Wilmington Woman to run Badwater 135 for third time

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington woman is preparing to run one of the world’s toughest endurance races for the third time.

Emily Lyons will compete in the Badwater 135 Ultra Marathon. The race begins July 7 in Death Valley, California. Temperatures in the area often exceed 120 degrees. The course spans 135 miles.

Lyons said fewer people have completed the Badwater 135 than have climbed Mount Everest.

The race accepts only 100 participants each year. Athletes are selected from around the world.

Lyons began running in 2014 with the Wilmington Half Marathon. That race is 13.1 miles.

“Doing something that you thought was impossible like I thought 26 miles was impossible and now I am doing 135 for the third time,” Lyons said. “You find these boundaries and then you just can’t believe that you’ve pushed beyond them.”

Lyons will fly to California on July 2. She will start the race at 8 p.m. Pacific time on July 7. Runners have 48 hours to complete the course.

If she finishes, Lyons will become the first woman from North Carolina to complete the race three times.