Badwater 2002 Press Release

Runners to Challenge 135 Miles from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney

For Immediate Release

Contact: Chris Kostman
AdventureCORPS
Website: www.badwater.com

Berkeley, CA - AdventureCORPS, an event production firm specializing in
ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, is hosting the Sun Precautions
Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley on July 23-25, 2002.

On July 23, 2002, 81 competitors from around the world will gather in
California’s Death Valley to run a blistering 135 miles through temperatures
approaching 130F°. The Badwater course covers three mountain ranges for a total
of 13,000’ of vertical ascent and 4,700’ of descent. It is the most demanding
and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet.

The 2002 race roster includes 16 women and 65 men, citizens of eight different
countries and 19 American states, 35 Badwater veterans and 46 rookies, die hard
ultrarunners of every speed and ability, plus athletes who have the necessary
ultrarunning credentials, but are also or primarily known for their exploits as
adventure racers, mountaineers, triathletes, or some other "out there" pursuit.
It's an amazingly diverse group, the biggest and deepest ever assembled to
compete on these hallowed roads. Click
http://www.badwaterultra.com/2002web/2002roster.html for the race roster.

Badwater, Death Valley marks the lowest elevation in the United States at 280’
below sea level. The race finishes at the Mt. Whitney Portal at nearly 8,300’.
The Portal is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in
the contiguous United States. Competitors travel through places or landmarks
with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil's Cornfield,
Devil's Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Keeler and Lone Pine.

Competitors have 60 hours to complete the course. It is expected that the winner
of the 2002 Sun Precautions Badwater Ultramarathon will finish in 26 to 30
hours. The average finishing time is approximately 48 hours.

The title sponsor of the 2000, 2001, and 2002 Badwater Ultramarathon is Sun
Precautions, the Everett, WA-based makers of Solumbra 30+ SPF sun protective
clothing, medically accepted sun protection for sun sensitive and sun sensible
people. Click http://www.sunprecautions.com for more info.

For the duration of the race, fans can follow the progress of the race through a
live webcast produced by AdventureCORPS and directed by Anurang Revri, Matt
Frederick, and Scott McQueeney at http://www.badwaterultra.com/2002webcast/.

Preparatory training clinics were hosted in May and July by ultra running
legends, long-time Badwater volunteers, and three time finishers, "Badwater
Mayor" Ben Jones, M.D. and "First Lady" Denise Jones.

Race sponsors include Sun Precautions, E-Caps, Hammer Nutrition, Brave Soldier,
Seasons Restaurant of Lone Pine, Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch Resort, Panamint
Springs Resort, Dow Villa of Lone Pine, the community of Lone Pine, CA,
Mediablend.com, MattFrederickDesign.com, and many other generous companies and
individuals.

##

Chris Kostman
Race Director
http://www.badwater.com
------------------------------------
Copyright 2002 Chris Kostman and AdventureCORPS. Copies of this internet 
posting may be made and distributed in whole without further permission. 
Please forward to a friend. Credit: This has been another edition of 
Virtual Badwater, the cyberspace voice of Badwater Ultramarathon,the 
world's premier ultra running event. For further information about the 
race, contact adventureCORPS 549 Vistamont Ct., #342 Berkeley, CA 
94708-1243, USA; www.badwaterultra.com and www.adventurecorps.com.
------------------------------------