Races

Badwater 135

Death Valley to Whitney Portal, CaliforniaJuly

Death Valley to Whitney Portal. Asphalt from below sea level. Townes Pass in the afternoon heat.

135 mi+14,346 ft-5,752 ft48 hours-271 ft to 8,323 fttech 6/107 stationspavementcrew requiredinvitationalJuly
Distance135 mi
Gain+14,346 ft
Loss-5,752 ft
Altitude-271 ft to 8,323 ft
Technicality6/10
Air85°F to 125°F
Gradient profileCourse GPX
  • Start-271 ft
  • High8,323 ft
  • Low-271 ft
  • Finish8,323 ft
Aid stations7 stops verified

Terrain

paved100%

Field, 2026 · 25-year sampleresults

Starters88
Finish rate100%
Median36:07
Sub-246

Geometrycourse math

Steepest drop988 ft-9.9% over 1.9 mi
Night miles38 misunset near 19:00 local
Longest climb8,596 ft135 mi at 1.2%

Weather at the cruxcourse math

At hour 9 of race, feels like 42 C (102 F).Sample of 7 race days, medium confidence.

Mandatory kit5 required verified

  • Handheld or vest hydrationhydration
  • Hat with brim or capclothing
  • White or light-color clothing during daylightclothing
  • Headlamp and red rear light at nightelectronics
  • Reflective vest or reflective clothingsafety

Course records

Men20:53:41Max Jolliffe2026 results
Women21:05:32Carmen Maria Perez2026 pr.run

The cruxTownes Pass (mile 42) and the Portal Road climb

Course DNA

The Course

One hundred percent paved. Badwater Basin starts at 271 feet below sea level. Furnace Creek. Stovepipe Wells. Then Townes Pass near mile 42: long asphalt climb in the afternoon oven. Panamint Springs. Darwin. Lone Pine. Portal Road finishes the climb toward Whitney Portal near 8,323 feet. Seven crew-supported stations. Low -271 feet. High 8,323. Net climb all day. No trail. No shade that matters.

The Work

Heat is the sport. Core temp, sweat rate, and stomach under 120°F pavement radiation. Train midday road miles. Sauna sessions. Practice ice protocols and crew exchanges until they are boring. Quads still need work for Townes and the Portal Road, even on asphalt.

Kit

White sun kit end to end. Ice bandanas, arm sleeves, umbrellas if rules allow. Road shoes that drain heat. Crew vehicle is part of the kit: coolers, ice, spare shoes, medical. Night layers for the Portal Road when the desert finally lets go.

Race Day

Do not race the basin. Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells is patience. Townes Pass is the first real climb and the first place the heat wins if you pushed. Crew at every station: ice, calories, socks, go. Lone Pine is not the finish. Portal Road still climbs. Keep moving through the night. 48 hours looks long until the heat spends it.

Results

Badwater 135 finish lines.

Winner: Max Jolliffe, 20:53:41.

Train for your race

Train for Badwater 135

Course-specific plan, fuel segments, gear kit, and race morning for Badwater 135.

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Badwater 135

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