Badwater ultra is today even though it is not in Badwater

2:20 marathon > Badwater.

Livestream:

http://www.badwater.com/2014web/

Live splits/results:

http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/results.php?bw_eid=71&bwr=Go

I've only heard of one person on that startlist, and that is just because he won an ultra in my town. Who is supposed to be good that is running?

Did we ever hear a real reason as to why they can't run through Bad Water any more?

Didn't the NPS claim it was a safety issue (with runners' crew vehicles/crew personnel on the roads)?

Yes, they claimed a safety review so all competitive events were suspended for the year.

aquafina wrote:

Did we ever hear a real reason as to why they can't run through Bad Water any more?

The rumor is that Chris Kostman, the RD of Badwater (and several other events in the park), pissed off the new park superintendent by acting both arrogantly and saying some things that he shouldn't have. The park super, being relatively new, then used the "safety review" excuse to ban events. Since she couldn't just ban his events and not others, it was a blanket ban. CK then tried to use the power of his events and the press to rally public support against her, the park service and the decision.

I have heard this from a couple of very well connected people but it's never been confirmed by any of the veteran Badwater runners I know (probably a good 6 people) as they hold the RD in very high regard. Probably because they know if it gets back to him that they told someone the truth, there is no way they'd ever be let in into BW again as he himself (the RD) is the race "committee" that you have to send your race application in to.

So what did he say to make the Park Svc mad?

aquafina wrote:

So what did he say to make the Park Svc mad?

No idea what he said, but as you know, anything anyone says can be read or interpreted a myriad of different ways. If you offend someone at a high level with a lot of power, be prepared for consequences. All it takes is one comment in normal conversation that this person doesn't like. Not saying it's right or wrong, but it's the way it is.

3:40 since they started and no one at the 23 mile mark yet? What am I missing?

iwalkfar wrote:

3:40 since they started and no one at the 23 mile mark yet? What am I missing?

It's all uphill. 6500 feet in 23 miles.

iwalkfar wrote:

3:40 since they started and no one at the 23 mile mark yet? What am I missing?

I doubt the internet service is that great at 10k feet for updates.

From The Mill.... wrote:

iwalkfar wrote:

3:40 since they started and no one at the 23 mile mark yet? What am I missing?

I doubt the internet service is that great at 10k feet for updates.

Yeah, the lack of oxygen slows things down on the internet by about 20%.

I actually heard a story on an NPR show that referenced the course when providing examples of how the National Parks needed to evolve with the times. It was not the RD on the show, it was some environmentalist professor or something.

Basically, the guy on the show was saying that people wanted to actually use the parks now, as opposed to just looking at them. I have no idea who the RD is or what he said, but maybe it was something to this effect.

I think that BW is kind of stupid, though. I mean, to me it is kind of like a tough mudder.

From The Mill.... wrote:

iwalkfar wrote:

3:40 since they started and no one at the 23 mile mark yet? What am I missing?

I doubt the internet service is that great at 10k feet for updates.

Well we are now 6 hours in with no splits, so I think referring to them as "live splits" is a little misleading.

pro colleges wrote:

I think that BW is kind of stupid, though. I mean, to me it is kind of like a tough mudder.

I agree. I watched a documentary on it and the people "competing" in it wouldn't place in their age group at the local road race.

People that doe these type of events want the attention because the race is all about suffering. Just cut to the chase and spend the day hitting yourself on the head with a hammer. The "winner" gets a prize.

pro colleges wrote:

I think that BW is kind of stupid, though. I mean, to me it is kind of like a tough mudder.

Lol. Last time I checked there were no obstacles (such as electric fence, swinging tires, etc) in a Bad Water race. The longer distance doesn't make up for the lack of PHYSICAL challenge.

aquafina wrote:

People that doe these type of events want the attention because the race is all about suffering. Just cut to the chase and spend the day hitting yourself on the head with a hammer. The "winner" gets a prize.

I agree, except that they don't want attention for suffering; the suffering itself is the primary motivator. Virtually no one but the winners get attention even from other runners in the world of ultras. It's one thing to have these long-ass footraces for people seeking a physical challenge, but these goofballs who go out of their way to both create and participate in outright dangerous nonsense like a 135-mile trek across the hottest desert in the country in July are after something else.

It's funny how runners get satisfaction by a belt buckle (ultras) or "participant" medals (5k Marathons). All that silverware is not going to outshine your SCRAWNY frame.