Barkley Marathons...I couldn't read this story without laughing out loud the whole way through

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/sports/the-barkley-marathons-few-know-how-to-enter-fewer-finish.html?pagewanted=1&ref=sports

Thanks for posting this, Seth! It made for a good read this afternoon, during lunch. I had read an abbreviated report about this race in a trade magazine...RW? RT? This was cool!

Seth Harrison wrote:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/sports/the-barkley-marathons-few-know-how-to-enter-fewer-finish.html?pagewanted=1&ref=sports

Great write up about this race. I first heard about Barkley 2 years ago, and I still think it's insane. Having said that, I have a few friends that are thinking about attempting it in the next couple years.
The guys from The 3 Non Joggers podcast interviewed Gary Cantrell (race director) a few years ago about the race. It was hilarious.

A friend of mine has tried two or three times now. He made it past three loops a few years ago but couldn't finish the fourth loop. From his stories it's harder than we could ever imagine.

Ben Z wrote:A friend of mine has tried two or three times now. He made it past three loops a few years ago but couldn't finish the fourth loop. From his stories it's harder than we could ever imagine.

hats off to him - just for trying it! 3 loops is amazing.

I read about this a while back too. I keep asking myself "WHY?"

Sounds like two guys finished it this year. Making each the 13th and 14 men ever to finish.

I believe the first cut finished in just under 58 hours and the second guy just under 59 hours. There is a 60 hour cutoff.

Hopefully a woman will be able to finish it within the next few years.

I just keep thinking a phrase one of my old roommates would use "I'm not doing that; I like myself."

Ben Z wrote:Sounds like two guys finished it this year. Making each the 13th and 14 men ever to finish.

I believe the first cut finished in just under 58 hours and the second guy just under 59 hours. There is a 60 hour cutoff.

Hopefully a woman will be able to finish it within the next few years.

ME! yeah right

That's a great idea, Whitney! We'd all cheer you on!

Yeah this has been a race on my radar and has always interested me. To be honest before I think about doing this I would like to do Badwater and also try to complete the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning. Which is completing Western States, Vermont, Leadville and Wasatch Front 100 milers all in a single summer.

Wow, sounds like a tough race. I love a good challenge, but am not sure how far I would get in this race. It would be fun to see how far I could go, though.

Thanks for the read...

I'll likely apply for Western States next year Schuey if interested. Probably going to take a couple of years to get in through the lottery.

Ben Z wrote:I'll likely apply for Western States next year Schuey if interested. Probably going to take a couple of years to get in through the lottery.

You know that might not be a bad idea. Still debating if I want to make WS my first 100 miler. Hmm all the tough decisions I must make. I do know that I'm going to be doing a lot more ultras, there is just something that I found so darn attractive about running 50 miles or more!

Schuey wrote:
You know that might not be a bad idea. Still debating if I want to make WS my first 100 miler. Hmm all the tough decisions I must make. I do know that I'm going to be doing a lot more ultras, there is just something that I found so darn attractive about running 50 miles or more!

That just sounds silly...

Nick Morris wrote:

Schuey wrote:
You know that might not be a bad idea. Still debating if I want to make WS my first 100 miler. Hmm all the tough decisions I must make. I do know that I'm going to be doing a lot more ultras, there is just something that I found so darn attractive about running 50 miles or more!

That just sounds silly...

Agreed!

Schuey wrote:

Ben Z wrote:I'll likely apply for Western States next year Schuey if interested. Probably going to take a couple of years to get in through the lottery.

You know that might not be a bad idea. Still debating if I want to make WS my first 100 miler. Hmm all the tough decisions I must make. I do know that I'm going to be doing a lot more ultras, there is just something that I found so darn attractive about running 50 miles or more!

There is always Mohican or Buckeye Trail - and I'm here to crew.

Schuey wrote:

Ben Z wrote:I'll likely apply for Western States next year Schuey if interested. Probably going to take a couple of years to get in through the lottery.

You know that might not be a bad idea. Still debating if I want to make WS my first 100 miler. Hmm all the tough decisions I must make. I do know that I'm going to be doing a lot more ultras, there is just something that I found so darn attractive about running 50 miles or more!

I tried to make WS my first 100. I think I calculated that year that I had a 13% chance of getting in. Needless to say I didn't get in. Come run the Wasatch 100. It is a beautiful course. Though a little tougher. But not as tough as Hard Rock. Not that there is an easy 100 miler.

Ken Cushing wrote:

Schuey wrote:

Ben Z wrote:I'll likely apply for Western States next year Schuey if interested. Probably going to take a couple of years to get in through the lottery.

You know that might not be a bad idea. Still debating if I want to make WS my first 100 miler. Hmm all the tough decisions I must make. I do know that I'm going to be doing a lot more ultras, there is just something that I found so darn attractive about running 50 miles or more!

I tried to make WS my first 100. I think I calculated that year that I had a 13% chance of getting in. Needless to say I didn't get in. Come run the Wasatch 100. It is a beautiful course. Though a little tougher. But not as tough as Hard Rock. Not that there is an easy 100 miler.

That just not be a bad ides I was also thinking of Kettle Moraine possible as my first one.

Ken Cushing wrote:

Schuey wrote:

Ben Z wrote:I'll likely apply for Western States next year Schuey if interested. Probably going to take a couple of years to get in through the lottery.

You know that might not be a bad idea. Still debating if I want to make WS my first 100 miler. Hmm all the tough decisions I must make. I do know that I'm going to be doing a lot more ultras, there is just something that I found so darn attractive about running 50 miles or more!

I tried to make WS my first 100. I think I calculated that year that I had a 13% chance of getting in. Needless to say I didn't get in. Come run the Wasatch 100. It is a beautiful course. Though a little tougher. But not as tough as Hard Rock. Not that there is an easy 100 miler.

Yeah, I know the odds of getting in to WS first time are not good, but I gotta try. The trails up north are starting to feel like my home trails as I am spoiled and get to run on them at least once/week.

That's just too awesome for words. Thanks for posting.

Stan

Oh. Now that we are back to original topic...
Seth that is hilarious but only because it is so out there. I'm not sure what your frame of mind would have to be to consider such a thing. But maybe I'm just saying that because I know I would get lost. I have a hard enough time making it through a 100 mile race that has a trail more or less the entire way and is marked fairly well.

Hilarious! But what a way to prove you're alive. Hats off to anyone that attempts such a feat!

Schuey wrote:

Ken Cushing wrote:

Schuey wrote:

Ben Z wrote:I'll likely apply for Western States next year Schuey if interested. Probably going to take a couple of years to get in through the lottery.

You know that might not be a bad idea. Still debating if I want to make WS my first 100 miler. Hmm all the tough decisions I must make. I do know that I'm going to be doing a lot more ultras, there is just something that I found so darn attractive about running 50 miles or more!

I tried to make WS my first 100. I think I calculated that year that I had a 13% chance of getting in. Needless to say I didn't get in. Come run the Wasatch 100. It is a beautiful course. Though a little tougher. But not as tough as Hard Rock. Not that there is an easy 100 miler.

That just not be a bad ides I was also thinking of Kettle Moraine possible as my first one.

I ran the last 38 miles of Kettle Moraine with a friend who did it. It is a pretty good local race.