Badwater 135 - I’m in.

The dust has settled on the news I received on Sunday 8th February - I’ve been invited to race in Badwater 135.

Racing Badwater 135 has been a dream for many years. It has been the overarching goal that all other athletic pursuits have fed into. It has defined so much of what I do and who I am - and now, after all those steps, I have been invited.

For those who don’t know, it’s a 135-mile run (217km) starting in Death Valley, USA. From there you cross three mountain ranges with a cumulative 4,450m of climbing, finishing at the trailhead of Mount Whitney (where the road turns to track). Average summer temperatures in Death Valley frequently exceed 49°C. The race starts on July 27th. The superlatives are endless; the tagline says it all: “world’s toughest foot race.”

I’ve written at length before about why (here), and for brevity I’ll include a paragraph from my application below. I’ve also written about the application process (here). Now I want to reflect on the “now” - what on earth am I thinking, having been invited?

"Big goals burn like fires inside me. The more extreme the greater the appeal. Badwater 135 represents the pinnacle of physical and mental challenge and, as such, has framed my life for years: training, racing, diet, sobriety and focus. Badwater 135 is my ultimate goal."

Firstly, I’m surprised. With a record number of entrants this year, being accepted on my first application felt unlikely. I was prepared for that outcome, so when my name was read out I was shocked - excited, but shocked. There’s a fine balance between confidence and humility in ultras, especially this one. You can do everything right, but the desert can still overwhelm you, in the same way my application could be perfect and still not get in.

I also don’t like to shout about what I do - he says whilst writing on a website - but I’m not plastering it all over social media. If people want to know what I’m thinking and feeling, they can choose to. I’m not forcing it into anyone’s feed. I was worried that this wouldn't help my application in the current "followers" mentality.

Chris Kostman, the Race Director, opened the webinar announcing the invited runners by explaining the selection criteria. Interestingly, it’s all geared towards identifying those most likely to complete the race and those for whom Badwater is a core belief. They look for clarity of goal, demonstrable ability, pace requirements and many other specific markers. The result is around 65 rookies and 35 veterans.

The race is unique in many ways (aside from being a bit hot). One is that it is crewed - there are no aid stations. You must rely entirely on your crew for support and, without over-dramatising, for survival. I’ve thought long and hard over many training runs about who should make up that crew - who has the personality and traits to be a great crew member, but also the ability to pace in the race. There are not many people who fit that bill.

In due course, once everything is confirmed, you’ll get to know who they are. We will train together, plan together and, in turn, race together. I am sincerely grateful for their support - it’s a massive ask.

To date, my ultras have been uncrewed. The occasional visit or support, yes - but I’ve been solely responsible. That’s a burden in a race, but it also gives control. Here, I need to hand that over. I can see some of you smirking - yes, I can hand over control. My crew are the only way I can complete this race. It’s an exciting prospect to be back in a team - a really strong team.

So what happens now?

There is quite a lot to organise. Some obvious (flights and hotels), some more nuanced - kit decisions such as long sleeves for sun protection versus short sleeves to aid evaporation. There’s no signal in large parts of Death Valley, so radios, not phones. And the heat: how do you keep ice frozen in a crew car that can’t run its air conditioning because the engine will overheat? There is a lot of detail to work through.

Then there’s the slight matter of training. I don’t have access to a desert. I have a full-time job (or jobs) and a family. So how are we going to do this?

The first thing to remember is that it’s really more of the same. There’s no sudden, revolutionary approach. It’s consistency. That’s the point of the selection process: if you can prove yourself in other races, you are demonstrating consistency. There will be heat training. There will be more volume. There will be hill work. There will be more. But it will build on what is already there.

This is the world’s toughest foot race - but I didn’t start here. I’ve been aiming here for a long time. It’s been a long, steady(ish) journey. A little more each month. A little more each year. That’s how I’ve gone from a rower who couldn’t run to being invited to start Badwater 135.

So my message is this:

I am an ordinary guy attempting an extraordinary challenge. Maybe you can too. It doesn’t have to be the same - it shouldn’t be - but if there’s a small ember inside you, give it a little fuel every day. Just a little. Over time, it becomes a roaring fire.

And remember: you can, if you really want to.

Over the coming months I’ll share the journey. I’ll try to shine a light on the details and the unexpected. But above all, I’ll show what it takes, day in, day out. I hope that proves both interesting and inspiring.