Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2025 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

What motivates some people to run a 135-mile race from Death Valley to the Whitney Portal

The “Badwater 135” ultra-marathon begins Monday night at the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere -- Badwater Basin in Death Valley, some 280 feet below sea level. Then it’s 135 miles through tough terrain -- over two mountain ranges --- before the race ends about halfway up Mount Whitney, at 8,500 feet. It’ll also be about 110 degrees at 8 pm.

  • rss
  • Share
By Madeleine Brand • Jul 10, 2017 • 1 min read

The “Badwater 135” ultra-marathon begins Monday night at the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere -- Badwater Basin in Death Valley, some 280 feet below sea level. Then it’s 135 miles through tough terrain -- over two mountain ranges --- before the race ends about halfway up Mount Whitney, at 8,500 feet. It’ll also be about 110 degrees at 8 pm.

Photo by Gareth Mackay)

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Gina Pollack

    Producer

  • KCRW placeholder

    Sarah Sweeney

    Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Michell Eloy

    Line Editor, Press Play

  • KCRW placeholder

    Jimmy Dean Freeman

    running coach and two-time Badwater finisher

    News
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand