I’m Ben. JUST BEN.
THE ROWER, TURNED RUNNER.
A training diary for Badwater 135 — and a reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, especially when they bring others with them.
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THE APPLICATION to Badwater 135
This website has been something of a journal; an account of why I want to race the monster that is Badwater 135. I’ve shared insights into my training. I’ve talked about the races I’ve done – as both a means to prepare, and also as qualifiers. And now, the application is submitted. I will find out my fate in February. I will either race Badwater 135 in July, or I will apply again in 2027.
What Is Badwater 135?
IT Is the most demanding and extreme running race anywhere on the planet.
135 sun-blasted miles from the lowest point in North America to the slopes of Mt Whitney.
Badwater 135 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 45-hour cut-off.
Only 100 athletes are accepted each year.
I’m writing for two reasons.
First, Badwater 135 has an application process that’s as serious as the race — they’re looking for proven resilience, good judgement, and the kind of sportsmanship that makes everyone on the line safer and better. 
Second, this run is tied to Allegr Foundation. If I’m going to ask people to pay attention — or support — I owe them honesty: what training really looks like, what I get wrong, what I learn, and what keeps me coming back.
“I Don’t Do Social media, I believe in real community, real people, real conversations and above all real experiences. I’d rather run next to someone and hear their story, than scroll past a filtered version.”
— Ben Burch
I’m Not a celebrity OR an influencer
I’m aware the internet rewards volume. Big claims. Big personalities. Big budgets.
That isn’t me. I don’t love shouting about achievements. I want the achievement to do the shouting, and actually be the positive influence for others to 'follow' in a more much more authentic way than a digital one.
So this is quieter: consistency, lessons, and a lot of miles.
If anything here is inspiring, I hope it’s for the most useful reason:
it feels doable, IT FEELS POSSIBLE.
Not Everyone Gets In
Badwater 135 is extreme by every measure, the application, the race, the conditions.
The selection committee looks for a resume of brutal ultras, proven sportsmanship, and a genuine desire to test your limits.
I’ve been working towards this for years, this blog is me sharing every step of the application to show the grit beyond the miles.
Why I’m Doing It
Badwater 135 is personal limit-testing — but it’s also a megaphone for community.
It’ll be my most extreme challenge yet. The real win is using the spotlight to fund The Allegr Foundation and grow Walk+Talk: shared movement that helps people feel less alone, one local group at a time.
I don’t usually fundraise off the back of races. But when you’re running in 50°C heat, it feels right to ask for help turning suffering into social good.
“The word community is used a lot these days, for clarity “social media” is not a community, it is a market. I believe in the true power of our communities, our tribes, it’s a fundamental part of being human. ”
— Ben Burch
Here’s my journey
from diary entries, listening in to my coaching calls and every now and again a deeper dive into a race or topic.
Featured
“ANY Mask WE HAVE drops in the depths of an ultra, that’s real, that’s human, it’s not perfect, but it’s a place to visit and learn from. ”
— Ben Burch
The week started in that classic “train like normal, live like you’ve got three jobs” sort of way. A couple of nights away for work meant I was grabbing windows wherever I could.