Two Las Vegas runners are embarking on a race that stretches from the sweltering heat of Death Valley National Park to the Mount Whitney trailhead.

Set for Monday through Wednesday, the Mount to Coast Badwater 135 Ultramarathon includes three mountain ranges for a cumulative ascent of 14,600 feet and must be completed within 45 hours.

Ninety-eight athletes representing 21 countries are set to participate. Among them are Las Vegas residents Edher Ruben Ramirez and Karla Kent, who are bringing different experiences to what’s known as the world’s toughest foot race.

Ramirez, a top finisher in several ultramarathons, is preparing for his first Badwater 135. Kent, meanwhile, is a veteran of the race who first completed it in 2012.

Both runners will face a grueling test of physical and mental endurance, battling blistering heat and steep climbs over 135 miles.

A new challenge

Ramirez, 41, started running long distance races seven years ago when a few of his friends jokingly decided to sign up for a half marathon. During that race, he learned about ultramarathons for the first time.

“At the beginning, I thought that’s not even possible or healthy, but I couldn’t get away from it,” he said. “It kept bothering me. So I kept looking at races and how to get there.”

He ran his first 50-mile race and then kept pushing the distance, trying to find his limit. He now maintains a merciless schedule of some of the sport’s most punishing races.

In May 2025, Ramirez ran the Cocodona 250, an ultramarathon in Arizona, finishing third overall. In September 2025, he ran The Mammoth, a 214-mile race through the Eastern Sierra, again finishing third. He ran a 100-mile race in February, before taking on the Cocodona 250 once again. After Badwater 135, he will travel to Italy in September for the 330-kilometer Tor des Géants.

Despite this success, Ramirez doesn’t consider himself a professional. He runs a locksmithing business with his family and proudly displays the moniker “The Key Guy” on his shirt and hat while he runs.

While he said that the reason he runs is ever-changing, he emphasized that mountain running “has to be more fun than serious.”

Still, Ramirez is competitive. While his training plan changes week to week, he makes sure to fit a three- or four-hour long run into his schedule. Sometimes, that means summiting Griffith Peak in Mount Charleston three times in a single day.

Throughout the race, he will have a crew of four people assisting him. His race nutrition is down to a science. He will aim to consume 100 to 120 grams of carbs every hour through gels, powders, fruit, salt tabs and boiled eggs.

On race day, he will try to stick with the best runners in the field.

“If I want to compete, which is my first goal, I want to try to stay close to the front runners up to mile 100,” he said. “Then, on the last 35, kind of go for it and see what I have left.”

A Badwater veteran

Kent, 63, has run the Badwater 135 every year it has been held since 2012. Among female runners, she holds the race’s record for most finishes and most consecutive finishes.

Like Ramirez, she learned about ultramarathoning while running a separate race: a marathon just outside Las Vegas. There, she saw runners competing in the 50-mile race.

“When I was signing up, I didn’t even realize there was an option like that,” she said. “And I thought, ‘Oh, this is crazy. Why would you do that?’ And, I have to try.”

After that, she became immersed in the ultramarathon world. In 2010, she crewed for another runner during the Badwater 135 and decided that she wanted to give the race a try. She completed the necessary requirements and was selected for the race two years later. Now, she said her goal is to run the race until she can no longer make the cutoff.

For Kent, running has become a “way of life.” She’s taken trips with her daughter to race in New Zealand and Jordan and has met people from all over the world. She said this complements her job. Kent has worked as a dealer at Bellagio since it opened in 1998.

“I like (my job) and I make a living, but it doesn’t really give you a lot of satisfaction. When you have a job that creates something or you’re a teacher, you’re a nurse, you’re helping people — I don’t really get that from my job,” she said. “This was just such a perfect balance to be in a community where you can resonate with people, help each other.”

To maintain her endurance, Kent said she signs up for a race every month or two. In January, she ran the Arrowhead 135 in Minnesota, pulling her gear in a sled. There, temperatures dropped to 20 degrees below zero.

To prepare for the Badwater 135, Kent will do a 30-mile training run in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area a few weeks before the race.

On race day, she listens to her body. Unlike some runners, she won’t have a big supply van. Instead, her crew will operate out of her Prius, handing her food and water when she needs it. She said Chex Mix is her favorite fuel during races.

“Our bodies are amazing,” Kent said. “You can condition yourself and adjust to a lot of things. It’s uncomfortable at the beginning, but if I only want to be comfortable, I wouldn’t be running ultras, right?”

Contact Sophie Baker at sbaker@reviewjournal.com.