Competitors and International Media at Badwater Basin for the 10am Start.
Considered by many to be the most extreme running race in the world, the Badwater Ultramarathon covers 135 miles from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F. I had the honor of pacing and crewing for Granite Bay, CA ultra runner Greg Bomhoff at the 2011 edition of Badwater, and along the way, I snapped photos of Greg, the other runners and the dramatic desert and mountain landscape of the course. The below are a few of the photos I took when I wasn’t–and sometimes when I was–pacing Greg (I covered approximately 60 miles total pacing). The photos that include me were taken by fellow crew member Gina Anixter. For info on the great cause Greg Bomhoff was running for please visit GoTheDistanceRun.com.
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- Competitors and International Media at Badwater Basin for the 10 am Start
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- Looking north from Badwater Basin.
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- Pam Reed (yellow hat), Greg Bomhoff (center) and others at the start of the 2011 Badwater Ultramarathon.
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- Just minutes before the start of the 2011 Badwater Ultramarathon.
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- Badwater runners decked out in all white to protect them from the sun and 120 degree heat.
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- Zach Gingerich, Michael Wardian and Marco Farinazzo at the start of the 2011 Badwater Ultramarathon.
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- A few seconds before the start.
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- First steps in the 135 mile journey from Badwater to Whitney Portal.
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- Media takes their final snaps at the start as the runners head out into Death Valley.
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- The long road ahead.
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- Greg Bomhoff somewhere between Badwater and Furnace Creek.
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- Greg Bomhoff #43
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- The long road out of Badwater.
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- Michael Wardian making his way out of Badwater Basin early on in the race.
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- Michael Wardian early on.
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- Drive by look at Greg Bomhoff.
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- Greg Bomhoff
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- Michael Wardian with Ian Sharman handling pacing and hosing down duties.
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- Wind kicking up the sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells.
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- Greg Bomhoff near Stovepipe Wells.
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- Leaving his shadow behind as the sun begins to set out of Stovepipe Wells.
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- Greg Bomhoff
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- Greg Bomhoff's pacer Colin Cooley keeping him cool during the hottest part of the day.
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- Quarter the way up the climb from Stovepipe Wells to Townes Pass.
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- Greg Bomhoff and pacer Gina Anixter.
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- Greg Bomhoff using saline solution to keep his sinuses from drying out in the desert.
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- Greg Bomhoff
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- Keeping his head cool with ice.
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- Greg Bomhoff's sister keeping him cool.
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- Greg Bomhoff making his way up to 5,000 feet from sea level.
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- Along the road up to Townes Pass
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- Greg Bomhoff making his way up the tough 5,000' climb to Townes Pass
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- Nobumi Iwamoto #44 running up the road to Townes Pass.
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- The moon above the desert mountains.
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- About 5 miles from the top of Townes Pass with Death Valley below.
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- Greg Bomhoff and pacer Gina Anixter
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- Runner and pacer power hiking up to Townes Pass
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- Death Valley in the distance
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- Moon above the mountains.
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- Daniel Jensen, age 61, amputee, at the top of Townes Pass, a 5,000' climb from sea level, 59 miles into Badwater.
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- Michael Wardian making his way to the top of Townes Pass.
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- Defending champ Zach Gingerich and pacer.
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- As darkness falls, runners, pacers and crew must wear reflective vests and blinking lights.
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- The road to Keeler.
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- Iris Cooper-Imhof (aka "Swiss Miss Gone Bad") on the way to Lone Pine, the finish up in the mountains still far away.
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- Greg Bomhoff and Stacy Bomhoff a few miles from Lone Pine
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- The road and switchback leading up to Whitney Portal can be seen off in the distance.
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- The finish, less than 20 miles away. 20 long miles away.
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- Greg Bomhoff and pacer Colin Cooley on the last, and toughest, climb of Badwater.
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- Greg Bomhoff (right) and pacer Colin Cooley (left) making their way up the portal road.
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- Greg Bomhoff and pacer Colin Cooley
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- The final ascent ahead up to Whitney Portal
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- Jennifer Vogel and her pacer working their way up the portal road.
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- Greg Bomhoff with just 7 miles to go, beyond exhausted.
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- After staking out, Greg Bomhoff returns to mile 128 ready to conquer Badwater.
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- Greg Bomhoff doing his best Big Foot impression.
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- Greg Bomhoff looking up towards the finish, now less than 7 miles away.
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- Greg Bomhoff's crew takes in the view along the portal road while waiting for their runner.
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- The road where he came from below, the finish ahead.
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- Greg Bomhoff with just a few miles left before the finish at Whitney Portal
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- So close now.
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- The Badwater hardware.
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- Greg Bomhoff and his "Go The Distance" Team
Sweet pics. Congrats again to you and Greg.
How do you train for this?