Words by Andy Waterman
Photos: Courtesy of Badwater, AdventureCORPS
For 2025, Mount to Coast has been named as the presenting sponsor of the 38th annual Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, along with the AdventureCORPS’ Badwater Salton Sea, Badwater Cape Fear and the Cape Fear Marathon & Half.
What is the Badwater 135?
The Badwater 135 is widely considered the world's toughest foot race. It covers 135 miles from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA, starting at the lowest elevation in North America and ending at the trailhead to the highest point in the contiguous United States. In addition to the distance, athletes must deal with huge swings in temperature – Death Valley earned its name by being the hottest place on earth – to massive changes in elevation, from being below sea level at the start to finishing at 8,360ft (over 2,500m). It's a race that requires perfect planning, years of consistent training, and a whole lot of luck just to complete. But those who do reach the finish will have enough stories to last a lifetime.
As Chris Kostman, President of AdventureCORPS, puts it, "No running race on the planet tests both shoes and runners more than the Badwater 135."
It's a challenge that perfectly embodies Mount to Coast's mission: to help runners transcend boundaries and achieve their full potential.
Our Commitment
As part of our sponsorship, we'll be providing Badwater runners with the best possible support, including shoes for anyone entered into the 135. We know that having the right gear is essential for success in a race as long and arduous as Badwater, and we're confident that our shoes will help runners perform at their best.
"With our event in its 38th year, finally there are shoes not only worthy of the world’s toughest foot race, but they are truly game-changers, providing both comfort and performance in levels previously unknown," says Kostman. "Badwater runners, our staff, and I have not only found Mount to Coast shoes to be astonishingly comfortable and light-weight, but they actually help us run to our true potential.”
Doug Rosenberg, Mount to Coast’s U.S. Country Manager says, "The challenge of Badwater 135 – asking athletes to transcend physical, mental, and spiritual boundaries – captures the very essence of Mount to Coast’s mission."
We'll also be cheering on all the athletes, from the sidelines and from our social media channels. We're inspired by their dedication and determination, and we're honored to be a part of their journey.
Beyond Badwater
In addition to Badwater 135, we'll also be sponsoring three other AdventureCORPS races in 2025: Badwater Salton Sea, Badwater Cape Fear, and the Cape Fear Marathon & Half. We're excited to support the endurance running community and to help runners achieve their goals whatever they may be.
Sierra DeGroff's Journey
Mount to Coast athlete Sierra DeGroff has her sights set on Badwater 135. After an ambitious start to the 2024 race that eventually led to her finishing in 15th place, Sierra is more determined than ever to reach the podium. “One day I want to win that race,” she says. That race just means a lot to me being a desert person, living in Nevada.”
This year was DeGroff’s second run at the full Badwater 135 and after an ambitious start, she lost positions to finish 15th in 38 hours, 29 minutes. “I think what really cost me the race the last two years was my nutrition,” she says.
With a new coach and dietitian on her team, she's focused on dialing in her nutrition and training. “I’ve got my whole team on board,” she says. “We're gonna just break it down and we're gonna dial it in. I'm done messing around.” We're so proud of Sierra and can't wait to see what she accomplishes in the future.
Cole Crosby is another Mount to Coast athlete for whom Badwater is a fascination. "Badwater has literally been going on for longer than I have been alive (36 years) and truly continues to be one of the most iconic showcases of human endurance on the planet,” he says. “More people have summited Mount Everest than successfully run and completed Badwater 135!” For Cole, it remains a bucket list event, and one he hopes to race in 2026. “I plan on running Badwater Cape Fear in North Carolina, which is a qualifying event for the race,” he says. “A win gets me an auto entry for 2026 which would be awesome!” Coming off a string of FKTs and race wins, and a 150 mile win at the Across the Years race 24hr in January, don’t go betting against him.
Stay Tuned
We'll be sharing more updates about our Badwater sponsorship in the coming months. In the meantime, be sure to follow us on social media and check out our website for the latest news. And if you're thinking about running Badwater 135, we encourage you to go for it! It's an amazing experience that you'll never forget.