Carl Hutzler’s Blog

In March, I had the privilege of supporting Davy Crockett in the Moab 100 race. At the race, I met Jarom Thurston of Payson, an ultra-running friend of Davy’s and who was also running in that race.

I happened to get an email from Jarom the other day announcing that he would be running the Bad Water Ultra Marathon. In the email he alerted me to a show about the Bad Water race coming up on the History Channel next week (6/9 at 8pm EST).

Anyway, I have paced and even run sections of 100 mile races several times with Davy Crockett. I know running 100 miles is an unbelievable challenge. But running 135 miles is just crazy, until you understand a few more things about Bad Water. Then you understand how beyond crazy it really is…

1) Bad Water’s starting line is 280 feet below sea level. Yup, that would be the Bad Water in Death Valley NP.

2) The race takes place July 14-16th this year. Temperatures can be as high as 120° or more in the shade that time of year!

3) The race finishes in CA on Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental US. Finish altitutude is 8,360. Total elevation change for the race is 13,000 feet of ascent and 4,700 feet of descent.

4) The fastest runners finish in 27 hours. But most of the “mortals” take 40 to 60 hours!

Check out Jarom’s site for details of the Brazil 135 race that he ran recently. He did very well considering the conditions. I wish Jarom the best of luck in Bad Water. I would love to be there with him!