split)!

Ted Williamson and crew at the 2019 Badwater 135 finish line.

And the last female rookie? That tip of the hat goes to Wendy Murray of North Carolina. Like Ted, she had crewed last year, and ran both Badwater Cape Fear and Badwater Salton Sea this year. She hit Darwin at mile 90 in 30:04, so she was just under three hours ahead of the cut-off there. She hit Lone Pine in 41:14 (42-hour limit) and ascended to Whitney Portal with that buckle in mind. She crossed the line in 46:45:59 (a 5:32 half-marathon split)!

Wendy Murray and crew at the 2019 Badwater 135 finish line.

So what do you think? Are those Badwater 135 entrants with no “holy grail of ultra running” yet in their possession simply hungrier to finish than those who have already a buckle?

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.

In 2020, Join Badwater for a Brand New Vision of Stage Racing in the Republic of Artsakh!

Oct 22, 2019 - by Chris Kostman

Badwater 135

Above: Race Director Chris Kostman announces and explains the race.

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

World-class adventure awaits in Artsakh’s dramatic, mountainous landscape!

AdventureCORPS presents Artsakh Ultra, a six-day running race through the Republic of Artsakh

Oak Park, CA – In 2020, AdventureCORPS® – organizers of the world-famous Badwater® ultramarathon running races in Death Valley and across the USA – will host a six-day, point-to-point, 160-mile (260km) trail running stage race from Armenian into and across the Republic of Artsakh. The inaugural race will be held August 30 through September 4 of 2020, and the goal is to have 50 runners representing at least ten different countries participating. (More than twenty-five runners representing eight countries have already registered.)

Formerly known as Nagorno-Karabakh during the Soviet era, Artsakh is a fascinating, wonderful country that few people have even heard of, and even less have visited. AdventureCORPS aims to change both of those facts by bringing runners from all over the world to compete in the Artsakh Ultra™. The event will be held annually and AdventureCORPS already has plans underway to develop additional endurance sports events in Artsakh in the near future.

The Artsakh Ultra race will be held primarily on the Janapar Trail, a hiking trail network which stretches from adjacent Armenia into and across Artsakh. The route is primarily held on jeep tracks, along with single track trails, some dirt roads, and about 10 miles (16km) of paved roads.

The race will be organized in a “stage race” format, in which runners will run a certain section of the Janapar Trail each day. Each day’s “stage” will be timed separately, and overall results will be calculated by adding all six days’ times together. The first stage will be 22mi / 36km; the next four stages will vary from 26 to 34 miles (42 to 55km), while the final stage will be 16mi / 26km. With a total distance of 160mi (260km), there is a total of 26,000 feet (8000m) of elevation gain along the route.

Beginning in the northeastern Armenian city of Vardenis, after 15 miles (24km) and at the top of a 9000-foot (2743m) pass, competitors in the Artsakh Ultra will leave Armenia and cross into the Republic of Artsakh. From here they will follow the Janapar Trail – with a few side diversions to see ancient sites – and transect the majority of this magnificent country. The six nights on the trail will include tent camping the first three nights and hotel stays the final three nights. Luggage transport will be provided each day and most breakfast and dinner meals will be provided. (Runners will provide their own energy food while running, and will be on their own for restaurant dining on two nights: in Vank and in Stepanakert.)

Stage four of the Artsakh Ultra will finish in dramatic fashion at 1000-year-old Gandzasar Monastery, above the eclectic village of Vank, Artsakh.

Some of the exciting landmarks along the route include the monasteries of Dadivank, Gandzasar, and Hakobvank, Zuar hot springs, the lofty peak of Kachaghakaberd, the “We Are Our Mountains” sculpture in Stepanakert, and Hunot Canyon. Towns and villages along the route include Tsar, Karvachar, Zuar, Vank, Patara, Stepanakert, and Shushi.

The final stage will begin with a festival hosted by the Artsakh government in the capital city of Stepanakert, and will conclude with a celebratory bonfire, music, food, and dinner party in the city of Shushi, known as Artsakh’s cultural capital.

