135 Miles of Heat. One Mission: Connection.
Ben’s path from the country lanes around Bristol to the furnace of Death Valley – powering The Allegr Foundation every step.
What Is Badwater 135?
The world’s toughest footrace – 135 sun-blasted miles from the lowest point in North America to the slopes of Mt Whitney.
Badwater starts at 86 m below sea level in Death Valley, California, where summer ground temps hit 70 °C. Runners climb 4 400 m, fight fierce winds, and finish after crossing three mountain passes – all within a 48-hour cut-off. Only 100 athletes are accepted each year.
Not Everyone Gets In
Badwater isn’t pay-to-play – your entry is earned.
The selection committee looks for a resume of brutal ultras (I’ve now completed multiple 100-mile races and two 200 km Nove Colli finishes), proven sportsmanship, and a crew plan that keeps runner and desert safe.
First-time applicants are often declined – I’m sharing every step of the application to show the grit beyond the miles.
Why I’m Doing It
Personal limit-testing, yes – but also a louder megaphone for community.
Running Badwater will be my most extreme challenge to date, yet the real win is using its spotlight to fund The Allegr Foundation. Walk+Talk groups already help hundreds beat loneliness through shared movement; Badwater can accelerate new hubs nationwide.
I rarely fundraise for races, but when the thermometer reads 50 °C, it feels right to ask for help turning suffering into social good.
Featured
Back in the lab with Fletch this week for a lactate and VO2 max check-in. Same protocol as always: 3 minutes on, quick ear lobe prick, then straight into the next 3 minutes, starting at 10 km/h and stepping up by 1 km/h each stage.