The Barkley Marathons is arguably the most notorious and difficult ultramarathon in the world. Held each spring in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, it’s not just a race; it’s an enigmatic and brutal test of physical and mental endurance, navigation skills, and sheer willpower.
The race consists of five “loops,” each supposedly 20 miles, but in reality, the full course is closer to 130 miles with an astonishing 60,000 feet of elevation gain – equivalent to climbing Mount Everest twice.
There are no course markings. Runners are given a blank topographic map the day before the race and must use it to roughly a dozen books hidden along the route. To prove they completed a section, they must tear out a page corresponding to their bib number from each book. GPS devices and phones are strictly forbidden; only a map and compass are allowed.
The course cuts through dense, thorny forests, up incredibly steep climbs (nicknamed “Rat Jaw” and “Testicle Spectacle”), and sometimes through flooded aqueducts.
The race is shrouded in secrecy. The exact start date and time are closely guarded, only revealed an hour beforehand when race director Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell blows a conch shell. The race officially begins when he lights a cigarette. The application process is equally mysterious, often involving a creative essay and a $1.60 entry fee. First-time runners (“virgins”) must bring a specific item as part of their entry, like a license plate.
Since its inception in 1986, only 20 runners have ever successfully completed the full five loops within the 60-hour time limit (a total of 26 finishes).
The brutal course, unforgiving time limits, and the enigmatic figure of race director Lazarus Lake create a narrative ripe for cinematic exploration, which is why documentaries about the Barkeley are so popular, even among those who would never want to do a marathon, nevermind an ultramarathon or even… gulp! … the Barkley itself.
Here are the best Barkley documentaries out there so far.
The OG: Barkley 100
This roughly 20-minute film from 2014 was my introduction to the madness that is the Barkley Marathons. At the time, the Barkley was still a very much under-the-radar race with none of the fame it has today. It’s a glimpse into the way Barkley used to be: a gritty, diabolic race without the famous faces of ultrarunning elites who now flock to the event.
