Robbins has completed some seriously tough trail-running feats. “I absolutely love the idea of being self-sufficient and alone for so long, and of lining up for something only a handful of people have ever managed to finish,” says Gary Robbins of Vancouver. Inevitably, ultrarunners seeking the most extreme challenges are drawn to Barkley. RELATED: Watch – “The Race That Eats Its Young” Its slogan is “The Race That Eats Its Young.” The entry fee is, depending on previous Barkley experience, either a used license plate, an unusual item of apparel item specified by Laz or a pack of cigarettes. Runners have to find books hidden along the course and tear out pages every lap. The race director, known as Laz, accepts entrants based on essays they write on why they want to do Barkley. After 20 years and about 1,000 participants, Barkley has seen 14 finishers.Īs much as its difficulty, Barkley is known for its quirks. This year’s course is said to have about 66,000 feet of vertical gain-almost exactly twice that of the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run, a race that’s synonymous with suffering in its own right. A five-loop, 100-mile race in Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park, Barkley pits runners against brambly bushwhacks and unrelenting hills. It’s as likely to be the latter as the former. The 2016 Barkley Marathons will begin this Saturday morning, April 2, and end either Monday evening or when the last runner drops, whichever comes first. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!

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