Lisa Bliss

About

Dr. Lisa Bliss is an American ultrarunner and physician from Spokane, Washington, whose two-decade relationship with the Badwater 135 spans nearly every role the race offers: crew member, Medical Director, competitor, and champion. She first crewed for the race in 2002, built and led Badwater's inaugural Medical Team in 2003, and made her competitive debut in 2004 with a 3rd-place women's finish in 37:41:48 before winning the women's title outright in 2007. In a feat distinct from the official race itself, she became the first woman and only the second person ever to cross from Badwater Basin to the summit of Mount Whitney — 146 miles and over 14,000 feet of ascent — entirely self-supported, in 89 hours and 38 minutes. Bliss took up running in her early twenties after quitting smoking and went on to lose more than 180 pounds through the sport; she now runs five to ten ultramarathons a year and was inducted into the Badwater Hall of Fame for her nine years of combined service as competitor, champion, and Medical Director.

Notable Wins

• — Badwater 135 Women's Champion 2007
• — Death Valley to Mt. Whitney self-supported crossing (1st woman
• — 2nd overall)
• — Badwater Hall of Fame

Race History