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 36th Anniversary Badwater Ultramarathon on July 15-17, 2013. 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 2013 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. With the most international field in race history, they represent twenty-five countries by citizenship or residence: Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Canada, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America (and twenty-one America states).
There are 23 women and 74 men. The youngest runner is 25 (veteran entrant Alexa Dickerson of Irvine, CA) while the oldest is 76 (Karsten Solheim of Glendale, AZ, a rookie who is the race’s oldest entrant ever), with an average age of 46. Full details 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 2013 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 2013 race field is particularly competitive. Veteran contenders include 2011 men’s champion Oswaldo Lopez, 40, of Madera, CA (also place 2nd in 2009, 2010, and 2012; Mexico citizenship) and 2004 men’s champion Dean Karnazes, 49, of Ross, California (the best-selling author of “Ultramarathon Man”). Also competing is Marshall Ulrich, 61, of Idaho Springs, CO, the 18-time finisher who placed first in 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1996.
The women's field, with 23 entrants, includes 11 rookies and 12 veterans. Veteran contenders include the Pam Reed, 51, of Jackson, WY, the 2002 and 2003 overall champion who also won the women’s field in 2005 and was the second female in 2012, as well as Iris Cooper-Imhof, 54, of Toronto, Canada, who placed third female and tenth overall in 2011. Attempting to become the first woman to complete the race ten times (only five men have done so) is Lisa Smith-Batchen, 52, of Driggs, ID, who was also the women’s champion in 1997 and 1998.
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 fourteenth year producing this race, AdventureCORPS is pleased to welcome the support of race sponsors Nathan, ChicaBands / ChicaSport, 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, over 70 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, Team Red White and Blue, Special Operations Warriors Foundation, Terry Fox Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, and others.
This year’s race celebrates the 36th 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/2013web/. A steady stream of updates will also be posted through Twitter at http://twitter.com/adventurecorps and the official hashtag for the event is #bw135.
Professional quality images of the race 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 14 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 sports events and BADWATER® lifestyle products. Adventure is our way of life. AdventureCORPS' world-class events for athlete-adventurers include epic races such as the Badwater® Ultramarathon, BADWATER® Salton Sea, and Furnace Creek 508™, plus CORPSCamp™ Death Valley, Death Valley Century, Ultra Century, & Double Century™ (Spring and Fall editions), and other events. Our products include Badwater® Apparel, Badwater® Skin Care, Badwater® Gear, as well as other great lifestyle items 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 information.