Runners Embark On The Death Valley Ultramarathon, Renowned As The Most Challenging Foot Race On Earth.

In a challenging 48-hour annual ultramarathon known as the Badwater 135, 97 runners embarked on a daunting journey through Death Valley National Park, California. Despite facing extreme weather conditions, including scorching temperatures as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and over 100 degrees Fahrenheit at night, these brave men and women from 21 different countries and 26 U.S. states were determined to test their limits.

Starting their race late Monday night under the partially obscured light of a nearly full moon during a rainstorm, these dedicated athletes ran on roadways open to traffic, passing through iconic locations such as Furnace Creek, Devils Golf Course, and Devils Cornfield. The race begins in the Badwater basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, and culminates at the Whitney Portal, situated at an impressive elevation of 8,300 feet – the trailhead to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States.

Jessica Jones, a 46-year-old runner from Dauphin Island, Alabama, expressed her motivation for participating in such a grueling event, stating, “For me, it’s all about pushing my own limits and seeing what I can achieve through these extreme challenges.” Similarly, Luke Thomas from San Diego, who was running his fourth 135-mile ultramarathon of the year, acknowledged the uncertainties brought by the humidity following the rainstorm, recalling a previous ultramarathon he ran in Brazil where the high humidity nearly proved fatal.

The Badwater 135, which originated in 1987, is consistently held in mid-July, coinciding with the peak temperatures experienced in Death Valley National Park. This month, the park has witnessed record-setting temperatures, with nine consecutive days surpassing 125 degrees Fahrenheit. The dangerous conditions were tragically highlighted by the death of a motorcyclist due to heat-related illness on July 6, as well as incidents of hikers falling ill while traversing the harsh terrain.

Although no runners have lost their lives during the race, a small number have required hospitalization. The race director, Chris Kostman from AdventureCORPS, emphasized that the race route traces back to a decade earlier when a solo runner successfully completed it. To ensure safety, each participant must assemble a personal-support team comprising three to four members who accompany them in a minivan. Medical stations are absent along the route, but a small medical team patrols the roadway for emergencies.

The Badwater 135 is an invitation-only event, limited to 100 runners who have previously completed ultramarathons of at least 100 miles or longer within a three-year period. In order to provide opportunities for new participants, only one-third of the runners can be repeat participants each year. This unique race differs from traditional marathons as the runners are widely spaced out on the road.

Coordinating with several federal, state, and local government agencies, the organizers have strategically scheduled the event from late Monday through Wednesday to minimize interaction with weekend visitors and mitigate traffic disruptions caused by people traveling from Las Vegas. The permits required for the race are obtained through collaboration with these agencies.

The current speed records for the race were achieved by Yoshihiko Ishikawa, a 31-year-old male runner who completed the course in an astonishing time of 21 hours, 33 minutes, and 1 second in 2019. In the women’s division, Ashley Paulson, a 41-year-old athlete, set the record at 21 hours, 44 minutes, and 35 seconds in 2023.

Chris Kostman emphasized the sense of camaraderie within the Badwater community, with participants, support team members, and race employees considering themselves part of a family. Many of them return to the park for family vacations, fostering a strong connection and a desire to support each other’s achievements. “There’s a very collegial feel about it,” he stated, “Everybody wants the other runners to do as best as they can.”