Starts July 19 thru 21

Doug, will you be handing out hamburgers to the finishers?

Media video: https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/death-...ds-116894789717

The last time I was at the finish of the Badwater 135 (Badwater to the current finish at the Mt Whitney TH) was 2016. The post race media interview (held immediately after the winner crossed the finish) occurred while winner Pete Kostelnick (21:56:32) munched on a massive pancake. Although Pete finished the race in course record time, he was defeated in his attempt to finish the pancake!

This year 2018 Badwater winner Michele Graglia intends to continue up the Mountain after he finishes. His goal is to break the current FKT from Badwater to the Summit of Mt Whitney (which was how the original Badwater 146 was contested). The current FKT of 33:32:45 seems quite attainable for him, as well as any others who can get a good Badwater 135 finishing time.

Ray Sanchez, an engineer I worked with for many years, will be going for his 13th Badwater finish. A boxer turned ultra runner, Ray is a gentleman and a fine colleague. But he is not afraid of a challenge and hard work. Go Ray!

Jim

Ah, I forgot about the pancake. You're probably right, the pancake is way more challenging.

I wonder how many pancakes Joey Chestnut can eat. Maybe Doug should have an annual pancake eating contest?

Thanks Jim for you post.

paul

Well Doug..... Did you stay up until the first runner finished?

paul

Harvey Lewis came in first about 1 AM ,we closed shortly after and opened about 7 ,runners all day and last runner about 7 pm tonight .

Several events during the Bayswater that would fill a book but two have brought tears to my eyes,Harvey came back up and stayed till the last runner finished and congratulated the runner.
The other I have mentioned before a older person walking down from the old trail looked very tired and had a distinctive walk. I ask if he was ok he replied just finished the JMT to honor his friends that didn't return from Vietnam.