Annual Badwater Ultra Marathon Held In Death Valley's Extreme Heat

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CA - JULY 16: The tallest U.S. peak outside of Alaska, 14,495-foot Mount Whitney, is seen in the far distance as Carlos Alberto Gomas De Sa from Portugal, a first-time competitor in the event, runs up Whitney Portal Road on his way to win the AdventurCORPS Badwater 135 ultra-marathon race on July 16, 2013 outside of Death Valley National Park, California. Billed as the toughest footrace in the world, the 36th annual Badwater 135 starts at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, 280 feet below sea level, where athletes begin a 135-mile non-stop run over three mountain ranges in extreme mid-summer desert heat to finish at 8,350 feet above sea level near Mount Whitney for a total cumulative vertical ascent of 13,000 feet. July 10 marked the 100-year anniversary of the all-time hottest world record temperature of 134 degrees, set in Death Valley where the average high in July is 116. A total of 96 competitors from 22 nations attempted the run which equals about five back-to-back marathons. Previous winners have completed all 135 miles in less than 24 hours. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)