Badwater Forum

Liam,

I too wish to make this board a success. I plan to post my log each week and we can all watch to see if I can get it togehter for BW. We have a lot to learn from each other.

When I trained for BW in 2003 I was suffering from plantar faciitus and ran nothing but sloooow trail miles. Most weekends my training partner, Randy, and I would go out on Saturday for a long run of 25 -40 miles (Some weeks this was all I could do.). I was unable to run the roads consistently as my feet hurt all the time and I found that the long trail runs didn't bother me as much as the roads. I arrived at the BW start line in trail shape rather than road shape, but still finished nonetheless.

This year, knock on wood, my feet are ok, I hope to do a lot of road running, but will probably still do most of my long runs on the trail.

Running BW is an attitude; everyone is out of his or her element. Death Valley is a spectacular place and since you are going slow, you get to experience it up close and personal. You have to embrace the environment and savior the moment.

The best advice that I can give, FWIW, is doing everything you can to wrap your head around the race… read race reports, watch the BW video (many times), read Kirk Johnson's book, talk to BW vets, and plan, plan and plan some more.

Enjoy the journey; BW is the experience of a lifetime.

I think that's really good advice. You HAVE to cultivate some degree of obsession over this thing if you're going to do it.
So my secret is out. I created the Badwater Forum for entirely selfish reasons--to further my own obsession!

Hello all,

I took a major step and applied for 2006 edition of Badwater. It is a big step but the one that I wanted to take eventually so I decided to do it sooner rather than later.

Truth is I am probably terribly unqualified to do this race so my chances of getting selected are very small, I think. Sure I meet qualifying standards by having done two 100s, some 50s and three Ironman races. But my times in all were nothing spectacular - solid mid-pack, that's it. I don't think I am interested in solo crossing at this point so if I don't get picked I'll wait till next year and so on.

In the meantime, I'm running in Houston marathon next weekend and then I will be headed for Rocky Raccoon. Austin marathon will be next and then Ironman Arizona in April. Looks like I'm going to be busy!

Glad to be a member of this board.

Good luck to all,
Dmitry.

Welcome to the forum Dmitry. Applying to BW is scary. I know some very good runners who won't even consider applying because the race scares them silly. I commend your courage hope that you will be accepted. Running BW is an awesome experience.

Like you I applied online last night and sent in the $$ today. If I get in it will be my second.

Let the obsession begin.

Bill

Welcome, Dmitry!
I took a look at your website--very interesting bio.
I won't venture a guess as to whether you will get into Badwater or not, but I wish you the best of luck. Also wishing you good luck in Houston next weekend. I'll be running that too, while I'm there visiting my brother.