For Immediate Release
ADVENTURECORPS PRESENTS THE BADWATER ULTRAMARATHON
Oak Park, CA - AdventureCORPS, Inc., an event production firm specializing in ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, will host the 35th Anniversary Badwater Ultramarathon on July 16-18, 2012. Recognized globally as "the world's toughest foot race," this legendary event pits approximately 95 of the world’s toughest athletes—runners, triathletes, adventure racers, and mountaineers—against one another and the elements. Covering 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F (55c), it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet.
The start line is at Badwater, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ (85m) below sea level. The race finishes at Mt. Whitney Portal at 8360' (2533m). The Badwater course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 13,000’ (3962m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 4,700’ (1433m) 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 and landmarks including Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil’s Cornfield, Devil’s Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Keeler, and Lone Pine.
A true "challenge of the champions," the 2012 AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon features 48 Badwater veterans and 49 rookies: die hard “ultra-runners” of every speed and ability, as well a athletes who have the necessary running credentials, but are primarily known for their exploits as adventure racers, mountaineers, triathletes, or in other extreme pursuits. They represent twenty countries by citizenship or residence: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Canada, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America (and nineteen America states).
There are 17 women and 80 men. The youngest runner is 23 (rookie entrant Claire Heid of Tacoma, WA) while the oldest is 70 (Arthur Webb of Santa Rosa, CA, a thirteen-time finisher), with an average age of 45. Full details are available on the race roster.
The men's course record is held by Valmir Nunez of Brazil with a time of 22:51:29 set in 2007, while the women's course record of 26:16:12 was set in 2010 by Jamie Donaldson of Littleton, CO. It is expected that the winner of the 2012 AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon will finish in 22 to 26 hours. The average finishing time is approximately 40 hours, while the overall time limit is 48 hours, as compared to the 60 hour limited used in the races held through 2010. For those who finish in less than forty-eight hours, their reward is the coveted Badwater belt buckle. There is no prize money.
The 2012 race field is particularly competitive. Veteran contenders include 2011 men’s champion Oswaldo Lopez, 40, of Madera, CA (also place 2nd in both 2009 and 2010; Mexico citizenship), 2010 men’s champion Zack Gingerich, 32, of Tigard, OR, 2009 men’s champion Marcos Farinazzo, 44, of Brazil, and 2004 men’s champion Dean Karnazes, 49, or Ross, California. Also competing is Marshall Ulrich, 61, of Idaho Springs, CO, the 17-time finisher who placed first in 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1996.
The women's field, with 17 entrants, includes 11 rookies and 6 veterans. Veteran contenders include the 2011 women’s champion, Sumie Inagaki, 46, of Aichi, Japan and Pam Reed, 51, of Jackson, WY, the 2002 and 2003 overall champion who also won the women’s field in 2005. Every year is a new year at the Badwater Ultramarathon, with rookies and "previously unknown" athletes surprising the contenders with top performances. New stars will shine as the race unfolds in July.
Now in its thirteenth year producing this race, AdventureCORPS is pleased to welcome the support of race sponsors Nathan, Caring House Project Foundation, and ZombieRunner.com. AdventureCORPS also appreciates the support of the Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch Resort, Stovepipe Wells Resort, Panamint Springs Resort, Seasons Restaurant of Lone Pine, Pizza Factory of Lone Pine, Dow Villa of Lone Pine, the community of Lone Pine, CA, and other generous companies and individuals. More info here.
An Official Charity of the 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 thirty million dollars and directly assisted thousands of challenged athletes world wide. One of the goals of the Badwater Ultramarathon is to raise funds for, and awareness of, this organization.
AdventureCORPS and Badwater Ultramarathon are also pleased to support the Death Valley Natural History Association, a non-profit dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the natural and cultural history of the Death Valley region in cooperation with their government partners, We are also proud members of 1% For The Planet and the Conservation Alliance. More info here.
This year, the majority of the race entrants are competing on behalf of a charity of their choice. Some of those include Caring House Project Foundation, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Death Valley Natural History Association, Terry Fox Foundation, Heal the Bay, Valley of the Moon Children's Home, and others.
This year’s race celebrates the 35th anniversary of ultrarunning pioneer and human potential guru Al Arnold's original trek from Badwater to Mt. Whitney in 1977. More about Al's 1977 run. Arnold competed in a solo effort: just Arnold and his support crew against the elements and the clock. The official head-to-head race began ten years after Arnold's pioneer trek, in 1987. More about the original race in 1987.
WEBCAST, RACE UPDATES, AND FURTHER INFORMATION:
For the duration of the race, fans can follow the race through a “live” webcast produced by AdventureCORPS and hosted here at www.badwater.com/2012web/. A steady stream of updates will also be posted through Twitter at http://twitter.com/adventurecorps
Professional quality images of the race—as featured in the race webcast—will be available. Contact the race office for further information.
Press must apply for credentials in advance of the race - by Contacting Us to request the Media Credential Request Form - then check-in on Sunday, July 10 at the Media Meeting.
All potential media/professional organizations intending to shoot video in any format for any purpose or market must apply for permission to shoot the event and enter into a non-exclusive fiilming agreement, as well as apply for, and receive, filming permits from multiple government agencies.
The AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon is held under permits from Death Valley National Park, California Department of Transportation, Inyo National Forest, and Inyo County.
ABOUT ADVENTURECORPS:
Oak Park, CA-based AdventureCORPS, Inc. is an athlete-run firm producing and promoting ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, lifestyle products, and media. Adventure is our way of life. AdventureCORPS' world-class events for athlete-adventurers include epic races such as the Badwater™ Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508™, plus CORPSCamp™ Death Valley, Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic™, Death Valley Century, Ultra Century, & Double Century™ (Spring and Fall editions), CORPScamp Shasta™, and Rough Riders Rally™. Our products include Badwater™ Apparel, Badwater™ Skin Care, Badwater™ Gear, as well as other great lifestyle items and gear. We also provide a variety of adventure-related 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 information.