The Barkley Marathons

Gary Cantrell, aka Laz Lake, Created the Barkley Marathon In the 1980s, Inspired by James Earl Ray's Escape

Gary Cantrell, who is now in his seventies and also known as Laz or Lazarus Lake, is the creator of the Barkley Marathon. He has run a supposed total of 150,000 miles in his life, despite being a smoker and a Dr. Pepper drinker. His running career ceased due to leg damage from his extensive running. Yet, his endurance event passion began in his Boy Scout years in Tennessee, where he found joy in overcoming challenges and accomplishing difficult physical goals.

In 1966, Cantrell started running marathons in high school and soon graduated to ultramarathons, inspired by the Western States 100 in 1974. Limited from traveling far due to family and work commitments, Cantrell organized his own ultramarathon events in Tennessee. The inception of the Barkley Marathon came after hearing about James Earl Ray's escape from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Ray covered only eight miles in 54 hours, and Cantrell felt he could do 100 miles within that time frame. This challenge, coupled with Cantrell's intimate knowledge of the harsh local terrain, inspired him to devise the Barkley Marathon.

The first Barkley Marathon took place over April Fool's Day weekend in 1986. Cantrell developed a challenging course that required extensive orienteering and initially set it at 50 to 55 miles with a 24-hour cutoff. Thirteen participants competed, but no one finished the race that year.

Cantrell, an Avid Runner, Created a Race to Push Human Endurance Limits

Cantrell named the marathon after his friend, Barry Barkley, who had acted as a helper in his races. There was no profound reason for the choice of name; Cantrell simply liked how it sounded. His intrinsic drive to push human endurance limits is reflected in the design of the Barkley Marathon. Many years have seen no finishers at all, testament to its brutal challenge.

Race Shifts to 130-mile Format With 60-hour Cutoff at Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee

The race's format shifted to its current 100-mile structure, which often extends t ...

The Barkley Marathons is famously known as one of the most difficult ultra-endurance races in the world, presenting an insane level of difficulty that has gained the attention of elite athletes and ultra-marathoners globally.

Barkley Marathon's Total Elevation Gain Equals Climbing Mount Everest Twice: 60,000 Feet

Clark references a documentary titled "The Barkley Marathon: The Race That Eats Its Young," where even the most experienced trail runners acknowledge the sheer difficulty of the race.

Runners Face Frigid Temperatures, Treacherous Footing, and Relentless Ascents and Descents, Leaving Them Exhausted

The unforgiving terrain of the Barkley Marathons subjects participants to cruel weather extremes, from sweltering highs in the 80s to frigid lows of 10 degrees at night. Runners are often left with legs torn by briars, severe blisters, and the need for a long recuperation, underscoring the harshness of the race. Chuck Bryant emphasizes how participants, despite being some of the fastest, can take upwards of 12 to 13 hours just to complete the second loop.

High Attrition Rate due to Immense Demands; Most Fail First Loop

In fact, Bryant advises that those who wish to quit should do so near the start/finish line, as navigating back can be intimidatingly lengthy. He recalls an instance where a participant quit after a loop and took 10 hours just to return. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that the race is more than the advertised 100 miles – at the time of the documentary, it was noted to be 130 miles.

Barkley Marathon: Only ~20 Finishers Out of 1,000+ Participants

Elite Ultra-Marathoners Drawn To Challenging Race

The Barkley Marathons has seen just about 20 finishers out of over a thousand athletes that have taken on its grim paths. Clark spotlights the daunting nature of the terrain where even finishing the first loop can be an achievement due to the time constraints and labyrinthine course that once le ...

The Barkley Marathons, created by Gary Cantrell, maintain a sense of secrecy and challenge that begins with a unique application process and extends to the rugged and unaided race itself.

Barkley Marathon's Application Process Remains Opaque, With No Public Application Details

Josh Clark explains that there is no official documentation or website detailing how to apply for the Barkley Marathons. The application process is shrouded in mystery, with potential participants needing to unearth Cantrell's email to even request an application.

Find Cantrell's Email and Submit a Creative Essay With Unusual Prompts to Compete For Limited Race Spots

The application itself requires applicants to submit a creative essay in response to atypical prompts, one historic example being the discussion of the most important vegetable group. Specific instructions might demand submission at unconventional times, like exactly at midnight on Christmas Day, per Lazarus Lake’s time zone. First-time runners are also expected to bring a license plate from their home state or country, and another quirky gift item, like an article of clothing.

Cantrell's Secretive Persona Adds To the Event's Mystique

Gary Cantrell, known as Lazarus Lake, stands as a central figure in the enigma of the Barkley Marathons. His secretive persona adds to the event's allure, with an acceptance letter playfully warning the runner of the impending misery of participation in keeping with Cantrell’s impish humor.

Runners Must Navigate Without Gps and Prove Completion By Collecting Book Pages

Clark and Bryant highlight the race's reliance on traditional navigation skills, with no GPS aids allowed, and runners given only basic timekeeping tools. Since around 2012 or 2014, even altimeters are banned. Runners must manually copy their route from a master map prior to the race – mistakes in map reading or route transcribing are considered the runner's own problem.

Cantrell's Unique Race Approach With Bugle Taps Marks Runner Dropouts at ...