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 out there. Let's get into the documentary set up and design.

Too many times there are really sweet ideas or subjects brought to the documentary platform only to have it pretty much ruined because of poor development skills. So here is arguably one of the hardest foot races in the world and the doc is one of the better I've seen. The folk music matches the Tennessee mountain vibe quite well. It is sprinkled throughout giving it a mock cheerful vibe juxtaposing the brutality the runners show on their faces and bodies. Runners stay up day and night with little to no sleep in order to make each loop under their 12 hour limit. The terrain is so hard that most competitors drop out before the third lap. Although that is still 36 hours and 60 miles. The documentary also shows each aspect of the race plainly and clearly.

The documentary bounces back and forth between the history and aesthetics of the race and real footage of the 2012 Barkley Marathon. The footage includes short chopped interviews between runners past and present as well as the creator of the race. Only forty runners are allowed into the race every year so the doc crew was able to catch every one of the dropouts. All 37 of them. Which is outstanding for this race because some years go by without any finishers and 2012 is the only three finisher year. The dedication and hardship that each runner faces is expertly captured. Viewers are motivated, disgusted, amazed, and shocked along the way. Sometimes all at the same time.

The documentary The Barkley Marathons depicts one of the hardest foot races in the world and does it justice. There is no sugar coating how hard this experience is but also how much it means to everyone who competes. Against themselves and the other competitors. There was never a wholehearted negative word said about the race among the runners there in 2012. People love what other people are passionate about and so to see the passion from the creator of the race as well as every racer gives a good name to the race. The documentary shows a passion of development and care in creation.

After watching The Barkley Marathons you'll probably want to get out and conquer a few miles. Maybe not run this race, but you'll definitely be motivated.