Rhonda-Marie
April 2, 2016 11:07 AM Subscribe
Rhonda-Marie Avery is one of the 35 runners who started the Barkley 100 this morning, a 100 mile trail race (previously) that boasts a total climb to 62,680 ft., with no aid except for water at two points. Rhonda-Marie is also legally blind.
Achilles International is the organization with a mission to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream running events in order to promote personal achievement.
How the Blind Run Marathons
Achilles International is the organization with a mission to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream running events in order to promote personal achievement.
How the Blind Run Marathons
Recommending the documentary on the Barkley - netflix.
posted by parki at 11:22 AM on April 2, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by parki at 11:22 AM on April 2, 2016 [7 favorites]
I just saw that excellent documentary a few weekends ago. I can't imagine doing that ever, let alone blind.
posted by zutalors! at 11:59 AM on April 2, 2016
posted by zutalors! at 11:59 AM on April 2, 2016
So reading the first and last links made me wonder - does RMA not use the rope/tether method described in the Atlantic piece? The pictures of her following her guide by a couple paces make it seem like she doesn't.
This is unequivocally impressive - makes me rethink every excuse I've ever made to myself for not getting up off the couch to move my body.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:41 PM on April 2, 2016
This is unequivocally impressive - makes me rethink every excuse I've ever made to myself for not getting up off the couch to move my body.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:41 PM on April 2, 2016
Here's an interview with another blind trail runner that talks a bit about tetherig. In short, they say they prefer not to tether if they can use poles and guide their own way.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:50 PM on April 2, 2016
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:50 PM on April 2, 2016
boasts a total climb to 62,680 ft.
That can't be correct.
posted by krinklyfig at 1:21 PM on April 2, 2016
That can't be correct.
posted by krinklyfig at 1:21 PM on April 2, 2016
I'm assuming that refers to elevation, btw.
posted by krinklyfig at 1:23 PM on April 2, 2016
posted by krinklyfig at 1:23 PM on April 2, 2016
They say in the doc that if you complete (5 loops, not that simple little Fun Run ;-) you do the equivalent in height elevation of 2 Everests.
posted by parki at 1:24 PM on April 2, 2016
posted by parki at 1:24 PM on April 2, 2016
boasts a total climb to 62,680 ft.
That can't be correct.
It's like 12,000 feet climb each lap for 5 laps.
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:25 PM on April 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
That can't be correct.
It's like 12,000 feet climb each lap for 5 laps.
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:25 PM on April 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
OK, I guess that makes sense. The way it was phrased sounded to me like the elevation is over ten miles high.
posted by krinklyfig at 1:35 PM on April 2, 2016
posted by krinklyfig at 1:35 PM on April 2, 2016
Wow, I just watched the documentary last night; had no idea it was this weekend. What an amazing feat.
posted by TedW at 1:45 PM on April 2, 2016
posted by TedW at 1:45 PM on April 2, 2016
I am such a wuss.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:46 PM on April 2, 2016
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:46 PM on April 2, 2016
Decent book by Frozen Ed Furtaw on the Barkley Marathons-- Tales From Out There
Saw a girl at the gym w/ a Barkley Marathons shirt. I was goggling and finally asked her "did you really do it???? it's insane!" Took me a minute to realize it was the BERKELEY marathon. But now she knows there's something much crazier :)
posted by jcruelty at 1:50 PM on April 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
Saw a girl at the gym w/ a Barkley Marathons shirt. I was goggling and finally asked her "did you really do it???? it's insane!" Took me a minute to realize it was the BERKELEY marathon. But now she knows there's something much crazier :)
posted by jcruelty at 1:50 PM on April 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
OK, I guess that makes sense. The way it was phrased sounded to me like the elevation is over ten miles high.
It's standard phrasing. Climbing is much harder than descending, as a general rule, so you add up all the elevation gains. Since it's a loop race, you also descend 62,680 total feet, since you end up at the exact same elevation above sea level you start at.
They say in the doc that if you complete (5 loops, not that simple little Fun Run ;-) you do the equivalent in height elevation of 2 Everests.
Yeah, but despite the otherwise utter hell that is Barkley, at least you have air. Everest isn't that hard a climb, except for the fact that it's very cold and has 1/3rd the air pressure that sea level does, which means 1/3rd the oxygen. When you're above 8000m, mountain climbers refer to it as the death zone. Your body cannot acclimate to it before it kills you, so you are slowly dying up there.
At least at the Barkleys, the air itself isn't trying to kill you.
posted by eriko at 1:55 PM on April 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's standard phrasing. Climbing is much harder than descending, as a general rule, so you add up all the elevation gains. Since it's a loop race, you also descend 62,680 total feet, since you end up at the exact same elevation above sea level you start at.
They say in the doc that if you complete (5 loops, not that simple little Fun Run ;-) you do the equivalent in height elevation of 2 Everests.
Yeah, but despite the otherwise utter hell that is Barkley, at least you have air. Everest isn't that hard a climb, except for the fact that it's very cold and has 1/3rd the air pressure that sea level does, which means 1/3rd the oxygen. When you're above 8000m, mountain climbers refer to it as the death zone. Your body cannot acclimate to it before it kills you, so you are slowly dying up there.
