True Stories from the Badwater Ultramarathon

This is an ongoing archive of Badwater stories, past, present, and future. If you have written something or would like to write something about any aspect of this event or its course, please send it our way for possible inclusion on this website. We are looking for articles about everything, especially first person “I was there” accounts of what it was like to race or crew on this course.

BOOKS ABOUT BADWATER

Check out this comprehensive list of titles that are either about the Badwater Ultramarathon or are authored by Badwater veterans and feature Badwater. Includes easy links to online merchants. Happy reading!

2010 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, FEATURES

Badwater Ultramarathon 2010 : ma course & notre épopée — an extremely well done video about the 2010 AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon with some of the best footage I have yet seen of the setting. It features the whole race, with a particular focus on Vincent Toumazou of France

Badwater Ultramarathon 2010 – FINISHED Business, a three-part race report by two-time Badwater finisher Iris Cooper Imhof.

“Lessons Learned at Badwater” by Amanda McIntosh: Hammer Nutrition athlete, coach, and crew person for 2010 finisher Doug Ratliff

Crewing for Reza Baluchi, report by Steve Matsuda, crew person for Reza Baluchi—Badwater Ultramarathon’s first Iranian finisher

Structural Elements Joins Team Newton Running at Badwater, race report by one of the crew for Ian Adamson

RailRiders Adventure Clothing interviews 2010 Badwater finisher Ian Adamson

Badwater: Mission Accomplished, by first-time finisher Dave Walker

“The Power of Plan” – life lessons from my record breaking 2010 Badwater 135-mile Ultramarathon, race report by five-time finisher Frank McKinney

Runner No. 82, race report by 46 year-old British ultrarunner and 2010 Badwater finisher Mark Steven Woolley

David Corfman on the Badwater Ultramarathon, 2010 race report by finisher David Corfman as it appeared on the Cincinnati Enquirer website

Paul Grimm’s Badwater race in photos

Badwater: Part One, two-part race report by finisher James Elson.

How Hot Is Death Valley?, two-part race report by James Plant, crew person for two-time finisher Hung-Kwong Ng

135 Amazing Miles, race report by two-time finisher Tony Portera

Live from Badwater and Badwater Was Awesome, blog reports by Deena Kastor, crew member for five-time finisher Shannon Farar-Griefer

2010 Badwater Ultramarathon Recap, in three parts by John Vigil—crew person for Susannah Harvey-Jamieson

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 1

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 2

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 3

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 4

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 5

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 6

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 7

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 8

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 9

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 10

Massive multi-part blog report about Gregg Geerdes’ 2010 Badwater race. PART 11

Badwater race video by Philipp Corfman, son of rookie finisher David Corfman

2009 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, FEATURES

Badwater!, 2009 race report by finisher Steve Hanes

Badwater 2009 Crew Report, by Michael Hanes, crew person for finisher Steve Hanes

UltraAry – Badwater 2009, two-part photo montage documenting Brazilian finisher Ariovaldo Branco’s Badwater race.

UltraAry – Badwater 2009, four-part video race report for Brazilian finisher Ariovaldo Branco.

Photo and video montage of four-time finisher Jonathan Gunderson and crew

Badwater 135 Mile Ultramarathon, race report by rookie finisher Tony Portera

Badwater Ultramarathon, 2009 race report by finisher Sharon Gayter

Phoenix man completes Badwater Ultramarathon, Feature story in the Arizona Republic on Perry Edinger’s Badwater race; written by Bob Young

Elizabeth’s 2009 Badwater 135 Mile Ultramarathon race recap, by finisher Elizabeth Carrion

2008 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, FEATURES

Badwater 2008 photo gallery by Badwater Medical Director Lisa Bliss

2008 Badwater Ultramarathon Crew Report, by Dave Bursler, crew person for 2008 finisher Phil Rosenstein

Badwater 2008 photo gallery by veteran Don Lundell of Badwater sponsor ZombieRunner.com

2008 Badwater Ultramarathon: The Call of the Desert, by finisher Alisa Springman

A Folly, by finisher Mary Gorski

Mary Gorski Goes the Distance – 135 Miles in Summertime Heat

2007 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, FEATURES

Badwater 2007 race report by finisher Jan Herrmann

Three Part Article by Dave Remington (discusses charity, the race, nutrients)

3 years, 405 Badwater miles, and FINALLY a buckle! by finisher David Harper

Badwater, a Way of Life, by Ben and Denise Jones, 2007 Badwater Hall of Fame Inductees (Story from the 2007 Race Magazine; PDF format.)