While the route will be incredibly beautiful and challenging, the race itself will also be a culturally immersive experience. Each day’s route will pass through one or more villages, while the overnights will be in or near villages and cities. Runners will eat the local, super healthy, incredibly fresh food. They will enjoy Armenian music, dance, and culture. Along the way, the runners will visit 1000-year-old Armenian churches, monasteries, and historic sites. And while each competitor will run as part of an international field of runners, they will be embraced, surrounded, and supported by the people of Artsakh and their Armenian food, music, language, and culture.

AdventureCORPS’ local charitable partner is Trails For Change NGO, the organization which is developing and signposting the Janapar Trail, along with other trails in Artsakh and Armenia.

This event is fully supported in principle and in action by the Government of Artsakh:

The Ministry takes the opportunity of this letter for expressing its readiness to provide this race with organizational support and all the other assistance that may be required from the Ministry’s side.

We highly appreciate your efforts to promote Artsakh as a welcoming destination for runners from all over the world and to show the great potential of adventure tourism of our country.

We wish you all the success in your endeavours to promote Artsakh’s tourism potential in general and Janapar Trail in particular through organizing such a great event.

– L. HOVHANNISYAN, Minister of Culture, Youth Affairs, and Tourism, Republic of Artsakh

The catalyst for the race is Armenian ultraunner Telma Ghazarian Altoon, who ran the entire 178-mile (286km) Janapar Trail in just two days, ten hours in June of 2017. (See video.) Her run effectively put the Janapar Trail on the map and led to a dramatic increase of support for trails by the Artsakh government and for Trails For Change NGO. Telma is a veteran of multiple Badwater races and a neighbor, friend, and ally of AdventureCORPS’ Chris Kostman. Telma is a major supporter of Artsakh Ultra™ and will be on hand to support the runners during the inaugural race. (See interview.)

“I have proudly carried the Armenian flag in ultra running races all around the globe, but nothing prepared me for the beauty and wonderful people of Artsakh when I ran the length of the Janapar Trail in 2017. I was entranced by the landscape, the warm hearts of the Artsakhzi people, and the awe-inspiring majesty of the historic monuments and gorgeous green mountains. But even as I finished my run, my dream turned to the idea of bringing runners from around the world to enjoy these adventurous trails and to soak in the Armenian culture. Ours is an ancient civilization, alive and well in the 21st century. I can’t wait to have runners come see and experience Artsakh!” – Telma Ghazarian Altoon

Chris Kostman, the race organizer – whose biography is below – had this to share:

“I have never been more excited on both personal and professional levels: First, Artsakh Ultra features the hallmarks of all my AdventureCORPS events: 1) Challenging Route. 2) Beautiful Route. 3) A fantastic, off-the-beaten-track location. 4) An intimate event experience organized to world-class standards.

But Artsakh Ultra goes even beyond my usual standards because of its focus on cultural immersion coupled with a close working relationship with the locals along the route and the very supportive Artsakh government. Also, as a lifelong lover of history, culture, language, and travel, it’s an absolute thrill for me to merge my personal passions with my professional pursuits.

“I’m organizing Artsakh Ultra for many reasons. First, yes, to provide an awesome racing experience in an extremely unique location, but also to promote the Republic of Artsakh as a tourism destination, to spur development of eco-tourism there, and to directly support the local economy. Back in the USA, I have all of my usual, tried-and-true vendors, but for this event I want to support the local economy as much as possible. As such, in either Artsakh or Armenia, I will have our race shirts produced, our race magazine printed, our race awards manufactured, and more. I will also hire locals to support the event. And beyond that, I am also working to promote running and outdoor adventuring in Artsakh as fantastic pursuits for the local citizens. (We have very special pricing, too, for Armenian citizens who live in Armenia or Artsakh; please inquire.) Trails For Change NGO is our local charitable partner, so we will promote and support their efforts, too. Also, Artsakh Ultra is the first in a long-range plan to develop and produce several endurance sports events in Artsakh. It’s an incredible country with so much to offer and I want to be at the forefront of making exciting things happen!”

Race organizer Chris Kostman hosted a Facebook Live announcement of the race on November 12, 2019 and that can be viewed at this link or at the top of this page.

Chris Kostman and Telma Ghazarian Altoon welcome you to the Republic of Artsakh! Here they are standing in front of the “We Are Our Mountains” sculpture in Stepanakert, the finish line for stage 5 of the Artsakh Ultra.

