Badwater 135

Wow, I don't know what to say about being invited to run the Badwater 135 this year. I suppose in a race so difficult to get in, a race where so many amazing people apply, all of whom have overcome hardship and deserve to be there, I can only be thankful for blind luck. I hit the right nerve at the right time with my application- thank you, Chris Kostman.

 If you know nothing about The Badwater 135, it is simply put the hardest footrace on the planet. It is 135 miles across Death Valley on the hottest day of the year. Runners face heat in excess of 130 degrees. And if that's not enough, the race pretty much rolls straight and down from -283 feet below sea level and finishing at the Whitney Portal at just under 9,000ft. ending with about the same amount of climbing as The Leadville Trail 100.

 So as many of my friends know, Badwater has ALWAYS been looming in the background of all my runs and races. I have said before that in many ways everything I have been doing over these last 7 years has ALL been Badwater training. The thing is- I honestly was starting to think it would never happen. I heard that a record number of people applied, including thousands of applications from all over the world, each  hoping for one of the 35 spots that are given to rookie runners... and only 100 racers total will line up at The Badwater Basin in July.

So now its time to pony up, train like crazy and hang it all out there. I guess the scary thing about getting your "title shot" as Rocky would call it, is the reality that failure becomes real too. But if I have learned anything it is to not let fear control me- fear is fuel. Fear will keep me in the 180 degree sauna making sure my body is adapted to heat, fear will make sure I eat correctly, fear will keep me on the treadmill and trail. and fear will be in my rear-view mirror as I take the first step towards MT. Whitney. Total respect for the race, but absolutely no fear- that's the goal.



Training for Valley in Colorado definitely lends itself to the extremes...

184 Degrees in the sauna after playing in the snow

Morning 2 hour run up Bear Peak

 My first week of Badwater Training:

12:40 Hours Total

8:00 Running
2:40 In the sauna (Core Work in 180 Degrees)
2:00 Indoor cycling


If you are really bored, and have absolutely nothing better to do, I will be covering some of my training and thoughts as I train for this "My Opus" of ultras. I will make no promises other than this... I will give this things everything I am. 


This Event is by The Superman Project and is dedicated to those struggling with addiction.