DEATH VALLEY, Calif. -- There is much more to AdventureCORPS in Death Valley than an annual "ultramarathon."

Death Valley offers the backdrop for this world-famous special event production firm to coordinate and produce endurance events practically yearround.

Founded in 1984 by Chris Kostman, AdventureCORPS, Inc. describes itself as "an athlete-run firm producing and promoting ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, lifestyle and media."

Based in Oak Park, Calif., the firm produces countless events in the western states but has a special affinity for Death Valley, which it calls "Mother Nature's greatest sports arena."

On July 14, racers from all over the world competed in the AdventureCORPS Badwater Ultramarathon where contestants ran 135 miles through the summer inferno of Death Valley. The route began in Furnace Creek and ended at the Mt. Whitney Portal.

Furnace Creek 508 is another AdventureCORPS production slated for Oct. 4-6. A very famous event in the world of endurance athletes, cyclers will race 508 miles from Santa Clarita, Calif., across the Mojave Desert and Death Valley to end in Twenty-Nine Palms. This race is touted as the "toughest 48 hours in sports."

Carried on AdventureCORPS' own momentum, the Death Valley Cup recognizes athletes who finish both the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508 in the same year. Only 15 people have earned that recognition since 1996.

The Death Valley Cup also recognizes record holders of the combined race times.

In addition to races, AdventureCORPS holds a Death Valley CORPScamp.

The spring seven-day bicycle race camp is held Feb 21-29 and based at Furnace Creek. Daily routes vary and cover Death Valley from Shoshone to Scotty's Castle.

This camp builds on the same principals of athletics and lifestyle but is more focused on adventure sports as an avenue for personal rejuvenation and vacation.

Immediately after the camp, Feb. 28, 2009, Pahrump's backyard national park will serve as a raceway again for the Spring Death Valley Century and Double Century races. This race reveals Death Valley by moonlight, from Furnace Creek through Badwater to Shoshone and back again.

All of the AdventureCORPS events create their own society where adventure, recreation, technology, environmental and social responsibility converge.

At every event Kostman and AdventureCORPS advocate environmental awareness and responsible choices by race regulations.

Motor homes and RVs are banned and support vehicles may only reach 78 inches in width. The company promotes and practices recycling and minimizes waste. Goodie bags are now being given in 100 percent recycled tote bags and race T-shirts are printed on organic cotton.

AdventureCORPS is constantly working to maintain efforts and also to develop new strategies to make their events even more environmentally sustainable.

July saw the company's joining of 1% For The Planet, a program that disperses 1 percent of a member's total revenues to different environmental organizations.

Beginning with this year's Furnace Creek 508 in October, all participants will be issued "cool tags" which represent renewable wind energy credits to offset the energy spent driving to the race. AdventureCORPS hopes to equip every participant and volunteer from every race with equivalent tags in 2009.

For more information about AdventureCORPS, Inc. or upcoming events, look at www.adventurecorps.com