Other races are set up for you to succeed.
June 8, 2015 6:53 AM Subscribe
All 40 runners failed to finish this year's Barkley Marathons. The Barkley Marathons is a race through Frozen Head State Park in Eastern Tennessee, partly inspired by James Earl Ray's successful escape but unsuccessful flight from prison: he made it 8 miles in 55 hours. The terrain is difficult.
Held annually since 1986, only 35 of those who figure out how to apply are accepted to race. They pay a $1.60 entrance fee. Only 14 people have ever finished. Competitors dine on nearly-raw chicken, find books like "A Time to Die," "Death by Misadventure," and "The Most Dangerous Game" at checkpoints, and have Taps played for them on a bugle when they succumb to the terrain. FAQ.
Despite an attempt to keep a low profile, it is the subject of articles by the NYTimes and Outside Magazine, an essay in Leslie Jamison's "The Empathy Exams", and a documentary. With its brutality, legend, and lore, it's probably the closest real-life thing to Achewood's The Great Outdoor Fight. [Previously]
Held annually since 1986, only 35 of those who figure out how to apply are accepted to race. They pay a $1.60 entrance fee. Only 14 people have ever finished. Competitors dine on nearly-raw chicken, find books like "A Time to Die," "Death by Misadventure," and "The Most Dangerous Game" at checkpoints, and have Taps played for them on a bugle when they succumb to the terrain. FAQ.
Despite an attempt to keep a low profile, it is the subject of articles by the NYTimes and Outside Magazine, an essay in Leslie Jamison's "The Empathy Exams", and a documentary. With its brutality, legend, and lore, it's probably the closest real-life thing to Achewood's The Great Outdoor Fight. [Previously]
You know, Gary, you could just leave the 'inspired by James Earl Ray' part unsaid.
posted by box at 7:10 AM on June 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 7:10 AM on June 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seems like when I was a kid I heard of one or two people I knew running a marathon. By my early twenties it was a pretty common goal for many runners. Now most of my friends seem to have done one, and anyone who's really serious about running is doing some kind of ultramarathon.
It's like that aside from a Terry Pratchett novel (which one I can't recall), where explorers struggle to climb an impossible mountain for hundreds of years. And a few years after someone finally manages it, grandmothers are taking a stroll up to the peak before Sunday dinner.
So I find myself really glad something like this exists. Something genuinely almost impossible. And I hope that people aren't doing it between yoga and brunch in twenty years.
posted by distorte at 7:20 AM on June 8, 2015 [9 favorites]
It's like that aside from a Terry Pratchett novel (which one I can't recall), where explorers struggle to climb an impossible mountain for hundreds of years. And a few years after someone finally manages it, grandmothers are taking a stroll up to the peak before Sunday dinner.
So I find myself really glad something like this exists. Something genuinely almost impossible. And I hope that people aren't doing it between yoga and brunch in twenty years.
posted by distorte at 7:20 AM on June 8, 2015 [9 favorites]
Oh, I didn't see the "sadism" tag.
My fondest memory of Gary was at a race he came out to attempt in Oklahoma. He knew he wouldn't get far, he's pretty hobbled, and was even then (10 years ago). So we started the race together, but I left him quickly, but saw him on an out and back section or two. He dropped out pretty quickly, but he was there in his car at the mid-point, and I took a minute to go over and shake his hand. He rolled down his window and out came clouds of cigarette smoke. It made me laugh. He's an iconoclast, a rich historian of distance running, and a good man.
It's funny to see all the press Barkley has gotten in the past few years. It has always been a special kind of race, but there was something about it being small and unknown that was also a compelling part of it. Because, ultimately, there was something more absurd to not finishing even a loop, let alone the fun run, when it was not reported in the Wall Street Journal.
posted by OmieWise at 7:27 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
My fondest memory of Gary was at a race he came out to attempt in Oklahoma. He knew he wouldn't get far, he's pretty hobbled, and was even then (10 years ago). So we started the race together, but I left him quickly, but saw him on an out and back section or two. He dropped out pretty quickly, but he was there in his car at the mid-point, and I took a minute to go over and shake his hand. He rolled down his window and out came clouds of cigarette smoke. It made me laugh. He's an iconoclast, a rich historian of distance running, and a good man.
It's funny to see all the press Barkley has gotten in the past few years. It has always been a special kind of race, but there was something about it being small and unknown that was also a compelling part of it. Because, ultimately, there was something more absurd to not finishing even a loop, let alone the fun run, when it was not reported in the Wall Street Journal.
posted by OmieWise at 7:27 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
You'd think in five minutes of footage the filmmakers could have talked to at least one of the women participating.
posted by colossal at 7:30 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by colossal at 7:30 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Despite an attempt to keep a low profile, it is the subject of articles by the NYTimes and Outside Magazine, an essay in Leslie Jamison's "The Empathy Exams", and a documentary
And now, a Metafilter FPP.
That shit is so over.
posted by chavenet at 7:36 AM on June 8, 2015
And now, a Metafilter FPP.
That shit is so over.
posted by chavenet at 7:36 AM on June 8, 2015
And now, a Metafilter FPP.
There have already been two previous MeFi posts about the Barkley Marathons.
