Peloton Releases “135”, an original documentary following Susie Chan’s Badwater 135 UltraMarathon journey

Peloton today released “135”, an original thirty minute documentary following Peloton Tread Instructor, Susie Chan's journey training and competing in Badwater 135, the world's toughest footrace. To coincide with the launch of the documentary, Peloton has also released new scenic classes, including Peloton’s first ever audio guided scenic class filmed throughout the Badwater Basin and Death Valley. 

Badwater® is a 135-mile course described as the world's toughest foot race that combines distance, gruelling terrain and elevation. Held in California’s Death Valley in the sweltering July heat, and spanning three mountain ranges with a total of 4,450 meters of elevation gain between the start and finish, “135” explores what it takes to run the hardest footrace on earth through the eyes of Susie Chan, a fearless and accomplished ultra-marathon athlete. 

With the support of a skilled crew, the Peloton community and fellow Instructors, the documentary follows Susie’s training journey, featuring heat chambers and trail runs as well as her experience competing in the race, running endless miles through extreme desert conditions. The documentary also features a number of special guests including a selection of Peloton Instructors, Chris Kostman, Badwater 135’s Race Director, as well as Members of Susie’s Peloton community group ‘Susie’s Striders.’ Whilst Susie was taking part in Badwater 135, members of Susie’s Striders created an initiative to ensure that someone was ‘running with her’ in solidarity for the entire duration of the race, either on the Peloton Tread or outside. In total, 284 Members from across the world ran in support of Susie covering a distance of 1,510 miles.

Susie began running at the age of 35 when her brother convinced her to enter a half marathon. Since that moment, she became hooked and has competed in some of the world's toughest ultra-marathons including the 230K Jungle Ultra through the Amazon Rainforest, and the six-day Marathon des Sables, four-times. 

Commenting on her experience running the Badwater 135, Susie said: “For me, this race represented everything I had been racing and training for in my life. I considered it as the pinnacle of my running and being selected to toe the startline was the realisation of a 12 year long dream. The desert is both beautiful and harsh at the same time, much like my experience in Badwater 135. It was so special to have the Peloton community behind me, and be able to share it with them.”

To coincide with the launch of the documentary, Peloton Members can also experience the route of the Badwater 135 race via seven new scenic classes. Filmed in a number of breathtaking locations, Members can expect magnificent scenery whilst undertaking a 90-minute audio guided endurance run narrated by Susie, which is a simulation of the Badwater 135 course, hitting a selection of important race checkpoints and milestones. In addition, a number of time and distance based scenic classes will be released alongside a 30-minute audio guided run that takes Members through different locations in Death Valley, with Susie providing tips on how to start running outside.

Premiering on January 24, “135”  will be available on Peloton’s YouTube channel as well as in the Peloton Library (under Scenic Content). The documentary will also be featured as part of the launch of Peloton Originals debuting in the new Entertainment Portal, allowing All-Access Members the opportunity to stream the documentary with metrics right from their Bike, Bike+, Tread and Row. Additionally, Members who complete a Badwater 135 Audio Guided class or the documentary on the Peloton Tread will receive a custom Badwater 135 badge on their profile. 

For more details about Badwater 135, visit https://www.badwater.com