Runners to Challenge 135 Miles from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney

KIEHL'S BADWATER ULTRAMARATHON

Los Angeles, CA - AdventureCORPS, an event production firm specializing in ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, is hosting the 27th Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon on July 12-14, 2004. Covering 135 miles non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA, it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet.

A true "challenge of the champions," the Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon pits the world’s toughest athletes – runners, triathletes, adventure racers, and mountaineers – against one another and the elements. As such, on July 12, 2004, seventy-two invited competitors from around the world will gather in California’s Death Valley to run a blistering 135 miles through temperatures approaching 130F°.

The Badwater course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 13,000’ of vertical ascent and 4,700’ of descent. Badwater, Death Valley marks the lowest elevation in the United States at 280’ below sea level. The race finishes at the Mt. Whitney Portals at nearly 8,300’. The Portals are the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through places or landmarks with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil’s Cornfield, Devil’s Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Keeler and Lone Pine.

The 2004 race roster will include seven women and sixty-five men, citizens of Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, the U.K., and U.S., including seventeen American states. The field is made up of Badwater veterans and rookies, die hard “ultra-runners” of every speed and ability, and athletes who have the necessary running credentials, but are primarily known for their exploits as adventure racers, mountaineers, triathletes, or other extreme pursuits. It is an amazingly diverse group, one of the biggest ever assembled to compete in the race. Click here for the full roster.

The men's course record is held by Anatoli Kruglikov of Russia with a time of 25:09:05 set in 2000, while the women's course record of 27:56:47 was set in 2002 by Tuscon, AZ resident Pam Reed, who also won that race, and the 2003 race, overall. It is expected that the winner of the 2004 Kiehl's Badwater Ultramarathon will finish in 25 to 30 hours. The average finishing time is approximately 48 hours, while the overall time limit is 60 hours. For those who finish in less than forty-eight hours, their reward is the coveted Badwater belt buckle.

The title sponsor of the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon is Kiehl's Since 1851. "We are most honored to support the heroic men and women who have committed themselves to participating in this year's event. It is our hope that the Kiehl's Vital Sun Protection line of sunscreens will serve these athletes well as they tackle the world's toughest foot race," commented Abbie Schiller, the Kiehl's Vice President of Public Relations.

Kiehl's was founded as an old-world apothecary at the corner of Thirteenth Street and Third Avenue in New York City. Its unique and extensive background represents a blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal, and medicinal knowledge developed and passed on through generations. For more than 150 years, Kiehl's has served its customers skin and hair care products formulated with the finest ingredients. The company is characterized by a strident commitment to service standards of the highest quality. Click here for more on Kiehl's.

The Official Charity of the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon is 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 four million dollars and directly assisted over 1000 challenged athletes world wide. One of the goals of the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon is to raise funds for, and awareness of, this organization.

Athletes, crew, fans, and friends of the race are encouraged to support this fine organization. Additionally, all entrants in the Badwater Ultramarathon (as well as all other AdventureCORPS events) may become fund-raisers on behalf of CAF and thus dedicate their athletic efforts towards this wonderful cause. Fund-raising is made simple with a fully automated and personalized website where friends, family, and co-workers may log on and donate in a secure and simple manner. Click here for more additional information about CAF and the Badwater Ultramarathon.

Race sponsors include Kiehl's Since 1851, E-Caps, Hammer Nutrition, Injinji Anatomical Interface Systems, Seasons Restaurant of Lone Pine, Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch Resort, Dow Villa of Lone Pine, the community of Lone Pine, CA, and many other generous companies and individuals.

2004 Webcast | Results & Time Splits | Race Roster
Post-Race Press Release | Race Magazine (PDF) | YouTube Channel