Crewing for a Champion, by Dave Bursler, crew for Lisa Bliss

My Badwater Family, by finisher Jamie Donaldson

Badwater 2007 by finisher Ludovic Chorgnon (Very extensive, with photos ) en Francais

Badwater 2007 photo gallery by veteran Don Lundell of Badwater sponsor ZombieRunner.com

Romancing the Stone, a 2007 Badwater Story by finisher Arthur Webb

Badwater and Extreme Event Survival, by nine-time official finisher Arthur Webb

Badwater Runner Adopted by Dr. King School: Todd Baum, 2007 finisher (Includes multiple photos, plus video and media links)

2006 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, FEATURES

The Grinder, by eight time official finisher Arthur Webb

My Life at Badwater, by 11-time finisher and 2006 hall-of-fame inductee Jack Denness (Story from the 2006 Race Magazine)

In Pursuit of the Elusive and Coveted Belt Buckle Badwater 2006, by finisher Bill LaDieu

Dr. Lisa Bliss’ 2006 Badwater photo gallery

Five-time finisher Ian Parker’s 2006 Badwater web page with links to lots of great photos

Bad Feet at Badwater, from the Zombie Runner blog, written by Gillian Robinson

2006 Badwater Ultramarathon photos taken by Don Lundell of Zombie Runner

The Return of the Desert Fox, race report by 2006 finisher Guenter Boehnke (PDF, 8 pages)

The Return of the Desert Fox, race report by 2006 finisher Guenter Boehnke (PDF, 8 pages in German)

Race report by 2006 rookie finisher Dave Bursler

2006 Badwater: Blisters, Broken Van, Dust Devils, High Humidity, Race report by 2006 finisher David Harper

2005 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, FEATURES

Four-time finisher Ian Parker’s 2005 Badwater web page with links to lots of great photos

Race report by Jason Dorgan, 2005 Badwater finisher (PDF, 13 pages)

For Arlington Man, a Marathon is Just a Warmup, story on 2005 finisher John Dodds that appeared in the Washington Post in August, 2005

Badwater: Chaussée Brûlante, (“Badwater: Extreme Roadway”) from the French magazine Ultrafondus: the most extensive Badwater report we’ve seen. (PDF, 29 pages in French)

Reflections on the 2005 Badwater Ultramarathon by Geoffrey Hilton-Barber, the first blind athlete to complete the race

2005 Badwater finisher Greg Minter has a great site with links to numerous photo galleries of the race and his training blog

2005 Badwater Ultra, race report by finisher Dave Harper

To Sleep Now or Later? by Nikki Seger, 2005 official finisher

2004 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, FEATURES

Three-time finisher Ian Parker’s 2004 Badwater web page with links to lots of great photos

67:59:45 — A Long Time to be Outdoors in Death Valley by Jonathan Rice, crewmember for 11-time finisher Jack Denness

Albert Martens Survives Blistering Death Valley by crewmember Gwen Blatz, published in The Carallon newspaper of Southeastern Manitoba, Canada (PDF, 7 pages)

Bangemachen Gilt Nicht (“Fear Does Not Count”) by Andrea Schuster-Betz, crewmember for Thomas Betz (German)

Höllische Leidenschaft (“Infernal Passion”), this coverage of the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon appeared in the German magazine FLOW (PDF, 7 pages)

See You on the Mountaintop by Arthur Webb, 2004 finisher

Trials and Travails of Team Coonhound and the 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon by 2004 finisher Bruce Gungle

Death Valley Welcome by Guenter Boehnke, 2004 finisher (English)

Death Valley Welcome by Guenter Boehnke, 2004 finisher (German)

Racing Badwater for Camp Sunshine by Mike Brooks, 2004 finisher

Tusconians Reed and Gungle Tackle the Badwater Ultramarathon by Amit Mehrotra for the Arizona Daily Star

Badwater 2004 Race Report: Robert Wimmer #34 by Sebastian Bär, support crew (English)

Badwater 2004 Race Report: Robert Wimmer #34 by Sebastian Bär, support crew (German)

2003 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, FEATURES

Ian Parker’s 2003 Badwater web page with links to lots of great photos

The Long Road by Dan Marinsik, 2004 finisher, for The Magazine of Sigma Chi, Fall 2003. (PDF, 3 pages)

The Last Lone Runner by 2003 honorable mention finisher Arthur Webb

Rooke to Veteran, Ultraladies’ Style: More Ultra, Less Lady by Nancy Shura, 2003 official finisher

A DNF story, One Step at a Time by Jody-Lynn Reicher, 2003 entrant and 2002 finisher

Badwater to Mt. Whitney: The Way to Happiness by Ivory Phillips, crew for 2003 official finisher John JR Radich

Badwater Week: And What a Week it Was by Scott Ludwig, 2003 official finisher

Badwater: My 4 and 1/2 Minutes of Fame by Bill Lockton, 2003 official finisher

Badwater, A Good Comfortable Road by Bill LaDieu, 2003 official finisher

Bad Water Maybe, but a Good Experience, Nonetheless by Marvin Snowbarger, 2003 race official

Badwater Runners’ Report for the JustDo262 Yahoo Group by 2003 staffer and 2002 finisher Stephan Matsuda

Badwater: It Seems Foolish at First by Joe Prusaitis, 2003 finisher

2002 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS, PROFILES, AND POEMS

Badwater Turns 25: History of the race from 1977 through 2002 by Roy Wallack (Story from the 2002 Race Magazine, also published in Ultra Running Magazine.)