2020 Artsakh Ultra Schedule of Events and Route:
8/29, Saturday: Racer Check-In and Gear Check, Yerevan. (Hotel)
8/30, Sunday:    Bus drive from Yerevan to Vardenis; Stage 1: Vardenis, Armenia – Tsar, Artsakh (Camp)
8/31 Monday:    Stage 2: Tsar – Karvajar – Nor Verinshen – Zuar Hot Springs (Camp)
9/1 Tuesday:    Stage 3: Zuar Hot Springs – Dadivank Monastery – Zuar Hot Springs (Camp)
9/2 Wednesday: Stage 4: Zuar Hot Springs – Andzavner – Vank – Gandzasar Monastery (Hotel)
9/3 Thursday:    Stage 5: Vank – Hakobvank – Kachaghakaberd – Patara – Stepanakert (Hotel)
9/4 Friday:         Stage 6: Stepanakert – Vararakn Canyon – Shushi – Hunot Canyon – return to Shushi (Hotel)
9/5 Saturday: Bus drive from Shushi to Yerevan

Telma Ghazarian Altoon pauses for a photo at Umbrella Rock in Hunot Canyon during her 2017 run along the length of the Janapar Trail. This spot is featured in the final stage of the Artsakh Ultra.

WEBSITES, SOCIAL MEDIA, PRESS CREDENTIALS, AND FURTHER INFO:
For more information about the Artsakh Ultra, visit the event webpage on the Badwater website.

For more information about visiting Artsakh, visit www.artsakh.travel

For accreditation for foreign journalists to attend and cover the event, click here.

An image gallery showing highlights of the entire route is available here, with “Photo Courtesy AdventureCORPS” attribution required for any posting or publication.

Official Hashtag across all social media: #ArtsakhUltra
Suggested Hashtags: #VisitArtsakh #PutArtsakhOnTheMap #TrailsForChangeNGO
Twitter: @Badwater
Badwater Instagram: @BadwaterHQ
Race Director Instagram: @ChrisKostman
Flickr Photostream: @AdventureCORPS
Facebook pages: AdventureCORPS and Badwater

Website for Trails For Change NGO, our local charitable partner: https://www.trailsforchangengo.org/

Website for the Janapar Trail: http://www.janapartrail.org

ABOUT ADVENTURECORPS, INC.:
California-based AdventureCORPS®, Inc. is an athlete-run firm producing and promoting ultra-endurance sports events and the world’s toughest brand, BADWATER®. Adventure is their way of life. AdventureCORPS’ world-class events for athlete-adventurers include epic races such as the Badwater® 135, BADWATER® Salton Sea, and BADWATER® Cape Fear, ARTSAKH Ultra™, and other events. Their products include the Badwater® line of apparel, skin care products, gear, and services. Founded in 1984 by Chris Kostman, this group effort is dedicated to exploring the inner and outer universes, seeking adventure, energy, and insight both in daily life and “out there.” More info about AdventureCORPS and Badwater is available at www.adventurecorps.com and www.badwater.com

Badwater® and AdventureCORPS® are U.S. federally registered trademarks owned by AdventureCORPS, Inc. AdventureCORPS additionally claims “Artsakh Ultra™” as its exclusive trademark.

ABOUT CHRIS KOSTMAN (shown above while cycling across Artsakh):
The organizer and race director of the Artsakh Ultra is Chris Kostman, the Chief Adventure Officer at AdventureCORPS, Inc.

As an athlete, Chris Kostman got his start early in ultra sports: He set world ultra cycling records in high school in 1984 and 1985 (riding against the clock from San Francisco City Hall to Los Angeles City Hall) and completed the 3127-mile (5000km), eleven-day Race Across America bicycle race at age 20 in 1987. That was a springboard to competing in events as diverse as the Triple Ironman in France, the 6.5-mile Skaha Lake Ultra Swim in Canada, three 100-mile (162km) wintertime snowshoe running races in Alaska, and scores of long-distance road and mountain bike races.

