Badwater 2014 is off... Help bring it back!

Ultra runners have ruined runningThe park isn't cancelling events. It has only slowed the approval process for a safety review. The company that owns Badwater moved it.

Save Badwater wrote:

The national parks service is canceling all events at Death Valley next year... This includes badwater.

While everyone is killing time at their inlaws, take two minutes and sign ths petition at whitehouse.gov

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/overturn-decision-death-valley-national-park-discontinue-issuance-running-and-bicycling-event/MNP3TVG2

What's the rational for ending it? Is it an insurance and liability thing?

Convince me why I should sign the petition.

Not a huge fan of Ultrarunning, Ultrarunners, or the Ultrascene in my area. The ones in my area are actually super annoying.

Also, I hope Ultra folks stay off these boards. No one on here cares that Badwater was cancelled.

Hingle McCringleberry wrote:

Not a huge fan of Ultrarunning, Ultrarunners, or the Ultrascene in my area. The ones in my area are actually super annoying.

Interesting observation. Please elaborate on how and why ultra runners are annoying. I have seen similar thing. Not so much the good ones but the would be hobby joggers.

Hingle McCringleberry wrote:

Not a huge fan of Ultrarunning, Ultrarunners, or the Ultrascene in my area. The ones in my area are actually super annoying.

There are a lot in my area too; I wouldn't say they are super annoying, I would just say we don't see eye-to-eye (the few times I've watched an ultra, it seemed like everyone was walking; how is that a sport?)

Absolutely tragic. Sadder than Boston and NYC getting cancelled!!!

I thought I read somewhere that Badwater would still be held but with a different course. Obviously it wouldn't be the same, but I thought they were still gonna hold the race. Maybe I misread something.

On the badwater.com website, they say the race will still be held in July on a different course. It'll be near Lone Pine, CA (not far from Death Valley NP, proper) and will be 135 miles long.

Gee whiz runner wrote:

[quote]Hingle McCringleberry wrote:

Not a huge fan of Ultrarunning, Ultrarunners, or the Ultrascene in my area. The ones in my area are actually super annoying.

Interesting observation. Please elaborate on how and why ultra runners are annoying.quote]

They are annoying because they accomplish running feats that most of the PVSSIES that post hear can't even imagine trying let alone excelling.

Marathoners curl up and cancel a race when it's icy

Ultra runners don't even schedule a race unless it's icy

marathon runners bus to the top of the hill and run down

Ultra runners run up the hill and then back down.

Marathon runners search the world over for the flattest places to run.

Ultra runners search the world over for the hilliest places to run.

Other than that, there isn't much difference. Running is running.

lol at the comment about regular runners looking for the flattest courses where they can set PRs. It's ridiculous that regular runners do that.

hingle cringle jingle wrote:

Gee whiz runner wrote:

[quote]Hingle McCringleberry wrote:

Not a huge fan of Ultrarunning, Ultrarunners, or the Ultrascene in my area. The ones in my area are actually super annoying.

Interesting observation. Please elaborate on how and why ultra runners are annoying.quote]

They are annoying because they accomplish running feats that most of the PVSSIES that post hear can't even imagine trying let alone excelling.

Marathoners curl up and cancel a race when it's icy

Ultra runners don't even schedule a race unless it's icy

marathon runners bus to the top of the hill and run down

Ultra runners run up the hill and then back down.

Marathon runners search the world over for the flattest places to run.

Ultra runners search the world over for the hilliest places to run.

Other than that, there isn't much difference. Running is running.

You forgot that ultrarunners don't know how to use words properly (hear vs. here)

abubenjamin wrote:

You forgot that ultrarunners don't know how to use words properly (hear vs. here)

Deer abubenjamin, Your a hater. There not bad people. Most of them are just normal people to.

I have a friend in Maryland who runs this race every year. Thanks for starting the petition, I will go sign. It is fun to follow someone I know competing in the event.

If what the AdventureCorps page says is to be believed, it seems the government is arbitrarily and unfairly undertaking an unexplained agenda that may result in athletic events in general being prevented from using National Park land. This is an issue of injustice, that's why you should care.

It's disgusting how many of these "message board posters" are saying such nasty things. I hope these are trolls--any sincere, valid human being wouldn't be making the idiot comments that appear on so many threads where someone wants to honestly talk about ultra running. While Moderators certainly should respect sincere free speech, I've had enough of such comments. If I see anymore, I will complain to letsrun.

Anyway, I was curious what underhanded reason would the government have for preventing athletic events on National

Park land. What are their motivations?

If there really is a bonafide safety issue, they would be more transparent about it. Institutions and those in power who operate in an unethical and shady matter almost invariably are up to unethical things.

Events like the Badwater running and biking races are growing in popularity, with multiple parties seeking permits. Hence, the park service wants to take some time and review its present policy as it affects not just ultramarathoners, but all park users. Some might say the park service is actually doing its job.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-12-23/death-valley-park-suspends-race-permissions-for-safety-review

My own belief? There is a new person in charge of the park who doesn't understand athletic endeavors and is trying to push her own agenda. Either that or she can't stand the RD, Chris Kostman.

Using the "extra traffic" excuse is laughable, at best. Suppose in a race like Badwater, where you have 90 participants (and crew). Even if every runner brought 2 cars, you'd still only be talking about an extra 180 cars on the road over the course of 90 miles (I believe it's about this far actually in the actual park itself).

Every runner and their crew leader at BW is required to attend a pre-race meeting where traffic rules are fully discussed and usually there is a CHP officer there, as well.

As we have seen on numerous occasions, if something gets enough negative publicity about a rule or policy change, it usually gets reverted. Is this enough to keep 2014 Badwater held in DVNP? Probably not, but I'd bet the "safety review" somehow gets wrapped up well before the estimated completion date and the events return for 2015.

I suppose that the local businesses from Inyo County could come together and take it to court claiming economic hardship due to an unwarranted policy change. Fighting the federal government is usually a losing battle, but it can be done.

Kipketer_Pumpkin_Eater wrote:

Anyway, I was curious what underhanded reason would the government have for preventing athletic events on National

Park land. What are their motivations?

If there really is a bonafide safety issue, they would be more transparent about it. Institutions and those in power who operate in an unethical and shady matter almost invariably are up to unethical things.

I didn't see anything unethical or shady, and it's not because of Badwater itself but because of all the other events. I'm sure they can't just say "OK, Badwater is fine but all you others aren't". It says in the article their concern is the number of events, plus the spectators and support vehicles that is the problem.

Unfortunately I see this more and more, events crowding the calendar then they hit a tipping point and the towns / parks clamp down. Often these are race "series" that want to proliferate to maximize their marketing. First it was the Race for the Cure, then the Rock & Roll Series (which in full disclosure, I've done work for both), but now there's Color Run, Race13.1, etc, and they come in from the outside and get a parade permit and pay no attention to the local calendar. Two races locally got plopped down on top of long-standing events. The bad news is the national organization is more likely to win over a local one if there's a conflict.

This article makes it close to a dozen I've read this year about cities or parks looking to throttle back on the events held there. Odds are the method will end up being increased fees or insurance requirements, dooming more club and local races in favor of the better financed national groups.