One thing that makes the Barkley so special is that is easy to make a race where 0% of participants finish. And while difficult, one can imagine creating a race where only half of participants can finish. But to create a race where 1% are able finish -- so, so difficult but yet, just barely possible -- that takes a special kind of talent.
I run trail races in Central Pennsylvania, but nothing like the distance the Barkley requires. There is a local runner who runs many of our local trail races and who is one of the few Barkley finishers. I've never introduced myself, because I'm so intimidated -- can you imagine!? He's like a superhero!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:49 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
There have already been two previous MeFi posts about the Barkley Marathons.
One thing that makes the Barkley so special is that is easy to make a race where 0% of participants finish. And while difficult, one can imagine creating a race where only half of participants can finish. But to create a race where 1% are able finish -- so, so difficult but yet, just barely possible -- that takes a special kind of talent.
I run trail races in Central Pennsylvania, but nothing like the distance the Barkley requires. There is a local runner who runs many of our local trail races and who is one of the few Barkley finishers. I've never introduced myself, because I'm so intimidated -- can you imagine!? He's like a superhero!
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:49 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Part of the route involves breaking through Brushy Mountain State Prison through the drainage tunnel.
posted by anazgnos at 7:52 AM on June 8, 2015
posted by anazgnos at 7:52 AM on June 8, 2015
Oh, I didn't see the "sadism" tag.
I didn't want to describe it too much. A bit of reading about it describes it better than I could - but I do love both the physical brutality and whimsical psychological difficulties that the race and Gary construct for the participants.
As for making a(nother) FPP about it - I was initially a little bit conflicted about it. But if it's hard enough to even figure out how to apply to a race, I figure a bit of profile is unlikely to change the race.
posted by entropone at 7:58 AM on June 8, 2015
I didn't want to describe it too much. A bit of reading about it describes it better than I could - but I do love both the physical brutality and whimsical psychological difficulties that the race and Gary construct for the participants.
As for making a(nother) FPP about it - I was initially a little bit conflicted about it. But if it's hard enough to even figure out how to apply to a race, I figure a bit of profile is unlikely to change the race.
posted by entropone at 7:58 AM on June 8, 2015
Buncha hipsters up in this thread
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:02 AM on June 8, 2015
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:02 AM on June 8, 2015
I didn't know about this before, I'm glad I now do, and I hope that doesn't utterly ruin the fun for yall.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:05 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:05 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
I didn't know about this before, I'm glad I now do, and I hope that doesn't utterly ruin the fun for yall.
If that was directed to my comment, you might consider reading it more closely and seeing if your still have grounds for your pique.
posted by OmieWise at 8:16 AM on June 8, 2015
If that was directed to my comment, you might consider reading it more closely and seeing if your still have grounds for your pique.
posted by OmieWise at 8:16 AM on June 8, 2015
I was thinking more of "this shit is so over" tbh
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:21 AM on June 8, 2015
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:21 AM on June 8, 2015
One person in the thread posted something dumb, probably just trying to be funny. I don't think that means we're all a bunch of hipsters.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:25 AM on June 8, 2015
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:25 AM on June 8, 2015
...could it be that I, too, posted something dumb trying to be funny?
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:32 AM on June 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:32 AM on June 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
I grew up hiking in Frozen Head and I didn't know about this! So I'm glad that it got posted.
(There's a hilarious sign in the park that says something to the effect of, "The Civilian Conservation Corps first came here in 1933 and attempted to establish a camp and work in the park. They eventually abandoned the effort due to numerous mountain lions, ticks, rattlesnakes, flash floods, and escaped convicts." Frozen Head is great but I can't imagine trying to run it!)
posted by WidgetAlley at 9:03 AM on June 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
(There's a hilarious sign in the park that says something to the effect of, "The Civilian Conservation Corps first came here in 1933 and attempted to establish a camp and work in the park. They eventually abandoned the effort due to numerous mountain lions, ticks, rattlesnakes, flash floods, and escaped convicts." Frozen Head is great but I can't imagine trying to run it!)
posted by WidgetAlley at 9:03 AM on June 8, 2015 [3 favorites]
...could it be that I, too, posted something dumb trying to be funny?
Oh, okay.
Buncha comedians up in this thread.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:15 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Oh, okay.
Buncha comedians up in this thread.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:15 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Seems apropos that only 1% of attempted funny comments in this thread succeed.
posted by srboisvert at 9:33 AM on June 8, 2015 [13 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 9:33 AM on June 8, 2015 [13 favorites]
The Empathy Exams is an AMAZING book. I can't recommend it enough.
posted by lalochezia at 9:42 AM on June 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lalochezia at 9:42 AM on June 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
I know Jamil Coury pretty well... the dude who made it the furthest this year. His story is pretty crazy and totally worth a read. Also, for what it's worth, super nice and humble guy, but unbelievably tough.
posted by ph00dz at 1:56 PM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ph00dz at 1:56 PM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]
Damn, ph00dz, that story was intense. Thanks for posting. I was following on Twitter and was getting really worried when Jamil hadn't returned when expected... then two hours later... then four hours... then six hours...
When he finally strolled into camp, I was elated, though I've never met the guy.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:41 AM on June 9, 2015
When he finally strolled into camp, I was elated, though I've never met the guy.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:41 AM on June 9, 2015
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posted by OmieWise at 6:58 AM on June 8, 2015 [2 favorites]