His special event production career began in high school and grew in tandem with his athletic career. Chris has now produced over 150 world-class sporting events through his company, AdventureCORPS. Hosted in California’s Death Valley and Borrego Springs and on the slopes of Mt. Whitney and Palomar Mountain, as well as on the shores of North Carolina’s Cape Fear, these events include the world-famous Badwater Ultramarathon 135-mile foot race and its sister events, Badwater Salton Sea and Badwater Cape Fear.

Chris also directed the venerable Furnace Creek 508 ultracycling race from 1990 through 2013, and the Silver State 508 ultracycling race from 2014 through 2016. He also co-hosted an eight-day trail running stage race in the Kingdom of Mustang, Nepal in 2015 and a 100-mile (162km) trail race in the Yunan Province of China in 2016. Chris has also published over 250 articles about the endurance world, adventure, travel, archaeology, and human potential.

Chris holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in archaeology – with a focus on the Middle East and South Asia – from the University of California at Berkeley. He has worked on archaeological excavations in Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Egypt. His deep love of history, culture, language, and travel – and a lifestyle based upon “seeking and sharing adventure” – were instilled in him by his school teacher parents, Wayne and Shelby Kostman.

CONTACT:
Chris Kostman,
Chief Adventure Officer and Race Director

AdventureCORPS, Inc.
638 Lindero Canyon Rd #311
Oak Park, CA 91377 USA
Email: adventurecorps “at” gmail.com

Subscribe to the AdventureCORPS email newsletter at this link.

Please enjoy this five-minute video about the cultural and geographic wonders of Artsakh:

2019 Badwater 135 Pre-Race Press Release

May 31, 2019 - by Chris Kostman

Badwater 135

THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST FOOT RACE CELEBRATES 42nd ANNIVERSARY OF ICONIC ROUTE FROM DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK TO MOUNT WHITNEY

To download the full Press Release, Media Kit, and Media Credential Application in PDF format, click here.

To download the July 2019 issue of BADWATER Magazine, click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lone Pine, CA: On July 15-17, 2019, AdventureCORPS will present its legendary BADWATER® 135 Ultramarathon. Now in its 42nd year, the world-renowned event pits up to 100 of the world’s toughest athletes against one another and the elements. In scorching temperatures and at altitudes as high as 8,360 feet (2548m), runners, triathletes, adventure racers, and mountaineers from 21 countries and 30 American states will face off in a grueling 135-mile non-stop run from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA. Widely recognized as “the world’s toughest foot race,“ it 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 is held under permits from Death Valley National Park, California Department of Transportation, Inyo National Forest, and Inyo County. Media and/or commercial photographers attending the event may be required to obtain permits from some of those same agencies.

AdventureCORPS – on behalf of all competitors and support crews – also gratefully acknowledge 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 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.

RouteMap2016

A true “challenge of the champions,” the 2019 Badwater 135 features 44 Badwater veterans and 51 rookies: die hard “ultra-runners” of every speed and ability, as well as athletes who have the necessary running credentials, but are primarily known for their exploits as adventure racers, mountaineers, triathletes, or in other extreme pursuits.

With one of the most international fields in race history, the athletes represent twenty-one countries: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and United States.

Thirty different American states and territories are represented: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

There are 26 women and 69 men. The youngest runners are Matthew Collins, 28, of Philadelphia, PA and Annie Weiss, 31, of Milwaukee, WI; both are rookies. The oldest female is Pamela Chapman-Markle, 63, of San Leon, Texas, a three-time finisher and the 60+ female age group record holder. The oldest male is Mark K. Olson, 72, of Covina, CA, a seven-time finisher. The overall average age is 47. Full roster details are available here:

http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/roster.php?bw_eid=89&bw=Go

Both men’s and women’s course records were broken in 2016: Pete Kostelnick, 28, of Lincoln, NE set the men’s record of 21:56:31, while Alyson Venti (now Allen), 34, of New York, NY, set the women’s record of 25:53:07. It is expected that the winners of the 2019 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 2019 edition of the Holy Grail of Ultra Running exist. Detur Digniori = “Let it be given to those most worthy.“ (“XX” represents 20 years of AdventureCORPS organizing and Chris Kostman directing the race.)

