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Badwater 135: A photo gallery of the world's toughest race

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Beginning in Death Valley, 280 feet below sea level, and finishing at 8,350-feet, the Badwater Ultramarathon -- the toughest footrace in the world -- takes runners 135 miles through some of the planet's most unforgiving terrain.

By Ryan Hudson
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  • Jay Smithberger (R) of Granville, Ohio ascends Whitney Portal Road toward the finish of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Oswaldo Lopez (C) of Madera, California and Carlos Alberto of Portugal (R) run wearing headlamp near Panamint Springs as night falls during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Oswaldo Lopez (near L) of Madera, California and Carlos Alberto of Portugal (near R) run wearing headlamp near Panamint Springs as night falls during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • A crew member squeezes wet sponges over Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Oswaldo Lopez (L, #1) of Madera, California and Carlos Alberto of Portugal (C, #61) run wearing headlamp near Panamint Springs as night falls during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Runners pass a heat danger warning sign during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Lisa Smith-Blatchen of Driggs, Idaho receives first aid foot maintenance during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Oswaldo Lopez of Madera, California, Carlos Alberto of Portugal and support crew members climb the grade toward Townes Pass during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • A runner passes the salt pans of Death Valley during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Dan Marinsik of San Jose, California makes his tenth running of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • The first wave of runners leaves Badwater Basin during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Double amputee Chris Moon of Great Britain runs in the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Carlos Alberto Gomas De Sa from Portugal, a first-time competitor in the event, reaches the finish line to win the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Linda Quirk of Jacksonville, Florida is bent over in back pain, a common condition among the athletes in the event after running 100 miles, as she makes the final ascent up Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Ben Gaetos (R) of Los Angeles, California, the first person of Philippines nationality to run the event, begins the final ascent, up Whitney Portal Road, to the finish of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Bill Thompson (2ed L) of Moon Township, Pennsylvania and a support crew member press a crosswalk button to cross the Highway 395 as he passes through the town of Lone Pine after having run more than 100 miles during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Dean Karnazes of Ross, California runs stiff with pain as he ascends the last few miles of Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Ray Sanchez (L) of Sacramento, California runs along highway 136 north of Lake Owens as he approaches the town of Lone Pine during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • hor Kim Law (L) of China ascends Whitney Portal Road to the finish of the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images
  • Iain Hughes (L) of Cincinnati, Ohio passes through heat waves on highway 136 north of Lake Owens as he approaches the town of Lone Pine during the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 Photo by David McNew/Getty Images

The 36th edition of the Badwater Ultramarathon was held last week, taking runners 135 miles through Death Valley and up-and-down three mountain ranges, and all in heat that is routinely over 110 degrees.

The race was won by Carlos Alberto Gomes De Sá, a 39-year-old from Portugal, who finished the toughest road race in the world in 24 hours, 38 minutes and 16 seconds. Catherine Todd (29:55:29) was the first female finisher.

Meredith Dolhare, the Timex Multisport Team member who spoke with Stride Nation days before the race, was the third-place women's finisher (and 20th overall), crossing the finish in line 32 hours and 52 minutes.

Ninety-six runners started the race, but only 81 made it to the finish.

This photo gallery, with pictures from Getty Images' David McNew, capture the heat, the vast loneliness of Death Valley, and the pain -- both physical and mental -- runners experience at Badwater 135.

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