Emily Lyons | Wilmington woman runs ‘world’s toughest running race’, Badwater 135 Ultramarathon in Death Valley

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (WTVD) — A woman from Wilmington takes part in what is said to be the “toughest footrace in the world.”

The Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, which is an invitation-only event, requires runners to cover 216 kilometers across three mountain ranges in less than 48 hours. As the marathon takes place in one of the hottest places on earth – Death Valley – temperatures often exceed 49 degrees.

This won’t be Emily Lyons’ first rodeo; she completed the ultramarathon last year and is ready to try again.

She trains by strategically spending countless hours outdoors during the hottest times of the day.

“I would often run a few miles in my black hoodie and black sweatpants,” Lyons said. “My neighbors thought I was a little crazy.”

To ensure safety during the race, each participant is accompanied by a group of supporters in a van – in Lyon’s case, it’s her husband and some friends. They provide her with everything she needs, like water, food and ice.

The only thing she is missing due to the time limit of the race is time to rest.

“I don’t sleep much because I get ready as quickly as possible,” Lyons said. “But I sit down maybe every couple of hours for two to five minutes.”

She said the current record for most completions of the Badwater 135 ultramarathon by a North Carolina resident is five, so she’s committed to completing at least six races.