Age Is Just a Number: 80-Year-Old Conquers Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Ultramarathon

Inspire

By Edward Smith

Published 1 month ago on

July 15, 2025

Runner Bob Becker, at 80 years old, became the oldest person to finish the grueling 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon (Photo courtesy AdventureCORPS. Ron Jones/Badwater.com)

80-year-old Bob Becker becomes the oldest person to finish the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, which organizers call the 'toughest foot race' in the world.
Becker completed the race three other times. A failure to finish in time when he was 77 pushed him to do it once more.
The race takes runners from the lowest point in the U.S. to the base of the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.

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When runner Bob Becker, at 77 years old, attempted to complete the “world’s toughest foot race” out of Death Valley for the fourth time in his life, his time didn’t meet the 48-hour requirement. Footage from Outside Magazine in 2022 showed the Florida man bear crawling across the finish line.

Three years later, on July 9 and this time at 80 years old, Becker became the oldest person to complete the 135-mile ultramarathon that takes runners all the way from the hottest place on earth to the base of the tallest mountain in the 48 contiguous U.S. states.

Becker finished No. 86, crossing the finish line at 45 hours and six seconds. A total of 100 racers took part, with 93 completing the feat in time.

“I had a score to settle, buddy,” Becker told The Ageless Athlete shortly after completing the race. “I had to get it done.”

On July 9, 2025, Bob Becker completed the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon. (Photo courtesy AdventureCORPS)

Fourth Time Finishing the Race for Becker

The Badwater Marathon begins at the lowest point in North America — Death Valley’s Badwater Basin, where July heat scorches the land’s vast white salt flats. There, researchers recorded the world’s hottest temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit in August 2020.

On July 7, Death Valley had a high of 118 degrees, according to Accuweather.com.

After starting at -283 feet, runners cross 135 miles until they reach the base of the Mt. Whitney and its 8,371 feet of elevation. The 48-hour trek across the three mountain passes totals 14,600 feet in cumulative elevation gain and 6,100 feet of cumulative descent, according to AdventureCorps.

A map shows the 135-mile expanse runners have to cross the complete the Badwater Ultramarathon. (Image courtesy AdventureCORPS)

Despite the sweltering heat and grueling elevation gain, the invitational race boasts no fatalities, as runners have crews and support to ensure their safety.

For Becker, this was his fourth time completing the feat. According to Gearjunkie.com, Becker also finished the race in 2008, 2014, and 2015 — that final year, turning around and completing the race in reverse for a total of 270 miles. At 70 years old then, he also became the oldest person to pull off the “Badwater Double.”

“When you turn 80, think of other things to do, not this,” Becker said, also thanking his crew. “I’ll you what — to have this kind of a welcome, all along the course and at the pre-race meeting, it was pretty overwhelming.”