The iconic Badwater 135 occurs annually each July. It is acknowledged as ‘the world’s toughest foot race’. The race is a battle between up to 100 of the world’s toughest runners. It involves a 135 mile (217km) continuous traverse starting in Badwater, the lowest point in North America and crossing some of the most demanding terrain in the United States of America through the Death Valley National Park and a final ascent up Mt Whitney, at an elevation of 4,418 metres (14,494 feet).

The average time to complete the event is approximately 40 hours, with an overall time limit of 48 hours. As common with long distance trail and ultra running events the runners are chasing a coveted reward of a belt buckle. For runners who complete the race within the 48 hour time limit they will receive the famous Badwater Belt Buckle. There is no prize money on offer.

This year’s Badwater race will be different than past events. As in December 2013, the new superintendent for the Death Valley National Park suspended all sporting events inside the park while it undertakes a "safety assessment", this effects events such as the Badwater 135 run and the Furnace Creek 508 cycling event.

This led to the Badwater officials to look at other options and eventually deciding to reroute the 135 mile course outside of the park completely.

The race may not be undertaking the famous course this year, but it still offers a gruelling challenge with more elevation gain than the traditional route, but should not encounter the same heat, but it is still expected for temperatures to reach into the high 90s and low 100s Fahrenheit (35-40+ degrees Celsius).

The 2014 version of the Badwater 135 course presents some difficult climbs up Horseshoe Meadows elevation 9,900 feet and a 15-mile dirt road trek up to the ghost town, Cerro Gordo elevation 8,153 and finishing with an final ascent up to Whitney Portal. Overall, this year’s race route includes over 17,000 feet of elevation gain and 12,700 feet of elevation descent, compared with the traditional course 13,000 elevation gain and 4,700 feet descent, respectively.

In the past the event has attracted some of the biggest names in ultrarunning including Marshall Ulrich, Dean Karnazes and Scott Jurek.

In 2014, the race looks very enticing with the 2013 men’s champion Portugal’s Carlos Sa, 2013 men’s runner up Australia’s Grant Maughan and 2011 men’s champion Mexico’s Oswaldo Lopez , whom has run the race 5 times and finished in the top three each year and USA’s Harvey Lewis, 4th place from 2013.

The women's field, with 19 runners this year, includes 10 first time entrants and 9 veterans. The leading contender is USA’s Pam Reed, the 2002 and 2003 overall champion and women’s champion in 2005 plus two time female runner up in 2012 and 2013.

With the race undertaking a new course this year, it may be the year we see a new ‘unknown’ champion take out the coveted title.

The Badwater 135 Current Records*

Men’s Record: Valmir Nunez, 22:51:29 set in 2007

Women's record: Jamie Donaldson, 26:16:12 set in 2010

*On the traditional route (1987-2013)

Here is a great interview by David Letterman with Pam Reed after winning her 2nd Badwater title in 2003.

Main Photo Credit: "DeathValley road1". Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons