Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon
a 135-mile foot race from the bottom of Death Valley to the Mt. Whitney trailhead 8,360 feet above sea level
If not the toughest footrace in the world, the Badwater Ultra is certainly the hottest. The 135-mile haul goes from 280-feet below sea level in the middle of Death Valley to 8,360 feet at Whitney Portals at the base of Mt. Whitney--in the middle of July. Along the way, runners must deal with rugged highway, passing motorists and stifling temperatures, which climb as high as 130 degrees. The invitation-only race is limited to 75 runners, a field regularly filled with marathoners, triathletes, adventure racers and mountaineers who have proved their mettle elsewhere. Last year saw a 79% finishing rate, which included runner Dean Karnazes, the author of Ultramarathon Man, who not only captured first place with a blistering time of 27:22:48, but then shuffled an extra 11 miles to the top of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the continental U.S.
For more information, visit www.badwaterultra.com
Marathon des Sables
The Marathon Des Sables
Location: Sahara Desert, Morocco
When: April
Started: 1985
Factoid: mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F
Web site: http://xxlplan.ovh.net/~visiolog/uk/indexuk_ovh.shtml
The Dead Sea Ultra Marathon
Dead Sea Ultra Marathon
Location: Amman, Jordan
When: April 15, 2005
Started: 1993
Factoid: Finish line is 400 meters below sea level
Web site: http://www.deadseamarathon.com/
The Everest Marathon
Everest Marathon
Location: Everest Base Camp, Nepal
When: November
Started: 1987
Factoid: Race starts at 17,000 feet
Web site: http://www.everestmarathon.org.uk/
Great Tibetan Marathon
Location: Ladakh, India
When: August
Started: NA
Factoid: The start is at 3,800 meters above sea level and the finish is just 400 meters lower. In contrast, the Everest marathon starts at 5,340 meters and runs downhill.
Web site: www.great-tibetan-marathon.com/
Le Marathon des Chateaux du Medoc
Location: Medoc, France
When: September
Started: 2005
Factoid: The course passes many of the greatest chateaux in Bordeaux, where "runners" are expected to drink wine instead of water and foie gras instead of bananas.
Web site: www.marathondumedoc.com
Boston Marathon
Location: Boston
When: April
Started: 1897
Factoid: Since 1969 the Boston Marathon has always been run on Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April.
Web site: http://www.bostonmarathon.org/
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Those are all unbelievable runs. 17,000 feet! I like the one in France, drinking wine along the way. At the Marine Corps Marathon in DC, some college kids always serve beer from a keg at MP 19; I have never taken their offering, afraid I would never get started on the run again.
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