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Podcasts Take Two
Death Valley's Badwater 135 race put on hold due to safety concerns
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Dec 26, 2013
Listen • 4:07
Death Valley's Badwater 135 race put on hold due to safety concerns
How about a foot race? A nice long one, say, 135 miles through Death Valley. Unfortunately, you'll be running it all by yourself. The official race, known as the Badwater 135, sent runners from Badwater Basin to near the top of Mount Whitney.
Heat waves rise near a heat danger warning sign on the eve of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 14, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California. Billed as the toughest footrace in the world, the 36th annual Badwater 135 starts at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, 280 feet below sea level, where athletes begin a 135-mile non-stop run over three mountain ranges in extreme mid-summer desert heat to finish at 8,350-foot near Mount Whitney for a total cumulative vertical ascent of 13,000 feet. July 10 marked the 100-year anniversary of the all-time hottest world record temperature of 134 degrees, set in Death Valley where the average high in July is 116.
Heat waves rise near a heat danger warning sign on the eve of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 14, 2013 in Death Valley National Park, California. Billed as the toughest footrace in the world, the 36th annual Badwater 135 starts at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, 280 feet below sea level, where athletes begin a 135-mile non-stop run over three mountain ranges in extreme mid-summer desert heat to finish at 8,350-foot near Mount Whitney for a total cumulative vertical ascent of 13,000 feet. July 10 marked the 100-year anniversary of the all-time hottest world record temperature of 134 degrees, set in Death Valley where the average high in July is 116.
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David McNew/Getty Images
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How about a foot race? A nice long one, say, 135 miles through Death Valley. Unfortunately, you'll be running it all by yourself. The official race, known as the Badwater 135, sent runners from Badwater Basin to near the top of Mount Whitney.

Looking to run off those extra holiday calories? 

How about a foot race? A nice long one, say, 135 miles through Death Valley.

Unfortunately, you'll be running it all by yourself. The official race, known as the Badwater 135, sent runners from Badwater Basin to near the top of Mount Whitney. 

It's now been postponed indefinitely, along with most other foot and cycling races in Death Valley National Park. For more on why, we're joined by our in-house marathon expert, KPCC's Sharon McNary.