PODCAST: What It’s Like to Crew the World’s Hottest and Hardest Ultramarathon
In 2025, writer Devin Kelly traveled to the Mojave Desert to report on the Badwater 135, the iconic ultramarathon that starts in Death Valley and finishes at the trailhead for Mount Whitney. But rather than focus on the athletes, Kelly turned his attention to the men and women who work as support crew. Kelly decided to report his story from the inside—he joined the support team for a runner named Kaylee Frederick. Kelly spent 32 hours driving a van behind Frederick, handing her water and snacks, and jogging beside her as she ran across the brutal landscape. His feature story, What It Takes to Crew the Hardest Race on Earth, took readers behind the scenes of the race. His story is our latest Long Read on the Outside Podcast. The 2026 Badwater 135 started on Monday, July 27.
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