Finisher Ian Parker’s 2002 Badwater web page with links to lots of great photos

Marathon is a Breeze Compared to this One: Tucson Marathon Organizer Recalls 135-miler by Amit Mehrotra, Arizona Daily Star

2002 Badwater, The Tuffest by 2002 finisher Rick Nawrocki

Badwater Runners’ Report for the JustDo262 Yahoo Group by 2002 finisher Stephan Matsuda

Badwater Threepeat by 2002 finisher Ruben Cantu

The Badwater Report by 2002 finisher Jan Ryerse

My Badwater 2002 Story by 2002 finisher Kari Marchant

Crewing for Kari by Howie Stern, crew for 2002 finisher Kari Marchant

Desert Dance by Larry Robbins

Reflections upon Badwater by 2002 finisher Angela Brunson

Steven Silver @ Badwater 2002 by Blade Norman, crew for 2002 finisher Steven Silver

Bridge Over Troubled Water by 2002 finisher Arthur Webb

Out of My League, or Home at Last? by 2002 finisher Vito Bialla

Running with the Gods by 2002 finisher George Biondic

Bild Magazine, German language coverage of 2002 finisher Winfried Friedel (large file size)

German language newspaper coverage of 2002 finisher Winfried Friedel (large file size)

2001 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS AND PROFILES

Dead Run, a feature on Vilma Mejia by Michael Gougis, New Times L.A.

Badwater Poem by Eberhard Frixe of Germany

Brave One-Legged Briton Runs 135 Miles Across Desert in 130F Heat by Stewart Cook, London Daily Express (large file in jpg format with lots of photos)

One-Legged, One-Armed Runner Conquers Blistering Race through Death Valley by Stewart Cook, National Examiner USA (large file in jpg format with lots of photos)

Wenn Laufen Zur Nebensache Wird: Badwater Ultralauf 2001 von Dr. Holger Finkernagel PDF format: requires Adoba Acrobat. Thirteen pages and lots of photos (in German)

Meeting the Challenge at the 2001 Badwater Ultramarathon by Phil Hicks for the Tyler Morning Telegraph

Retun to Badwater 2001 by Ruben Cantu

Mr. Bo Peep Runs Badwater by Arthur Webb

My Time in the Desert by Jim Benike

He’s Not Heavy, He’s My Brother by Courtney Boova, crew for Marshall Ulrich

Industriekaufmann Eberhard Frixe aus Meine durchquerte Death Valley by Annika Koch about Eberhard Frixe

From Lowest to Highest in 2001 by Rick Nawrocki, Cancer Survivor

Crewin’ for Rick Nawrocki, the “Cry Tuff!” Man by Al Parell

Badwater Quad for Starving Children by Marshall Ulrich with lots of photos by Tony DiZinno

Badwater 2001: My Account by Rick Miller

Steven Silver’s Badwater 2001 by Blade Norman

Shannon Farar-Griefer’s Badwater 2001 Double Story

Badwaterultra.com: Website of the Week by Tom Owen, Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, Waterloo, Iowa

USMC Major Wm Curt Maples Barfathon at Badwater

Matt Palocsay’s Badwater 2001 Story

2000 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS AND PROFILES

My Journey through Hell by Arthur Webb, 2000 finisher

Badwater 2000 Race Report From my Perspective by Scott McQueeney, 2000 finisher

Badwater 2000 by Rick Nawrocki, 2000 finisher and cancer survivor

Badwater Reflections by Erika Gerhardt, 2000 finisher

Life is Either and Adventure or Nothing at All by Dixie Madsen, 2000 finisher

Story From the Back by Frank Macmillan, 2000 finisher

Badwater 135. They Said it Could Not Be Done! by Lisa Smith, 2000 finisher

This Is My Story by Ruben Cantu, 2000 finisher

A Badwater (Love) Story… by Mick Justin, 2000 finisher

Badwater and Back by Chris Moon, 2000 finisher

The Relatively Uneventful Badwater 2000 by Lynne Werner, 2000 finisher

Badwater Ultramarathon Race Report in French, by Marc Perier, 2000 finisher

1999 FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS AND PROFILES

My Most Unforgettable Ultramarathon (& What I Learned From It) by Marshall Ulrich, first person account of his solo, UNASSISTED crossing prior to the 1999 race

Real Life for Us Wierdos by Adam Smiling Man Bookspan, 1999 finisher

Badwater 1999: What Worked / Didn’t Work For Me by Scott Weber, 1999 finisher

The Arthur Webb and Steven Silver Badwater Saga by Arthur Webb, 1999 finisher

The Other Half of the Arthur Webb-Steven Silver Story by Steven Silver, 1999 finisher

A Crew Report, by Jim Wolff, 1999 crew for Steven Silver (with link to tons of race photos)

Badwater and Beyond by Lisa R. Smith, 1999 unofficial finisher

A Badwater High by Brian Manley, 1999 finisher

1999 Badwater Reflections by Ephraim Romesberg, age 68, 1999 finisher

Death Valley Hallucinations, a Personal Top Three List by Death Valley Jack Denness, 1999 finisher

Real Heroes by Joe Decker, 1999 finisher