The 2019 race field is particularly competitive. Veteran men’s contenders include 2015 and 2016 champion Pete Kostelnick, 31, of Brunswick, OH (who also broke the 36-year-old Trans-USA running record in 2016); 2014 champion Harvey Lewis, 43, of Cincinnati, OH (who placed 2nd in 2016 and 3rd in 2017), 2008 men’s champion Zach Gingerich, 40, of Newberg, OR, and other notables such as multiple Badwater Salton Sea champion Ray Sanchez, 21, of Sacramento, CA, and two-time Badwater Cape Fear champion Eric Hunziker, 50, of Cincinnati, OH. Also of note is David Jones, 67, of Murfreesboro, TN, the 1997 Badwater 135 race champion, ten-time finisher, and 60+ age group record holder. There are 38 rookie men and 33 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 26 female runners includes 14 rookies and 12 veterans. Notable contenders include 2017 second place female Amy Costa and 2017 3rd place female Pamela Chapman-Markle. Competing as a rookie is 2018 Badwater Cape Fear champion Suzi Swinehart, 47, of Fort Wayne, IN. Also entering as a rookie is Patrycja Bereznowska, 43, of Poland, a 24-Hour World Champion and winner of the Spartathlon race in Greece. With a large number of women competing – includes those with podium finishes at some of the world’s toughest ultramarathons – it will be an intense battle.

Every year is a new year at the Badwater 135, with rookies and “previously unknown” athletes surprising the contenders with top performances. New stars will shine as the race unfolds.

As detailed on the race roster, the race will begin in three waves on Monday evening, July 15:

• Wave 1 (800pm): 16 men and 14 women; 18 rookies and 12 veterans = 30 runners

• Wave 2 (930pm): 26 men and 7 women; 19 rookies and 14 veterans = 33 runners

• Wave 3 (1100pm): 30 men and 6 women; 20 rookies and 16 veterans = 36 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 the 2015 Badwater Ultra Cup, sixteen completed the 2016 Badwater Ultra Cup, fifteen racers completed the 2017 Badwater Ultra Cup, eight completed the 2018 Badwater Ultra Cup, and fourteen racers have completed the first two Badwater races this year and will toe the line at this third and final Badwater race on July 15-17.

Now in its twentieth year producing this race, AdventureCORPS greatly appreciates the support of Pure Vitamin Club, Caring House Project Foundation, and ZZYXXZ, plus the local support of The Oasis at Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells Resort, Panamint Springs Resort, Dow Villa, Pizza Factory, the community of Lone Pine, CA, the people of Inyo County, and other generous companies and individuals. More info: www.badwater.com/about-us/sponsors/

Official Charities of the Badwater 135 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 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.

This year’s race celebrates the 42nd 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.

We brought Al to the race in 2002, the 25^th 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 last year on September 6, 2017 at the age of 89. He is sorely missed, but his spirit will live on with each year’s edition of the world’s toughest foot race.

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:

1977 Al Arnold: http://www.badwater.com/blog/category/al-arnolds-insights/

1987 Race: http://www.badwater.com/blog/1987-the-year-badwater-became-a-race/

WEBCAST, RACE UPDATES, PRESS CREDENTIALS, AND FURTHER INFO:

A stock image gallery – for bona fide media use only – may be accessed at the following link, with Photographer Name / Badwater.com attribution required: www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/sets/72157654693333871

For the duration of the 2019 race, fans can follow the race through a “live” webcast at http://www.badwater.com/2019-badwater-135-webcast/

FOLLOWING THE BADWATER 135 ONLINE

Follow the 2019 webcast at this link.

Follow the 2019 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:

http://instagram.com/badwaterHQ

Follow the race director’s live photostream on Instagram @ChrisKostman:

http://instagram.com/chriskostman

Follow the race staff’s photostream archive on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventurecorps/

Follow the race director’s photostream archive on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/

Join the Facebook conversation:

http://www.facebook.com/badwater135

Download the July 2019 issue of BADWATER Magazine at this link.

Download the full 2019 press kit at http://www.badwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-Press-Kit.pdf

ABOUT ADVENTURECORPS, INC.:

Oak Park, CA-based AdventureCORPS®, Inc. is an athlete-run firm producing and promoting ultra-endurance sports events and the world’s toughest brand, BADWATER®. Adventure is our way of life. AdventureCORPS’ world-class events for athlete-adventurers include epic races such as the Badwater® 135, BADWATER® Salton Sea, and BADWATER® Cape Fear, and other events. Our products include the Badwater® line of apparel, skin care products, gear, and services. Founded in 1984 by Chris Kostman, this group effort is dedicated to exploring the inner and outer universes, seeking adventure, energy, and insight both in daily life and “out there.” More info is available at www.adventurecorps.com and www.badwater.com.