At least at the Barkleys, the air itself isn't trying to kill you.
posted by eriko at 1:55 PM on April 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
The brambles are trying to kill you
posted by jcruelty at 1:58 PM on April 2, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by jcruelty at 1:58 PM on April 2, 2016 [6 favorites]
At least at the Barkleys, they don't leave the dead bodies lying around.
posted by parki at 2:09 PM on April 2, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by parki at 2:09 PM on April 2, 2016 [6 favorites]
I've been obsessed with the #BM100 Twitter feed all day. Not a whole lot since the conch sounded this morning, the cigarette was lit and the runners set out, but I keep waiting for any news at all (including news on who is actually attempting it, since that info is just as secret as the application process).
posted by Superplin at 2:40 PM on April 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Superplin at 2:40 PM on April 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
At least at the Barkleys, they don't leave the dead bodies lying around.
Are you sure about that? After watching the movie I had to wonder about people who get lost, especially at night. That may be why they keep everything so secret, in case they can't account for everyone at the conclusion.
posted by TedW at 3:13 PM on April 2, 2016
Are you sure about that? After watching the movie I had to wonder about people who get lost, especially at night. That may be why they keep everything so secret, in case they can't account for everyone at the conclusion.
posted by TedW at 3:13 PM on April 2, 2016
So do they remove your toenails for you before you start, or do you just peel them off along the way?
posted by blue_beetle at 4:09 PM on April 2, 2016
posted by blue_beetle at 4:09 PM on April 2, 2016
Ummm, not to denigrate Ms. Avery's very definite accomplishments, but 'legally blind' does NOT equal 'totally blind' --- the lady does have some sight, even if it's poor.
(My grandfather was legally blind his whole life: he was born with both cataracts and glaucoma. Other than not being able to drive, it really made no difference in his life --- he was, at various times, a Red Cross volunteer, a life guard, a security guard, a mechanic, and a skilled machinist, who took troops of Boy Scouts on weeklong hikes. Legally blind ain't blind.)
posted by easily confused at 4:51 PM on April 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
(My grandfather was legally blind his whole life: he was born with both cataracts and glaucoma. Other than not being able to drive, it really made no difference in his life --- he was, at various times, a Red Cross volunteer, a life guard, a security guard, a mechanic, and a skilled machinist, who took troops of Boy Scouts on weeklong hikes. Legally blind ain't blind.)
posted by easily confused at 4:51 PM on April 2, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've been obsessed with the #BM100 Twitter feed all day.
The Instagram feed also has trickle of updates: Good Luck Morons!
posted by effbot at 5:38 PM on April 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Instagram feed also has trickle of updates: Good Luck Morons!
posted by effbot at 5:38 PM on April 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
the lady does have some sight, even if it's poor.
Well, yeah, the linked "death to the left" article describes both how little you see when you don't have any cones, and how challenging these tracks are also for fully sighted people...
posted by effbot at 7:07 PM on April 2, 2016
Well, yeah, the linked "death to the left" article describes both how little you see when you don't have any cones, and how challenging these tracks are also for fully sighted people...
posted by effbot at 7:07 PM on April 2, 2016
(latest update is 15 men and 2 women (Eaton and Anderson) on loop 2, with 8 runners still on loop 1 and the rest in camp. Only 50 hours left or so...)
posted by effbot at 7:42 PM on April 2, 2016
posted by effbot at 7:42 PM on April 2, 2016
Looks like you might be able to see these without being logged into Facebook. Some photos from around the start. Great quality!
I am running* The Barkley Fall Classic in September and quietly shitting myself!
*running as in I've entered. Not anticipating a lot of actual running.
posted by maupuia at 12:29 AM on April 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I am running* The Barkley Fall Classic in September and quietly shitting myself!
*running as in I've entered. Not anticipating a lot of actual running.
posted by maupuia at 12:29 AM on April 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
FYI, the documentary on this race is now on Netflix streaming.
posted by Atreides at 6:12 AM on April 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Atreides at 6:12 AM on April 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
(24 hours in, the latest update is 3 runners on loop 3, 10 on loop 2, and 6 still on loop 1)
posted by effbot at 8:01 AM on April 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by effbot at 8:01 AM on April 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
And she is one of the runners still on loop 1.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:05 AM on April 3, 2016
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 8:05 AM on April 3, 2016
Avery & Griffith are back in camp: "@ramavery @run100miles #rescuesquad runner 81 is alive and safe @keithdunn @chaneceh #bm100" -- "Those are some bad ass mountains, mister.".
Scanning the tweets, it seems 2 runners have finished loop 3 and are now preparing for loop 4, 5 are on loop 3 (including Eaton), 1 on loop 2, and 3 (?) still on loop 1.
Also: Top 10 Activities to Pursue While Waiting for Barkley Updates.
posted by effbot at 3:32 PM on April 3, 2016
Scanning the tweets, it seems 2 runners have finished loop 3 and are now preparing for loop 4, 5 are on loop 3 (including Eaton), 1 on loop 2, and 3 (?) still on loop 1.
Also: Top 10 Activities to Pursue While Waiting for Barkley Updates.
posted by effbot at 3:32 PM on April 3, 2016
One finisher this year-- Jared Campbell. He's finished before I think. 'ardkore!
posted by jcruelty at 6:35 PM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by jcruelty at 6:35 PM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Jared is the first person to finish three times.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:26 PM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:26 PM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
A post-race interview with Rhonda, by the SisuGirls Canada podcast, covering among other things her adventures on the first loop, what additional challenges Barkley meant for her compared to other races, and what she's up to next (but no, she won't tell you how to get into the race).
posted by effbot at 12:50 PM on April 8, 2016
posted by effbot at 12:50 PM on April 8, 2016
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