One hundred thirty-five miles. Up to 130 degrees. The hottest place on Earth: Death Valley. In this race — the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon — the real opponent is the weather.

This year the Badwater 135 starts on July 27 and lasts all the way through July 29. You can even watch a “live” webcast online.

The journey and the weather

The Badwater 135 is dubbed by some as the “toughest footrace on Earth.”

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It begins in the desert in the middle of July. Badwater Basin’s flat salt plains make the air exceptionally dry. 

It starts at the lowest elevation in North America — roughly 280 feet below sea level. The journey ends at Whitney Portal, on a mountain — over 8,000 feet above sea level.

Racers battle a brutal stretch of highway — with pavement so hot it can melt the bottom of their shoes — and a 45-hour time limit.

(MORE: Just how hot can pavement get in summer? The numbers might surprise you.)

According to Death Valley National Park Superintendent Mike Reynold, Death Valley nighttime temperatures are about 10% hotter than they were 20 years ago.

“You guys are tough — maybe even 10% tougher than the runners from 20 years ago,” Reynold said in the 2026 welcome.

Some racers participate in the “Double Badwater,” meaning when they cross the finish line, they turn back around and make the whole journey over again. A very small number of superhumans have managed to go even farther, completing the “triple” and even “quad.”

The crew that makes it possible

The human body has limits to how much heat it can endure, and the closest hospital is about 100 miles away. 

This isn’t a race anyone can complete alone, making it one of the most intensely crewed races in existence. Trucks follow along to provide the cooling ice water spray-downs and water bottles for the hydration necessary to survive until they cross the finish line.

(MORE: Staying hydrated: the complete electrolyte guide)

And they bring along tons of other necessities, too: anti-chafing lubricant, pain relievers, food and more. After hitting a landmark in the race, Stovepipe Wells, individual crew members can join as something called a pacer. They run directly behind racers while carrying whatever supplies they might need.

According to the Himalayan Database, just over 7,500 people have climbed Mount Everest, but only just over 1,100 have ever completed the Badwater 135.

Content writer Ada Wood enjoys exploring the stories that science and climate teach us about our natural world and how it influences the way we live in it.