Badwater® is a federally registered trademark owned by AdventureCORPS, Inc.

CONTACT:

Chris Kostman
Chief Adventure Officer and Race Director
AdventureCORPS, Inc. 638 Lindero Canyon Road, #311
Oak Park, CA 91377 USA

2019 Badwater Cape Fear Webcast

Mar 05, 2019 - by Chris Kostman

Badwater 135

RESULTS / ROSTER / RACE WEBSITE /

2019 SPRING BADWATER MAGAZINE

@Badwater Twitter / @BadwaterHQ Instagram / FB Event Page

OFFICIAL CHARITY: Bald Head Island Conservancy: Please join and donate to BHIC today!

2019 Badwater Cape Fear Image Galleries:

• 2019 Racer Mugshots and Pre-Race Activities

• 2019 Race Day

• 2019 Finish Line

• Robert Lee’s “Beamcatchers” photography site

The sixth annual Badwater Cape Fear 50km / 51mi ultramarathon takes place March 16, 2019 on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. A field of 159 runners competed in either the 50km race or the 51-mile race, with all but two finishing officially. Click here for the race results.

The 2019 race featured 159 runners. This includes runners from Armenia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Germany, India, Mexico, Philippines, Portugal, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom, plus from 23 American states, districts, and territories: California (6), Colorado (2), District of Columbia (1), Florida (18), Georgia (1), Illinois (7), Louisiana (4), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (1), Mississippi (1), New Jersey (4), New Mexico (1), New York (7), North Carolina (54), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (8), South Carolina (14), Tennessee (4), Texas (5), Vermont (1), Virginia (3), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (1). We had one 15-year-old and one 16-year-old runner, while the rest ranged in age from 22 to 73. There were 46 females and 113 males, 108 rookies and 51 race veterans. For the full race roster, click here.

With 50km and 51-mile race options, Badwater® Cape Fear features a twelve-mile warm-up on the car-free, one-lane-wide roads of Bald Head Island, followed by either 19 or 39 miles of running on the wild and secluded sandy beach between Cape Fear and Fort Fisher. The race is held along the Atlantic Seaboard with spectacular views of the Frying Pan Shoals to the east and wild and undeveloped marshlands to the west. Running this remote coast is a dramatic, invigorating, and inspiring manner in which to experience 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 will open soon for the March 2020 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!

Special thanks, Volunteers! YOU made it happen!

Pre-Race Support: Stacey Shand, Luke Way, Scott Kollins, Telma Altoon, Keith Weitz, Bob Becker, Pamela Hogue, Bernadette DuBois, and others

Race MC: Keith “Wildman” Hanson

Start Line: Keith Hanson, Scott Kollins, Keith Weitz, and Chris Kostman

Directions: Chris Shank, Julie Lee, Marie Duvall, Duke Moseley, BHI Conservancy staff and interns, and others

CP1 / Bald Head Island Conservancy: Emily Ryan and Rachel Bonistalli

CP2 / Mid-Beach: Andrea Pitera, Amy Costa, Megan Steinebach, Courtney Spratt; Friends of Pleasure Island State Parks: Isabel Rose, Shannon & Dick Rowe, Anne Terry and others (with massive assistance from Fort Fisher State Recreation Area rangers!)

CP3 / Fort Fisher: Scott Kollins, Keith Weitz, Michelle Beasley, Ellie Beasley, Hailey Leon, and Eleanor Erickson (with assistance from Fort Fisher State Recreation Area rangers!)

Timing: Pamela Hogue, Julie Lee, and Aidan Peers

Finish Line: Stacey Shand, Luke Way, Chris Kostman, Poul Lindegaard, Chris Shank, Sid Motwani, 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

Thank You!

This event is held under permits from the Village of Bald head Island and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, and with the incredible support of Bald Head Island Conservancy and Friends of Pleasure Island State Parks. We thank them, and all our North Carolina friends, for their support!