Results: 2026
Max Jolliffe won the 2026 Badwater 135 in 20:53:41, the first sub-21-hour finish, and Carmen Maria Perez was the women's winner and second overall in 21:05:32, with 88 of 95 starters finishing.
| Category | Name | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Overall / Men | Max Jolliffe (USA) | 20:53:41 |
| Women | Carmen Maria Perez (Spain) | 21:05:32 |
88 of 95 starters finished.
AdventureCORPS lists these as official results and records 88 official finishers from 95 starters. The badwater.com course-record table had not been updated for the 2026 times when this was checked, so neither time is yet listed there as a ratified course record.
Source: AdventureCORPS — 2026 Badwater 135 official race results. Checked September 14, 2026.
Next edition: July 19, 2027. The 2027 edition runs July 19-21, 2027.
Event Overview
| Date | Jul 27-29, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, California, USA |
| Format | Fixed-Distance |
| Terrain | Desert |
| Region | North America |
| Distance / duration | 135 mi |
| State / area | California (CA) |
| Course model | Point-to-point |
| Elevation gain | 14,600 ft / 4,450 m ascent |
| Elevation loss | 6,100 ft / 1,859 m descent |
| Cutoff | 45-hour overall time limit, with intermediate cutoffs at miles 50.5, 72, 90, and 122. |
| Start | Wave starts at 20:00, 21:00, and 22:00 Pacific Time. |
| Field size | International invitational field of up to 100 endurance athletes. |
| Highlights | Iconic Race, Extreme Heat |
Course & Terrain
Point-to-point paved highway ultra from Badwater Basin in Death Valley to Whitney Portal.
Key course features to know before comparing this race:
- Badwater Basin start below sea level
- Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Darwin, and Lone Pine
- Whitney Portal finish at 8,360 ft
The course is paved but brutally exposed, with long highway climbs across three mountain ranges.
July in Death Valley means extreme heat, radiant pavement, and long stretches where cooling tactics can be race-defining.
Format & Support (as run)
| Qualification | Invitational race; athletes apply through the official process and must satisfy the organizer's qualifying standards. |
|---|---|
| Support model | The race is built around the runner, shoes, and support crew moving through remote highway sections. |
| Crew / pacers | Crew planning is central because access to supplies, ice, cooling, and transport shapes the entire race. |
Why This Race Matters
Badwater 135 is a useful reference point for runners comparing long fixed-distance ultras that still unfold over multiple days. Its format, terrain, and support model shape the kind of preparation required: not just fitness, but pacing discipline, nutrition planning, foot care, and the ability to make good decisions under fatigue.
Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):
- Men: Yoshihiko Ishikawa, 21:33:01, 2019
- Women: Ashley Paulson, 21:44:35, 2023
Best Fit
- Highly experienced ultrarunners with proven heat and road-ultra experience
- Athletes with a disciplined crew and cooling plan
- Runners seeking one of ultrarunning's most iconic fixed-distance challenges
Planning Notes
- Prepare for sleep decisions, weather swings, and aid-station discipline. The distance is only one part of a multi-day fixed-distance race.
- Heat, sun, and dry air require event-specific preparation. Test sun protection and cooling, drink in response to thirst, and remember that sodium cannot make overdrinking safe.
- The directory does not mark this as having simpler logistics. Confirm qualification, terrain, support, registration, medical, and withdrawal requirements before planning around it.
Event FAQs
What is the Badwater 135 time limit?
For 2026, Badwater lists a 45-hour overall time limit with several intermediate cutoffs.
Where does Badwater 135 start and finish?
It starts at Badwater Basin in Death Valley and finishes at Whitney Portal above Lone Pine, California.
Related Preparation
- Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
- Open the Fixed-Distance format guide
- Compare all race formats
- Use the timed-race pace calculator
- Plan checkpoint arrivals and cutoff buffers
- Build a crew and drop-bag plan
- Build a race-specific gear checklist
Verification & Sources
Verification scope: the listed edition's date, location, format, and available logistics were checked against the event-specific official sources below during the directory review dated September 14, 2026. Organizers can revise details after review.
- Official Badwater 135 page — https://www.badwater.com/event/badwater-135/
- Multiday Running event directory review scope: September 14, 2026.