If accepted it would be my 5th attempt at finishing this grueling test of human spirit.

The Badwater Ultramarathon is a 135-mile non-stop footrace through the Death Valley July. Daytime temperatures exceed 130 degrees. It is the toughest race in the world according to National Geographic.

Many of you may know how meaningful Badwater has been for me and my crew during my previous four successful race finishes. In fact, we created an impactful learning DVD titled Frank McKinney's Life Lessons Learned While Chasing the White Line from Hell to Heaven that many of you have (http://frank-mckinney.com/lifelessons/).

Reportedly 2,000+ apply each year to participate in the race, and only 90 are invited to the start line. Gaining entry to Badwater must be similar to what one goes through in applying to go to Harvard, Yale or the moon. The application process is made up of questions that require quite a bit of thought, and must be answered in essay form. 

Today I received this from race headquarters:

Hello Badwater Ultramarathon applicant! Congratulations! You have been accepted to compete in the 2010 Badwater Ultramarathon, presented by AdventureCORPS, Inc. You are part of a select group who will participate in what is recognized across the globe as the world's toughest footrace.

I was happy and honored to receive such correspondence. I now know what I will do on my summer vacation!

This leads me to my question for you today... Are there experiences, pursuits, endeavors or dreams that elicit similar responses to what you will read below?

I encourage you to seek out these life experiences, for we feel most alive when experiencing extremes in our lives. Pursuing life through the dichotomies it presents, not by merely existing in the "comfort corridor." What are your life's Badwaters?

Here are some abbreviated answers to a few of the questions posed as part of the rigorous application process.

___________

Why do you want to compete in the Badwater Ultramarathon?

Anticipation. Elation. Love. Spirit. Fear. Joy. Family. Struggle. Conflict. Life.

To date, there is no other adventure that has allowed me and my crew to experience all that life offers in a two-day microcosm. The epic odyssey that is the Badwater experience is far more than a race, or even a competition. It has turned into a much anticipated pilgrimage to reunite with my soul, and with those friends made along the white line from hell to heaven.

I enjoy being a part of something so unique and special, an encounter that really begins today, the day I hit the "submit" button. All of the training, I'm part of "it", all of the sacrifice, I'm part of it, all the dreaming is made up of "it." I have never felt closer to Nilsa, my wife of 20 years, or the many members of my crew than I have while being tested in the two days fire, when all that matters is those that I love, and my relentless forward motion.

I have a saying that has appeared in more than one of the books I have written; ..."Exercise your risk threshold, your tolerance for risk, like a muscle. Eventually it will become stronger and able to withstand greater pressure." How appropriate when applied to the psychological and physical thriller that is Badwater.

We all have our own life's "Badwaters," significant challenges and opportunities that lay themselves on our hearts where we are offered the choice to pursue them, or not. Risk or stagnate? Persevere or retreat? Study/talk or do? See it to the end or DNF? The Badwater Ultramarathon has taught me how to accept and handle life's other Badwaters, and for that I will be forever in its debt.

Chris Kostman (race director) and the many volunteers should feel extremely gratified for allowing hundreds of us, many more sane than those who say we are crazy, to pursue the gifts offered up by the desert, and the 135 miles of test along its path. My heart covets Chris's countdown over his loudspeaker from 10 to 1, and the sound of the cheers echoing off the Badwater start line canyon walls!

P.S. My daughter Laura's 12th birthday is on July 13.

It would be a nice birthday present to finish on or close to that special day.

Will your participation in this event benefit any charity?

"Compassion Without action is a Waste of Emotion." This was our Caring House Project Foundation's mantra as we organized search, rescue and relief efforts in Haiti after the recent devastating earthquake. If you have the time, please take a moment to read and view video of my account of our first-hand experience on the ground just 48 hours after the quake struck on January 12, 2010: http://www.frank-mckinney.com/blog.asp?article=168 .

Our Caring House Project Foundation has been involved in Haiti since 2004. We built 11 villages, and provided shelter to over 5,000 desperately poor and homeless before the quake struck. We will be there long after, as search, rescue and relief gives way to rebuilding. 

Should I be invited to Badwater this year, we will once again be raising much needed funds for our ongoing efforts in Haiti.

___________

So, back to my original question: Are there experiences, pursuits, endeavors or dreams that elicit similar responses to what you just read? I encourage you to seek out these life experiences, for we feel most alive when experiencing extremes and the dichotomies found in life.

What are your life's Badwaters?

As I progress toward the start line over the next five months we will send you periodic updates along the "Road to Badwater." These insights will be designed to keep you motivated and inspired.

Therefore, I invite you to join me in committing to pursue just one of your life's Badwaters for the next five months. Here's how: Identify one small (or large) personal, professional or spiritual undertaking that you could quantify as one of your life's Badwaters. And then pursue it. It will help if you get our Life Lessons Learned DVD http://frank-mckinney.com/lifelessons/ to help you along the way.

Soon we will have crew t-shirts depicting a memorable design that we are going to make available to you for you to wear as you progress with me. If you just want to sit back and watch as we make our way to the finish line, you can do that too. Either way it will be fun to go through it together. 

Feel The Tap...

Frank