2022 Badwater Cape Fear Webcast

The eighth Badwater Cape Fear 50km / 51mi ultramarathon took place on March 19, 2022 on Bald Head Island and Fort Fisher, North Carolina. A field of 124 runners competed in either the 50km race or the 51.4-mile race, with all but five finishing either the 50km or the 51.4-mi race officially. Click here for the race results. Click here to register for the March 19, 2023 race.

The 2022 race featured 124 runners representing Canada, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Iran, Mexico, Philippines, and United States, plus 27 American states: Arizona (2), California (9), Colorado (2), Connecticut (3), District of Columbia (1), Florida (13), Georgia (5), Illinois (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Nevada (1), New Jersey (3), New Mexico (1), New York (4), North Carolina (39), Ohio (4), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (4), Tennessee (2), Texas (7), Utah (1), Vermont (2), Virginia (5), and Wisconsin (2). Ages range from 14 to 77. There were 31 females and 93 males, 91 rookies and 33 race veterans. For the full race roster, click here.

With 50km and 51-mile race options and a start line at the foot of Old Baldy, Badwater® Cape Fear features a twelve-mile warm-up on the car-free, one-lane-wide roads and maritime forest trails of Bald Head Island, followed by either 19.6 or 39 miles of running on the wild and secluded sandy beach between Cape Fear and Fort Fisher. The beach stretch features spectacular views of the Frying Pan Shoals to the east and the wild and undeveloped Cape Fear River marshlands to the west. Running this remote coast is a dramatic, invigorating, and inspiring manner in which to experience Bald Head Island, Fort Fisher State Recreation, and 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.

Race Report on the Bald Head Island Conservancy Website: Click here!

Registration for March 18, 2023: Click here to join us!

Badwater® Beer and Badwater® Whiskey

These are the first two of several drinks – including non-alcoholic drinks – being launched in conjunction with Badwater Cape Fear runner Sean Tracy and his brewery and Hewn Spirits distillery in Pennsylvania. Order Badwater Whiskey here. Sign up for further updates at BadwaterLife.com and “Find Your Epic!!

Special thanks, Volunteers! YOU made it happen!

Racer Check-In: Ted Williamson, Bob Becker, Keith Weitz, Scott Kollins, Julie Lee, Robert Lee, Emily Lyons, Bernadette Dubois, Rachel Belmont, Geoff Moore, Chris Shank, and others

Trail Prep: Bob Becker

Start Line: Keith Weitz, Scott Kollins, Emily Lyons, Julie Lee, and Chris Kostman

Broom Wagon (first 10.5 miles): Brian Million

Trail Sweep: Emily Lyons

Morning Directions: Chris Shank, Julie Lee, Craig Bandoroff, Margaret Piscano, Scott Tuttle & Becca Kenney, BHI Conservancy interns, and others

UTV Pilot: Maddie Talnagi of BHIC

AS1 at Bald Head Island Conservancy: Emily Ryan, Anne-Marie Brock, Thomas Brock, Emily Lyons, and Brian Million

AS2 at Mid-Beach: Ted Williamson, Jeff Winchester, and Marcia Bosch (with assistance from Fort Fisher State Recreation Area rangers!)

AS3 at Fort Fisher: Eleanor Erickson, Keith Weitz, and Scott Kollins

Timing: Julie Lee with assistance from Robert Lee and others.

Finish Line: Chris Kostman, Bethany Cazenave, Sandy Kades, Emily Lyons, Chris Shank, 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, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, and North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, 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!