The Badwater 135 is an ultramarathon covering 135 miles (217 km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney in California. Known as the "135-Mile World Championship," it is considered the most demanding and extreme running race on the planet. The race starts at Badwater Basin, Death Valley, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet (85 m) below sea level, and finishes at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mt. Whitney's summit, at an elevation of 8,300 feet (2,530 m).
The course includes three mountain ranges, with a total of 14,600 feet (4,450 m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 6,100 feet (1,859 m) of cumulative descent. Competitors must complete the race within 48 hours. The average finishing time is around 40 hours, though elite runners can finish in about half that time. The race is held in mid-July, when temperatures in Death Valley can reach 120°F (49°C) or higher, and pavement temperatures can exceed 120°F (49°C), often causing runners' shoes to melt. Despite the extreme conditions, no runner, crew member, or race volunteer has ever died during the event.
