Badwater Forum

Well Marcia, I for one think you have done one hell of a job with this site and your commitment to the solo runners has been above and beyond. I start my solo effort on july 4th and as usual am scared to death. I have had nothing but problems this year. injuries, unable to get any heat training here, today was the first day above 75 degrees. i am feeling a lot of pressure this year due to the distance and the charity I am running for. Please don't give up on the forum just yet, as it is a great place to speak with people who are not in the scot
jurek, marshall, lisa bliss league. sincerely terry abrams.

I don't pop in very frequently, but I like having the forum. It seems like it might be more important, rather than less, if people are going to scatter their runs across the summer.

I'll be sad if there's no Badwater Solo group energy by the time I'm finally ready to make the crossing. I know I'll still find individual people who get it, but I hope there's a sense of continuity and community, too. But we'll just have to see how it goes.

I'm not sure what's involved in operating the forum, so I can't advise you whether it's worth it to keep it up despite low traffic. Do what you need to do for you!

I'm with you, Holly and Terry.  This forum is invaluable and the time Marcia and John have spent setting up and maintaining it is greatly appreciated.

I'm sure there are people here who use it but don't post - not that there is anything wrong with that, as some people prefer to lurk benefiting from the posts of others - but it would be nice if there was more discussion. 

Participation has seemed to drop off, however, in the last year.  I'm sure it has much to do with the fact that some people complete a race and then have no more need for the forum.  However, as one of many with continuing interest (either as a crew member, pacer or runner), I find this forum crucial to my success.  I would not have been able to garner the knowledge base I now have had it not been for this forum because simply gathering facts isn't the same as talking with someone who's been there. 

I'm sure the solos will continue and there will be people who will be wondering how to put it all together when the time comes.  Being able to ask questions of each other here (and it doesn't matter if the person asking/answering is running the official race or a solo) helps everyone, even those who don't plan to run themselves but want to help someone running.

But despite the fact that I can research independently what I need to know to conduct a solo as we have any information at our fingertips via the internet, there is still a sense of community here that I would sorely miss if it didn't exist - a sense of community I can't get by surfing websites and reading medical/training books.

I will be posting two reports this year; one from crewing and one from running again, and I can't wait to read others' reports.  Just because we can't *start* on the course as a group again this year doesn't mean we aren't still a group.  :)

Happy Trails,

Connie Karras 

I'll be sad if there's no Badwater Solo group energy by the time I'm finally ready to make the crossing. I know I'll still find individual people who get it, but I hope there's a sense of continuity and community, too. But we'll just have to see how it goes.

I'm not sure what's involved in operating the forum, so I can't advise you whether it's worth it to keep it up despite low traffic. Do what you need to do for you!

Hi Marcia and everyone:

I sure have appreciated the forum since I found it.  It has helped me connect with legends Martin Ulrich, Ben Jones, and Scott Weber and it's been invaluable in providing critical info on "crossing" safely.

I've been surprised that there haven't been many posts.  Not sure what's up with that and I understand it may not make sense to keep the forum going.

But - please know your efforts to date and your assistance to yours truly has been very, very helpful!  Thank you Marcia and John!

Mike Sweeney
Planning unsupported (will resupply food and water along the way) crossing in September 08!  (slowest ever - outside the window and too slow for a buckle!)

Marcia,
Whatever you decide to do I would like to make sure and say thanks for your hard work.  I know it's been a help to me, and I hope I can return the favor sometime.

I will be participating as crew/pacer for the third time in the upcoming Badwater race.  Two weeks later I'm coming back for my own solo crossing.  I'll be starting on the morning of July 27th.  I'm hoping to see someone else out there, but if not, good luck this year to all of you intrepid soloists!

Jesse Doggett
Mesa, AZ

Marcia you and John have done a fantastic job at maintaining this forum and I really appreciate it. I have noticed that it has been a little lean on posts lately. I am not sure what the reason is. I am one of those people that checks in now and then and takes a peak at what others have posted. I am guilty of not posting or responding often enough..

I also don't know how much time and effort it takes to keep this site going but I would love to see it continue. I will be going for the 3rd year now to crew/pace at BW and hope to get drawn for the race next year. If I don't get drawn in the next couple years then I will attempt a solo myself. As we all know this is one of the only sites dedicated to BW Solo crossings and it would be ashame if it no longer existed.

whatever happens I want to thank you both again for all your work and dedication to the site and I look forward to meeting you both some day. Maybe at Javalina if you are doing it again this year. I plan on being there this year. 

I just found the forum and think it's great...just what I was looking for.  Thanks.  Jim

If you are looking for an honest answer from someone who used to come to this site regularly and from someone who did a solo last summer I would be glad to give you my honest opinion.  But I am sure when I do, there will be someone upset with my honesty, so I should probably not say anything.

Marcia.  Please check your email.

Hi Marcia

I'm a new member
Thanks for keeping this site going - I'm finding it has a wealth of useful information. Hoping to do this thing 2010 or 2011. I'm still in information gathering mode at the moment (any useful leads you can provide on other sources of good info would be much appreciated) Just finished arrowhead - I figure this will be a good way to warm up again.

cheers

doug

I am doing a solo on July 1st (my first) anyone else out there thinking about it?
runmikec

I will be heading out there again this summer, but most likely after the big race.  Friday, July 16 is the day we are shooting for right now. 

Hi

I am tentatively planning to squeeze in a solo just before the actual race - perhaps the 8th - but I'm flexible at the moment. Possibly may be joined by 1 or more friends from Brazil also wanting to go solo. Any other interest out there?

Based on others experiences is it problematic trying to do a solo effort too close to the race in terms of crowds, hotel bookings etc. Advice appreciated.

cheers

doug

Marcia,

The site is quite helpful, and I certainly appreciate the resource.  The people I have talked to about a solo crossing all seem to be aware of the site, and recommend reading and using it. 

Aloha,

Kamo

Doug.  As far as running before the race, (some will know better than I) I would not pick the week before the race.  Yes it will be much more difficult and probably more expensive to stay the week before.  Last year I ran the weekend after the race and everyone was cleared out of BW.  If you ran first week in July, you would probably be better off.  I am planning this year on starting on the Saturday morning after the race again.  The 17th.  But my dates are very flexible.  If there are a few runners who would like to seriously set a date....I could adjust. 

I have two crew members lined up and I am working on two more Will that be sufficient. Also have talked a fellow endurance athlete into doing the crossing with me hope to see some of you out there  July 1,2,3 update we have rooms booked and airline tickets bought Will be in Stovepipe Wells on June 30th :)