The Barkley Marathons
Graham Craycraft A week ago I was shown a documentary about the Barkley Marathon. A 100-130 mile foot race through the hills of Tennessee. This foot race is the brainchild of Gary Cantrell, a former and pioneer ultra runner. Inspired by the escape of James Earl Ray who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr., Ray made it 8 miles away from the prison in 2 and a half days. Cantrell scoffed by saying he could make it 100 in the time that Ray had. This race is designed to make runners think and act according to their situations. I say situations instead of surroundings because many aspects of the race are a mystery. How to apply, what the exact course is until a little before, and even when the race time is. The runners are only given an hour warning to race start. In the many years of this race less than two dozen people have been able to accomplish all five laps of this behemoth. They have 60 hours which is 12 hours per 20-26 mile lap. But these laps will break the toughest runners ou...