Barkley 100 - World's most difficult and bizarre sporting event?

[@CanIHasThisName]

This dude is an absolute machine. If you look at the other finishers or even near finishers, they look devastated, mentally and physically. This dude looks like he's returned from his routine morning run.

[@hatzikuN]

Yeah and he even says "Sorry I'm late" on his 4th lap xD

[@Ngiab]

he took the taxi route

[@michaelregan427]

Yeah you're right lol.

[@carlkligerman1981]

I agree that he is a machine. By the end though you only have to look at the baggage Jared is carrying about his eyes to see what he actually put himself through to finish the Barkley Marathons.

[@stefanciubuca2179]

Watching the perfect stride to the finish made me think he`s not human.

[@breatherepeat]

12:46 "I only regret you could not have suffered longer." LOVE IT!!!!!

[@felipericketts]

I loved the successful runners description of the moments when he collapsed, felt lost, and simply looked at the leaves on the trees and felt like he was alive, a moment of life distilled! Gave me goosebumps to hear that. I suppose that is what live is about: to feel life fully and completely. I think we all have an amazing gift in being alive. May we find ways to appreciate what we have. Thanks for sharing the experience! :-)

[@sen.skyburn7859]

I can’t even begin to fathom the amount of joy a person would feel after overcoming such an intensely daunting challenge. Props to everyone who ever attempted this race.

[@ginaschultz6647]

Jared, you are amazing! So humble and mentally and physically strong. Your statement about the obligation to finish since you were the only one left was powerful. I hope kids and teens get to see and hear your words. Laz, you must be the sweetest sadist ever! Lol

[@remotegod255]

that old man - first finisher - WHAT A FUCKING BEAST, gave me chillbumps just by speaking. awesome vid, thanks for sharing

[@sinlokemp]

Beautiful! I'm a graphic designer who works everyday in front of my computer but lately since last year been going out on the woods and trailing on weekends and it's the greatest experience to be away from technology and the hustle and bustle! This video is truly beautiful and everyone should go outdoors and enjoy the nature trails!!

[@adrians.7489]

Same - there's something special about being on the trails.

[@MrBenHaynes]

I got teary as the race started. The organiser is such a colourful character and the participants are certifiably crazy (in a good way). This event makes the 100km Ultra Trail Australia event look like a walk in the park (a very nice World Heritage listed park, at that) Bravissimo!

[@wsx11000]

i've seen this video several times and still gives me goosebumps. I'm really looking forward to someday in the next 10 years or so ( as im still too young, 19) have a chance to run it. My congratulations to anyone who gave it a try

[@hikmah1702]

hey, I'm also 20 years old. Are you coming to the BFC?

[@leonwalker3567]

wsx11000 don’t wait !!

[@moritzwieding3181]

DId you end up doing it already?

[@xzysyndrome]

The irony of a cigarette being lit to start a marathon most people cannot do.

[@arjanpetersen]

Josh total nonsense ... hardly any elite ultra runner smokes.

[@AC-wq7fo]

@@arjanpetersen As an ex-smoker, I can't believe the number of Ultra-cyclists I have met who smoke.

[@sharonmackechnie9505]

Really great little documentary. We use it with our sport event management students at the University of Edinburgh to get them to think about how events are conceptualised. A fantastic, mind-blowing event, gives us a super start to the course, thank you!

[@billygowhoop]

one thing that makes Barkley so interesting to me, is that other than the interloopal period what actually happens to the runners on the course and the layout of the course itself is pretty much only known to the runners and the organizers. like the only people who really know what went down out there are those people with numbers on their chests. it must be incredible to be a part of that group

[@alcoholya]

anyone who's ever done off trail trekking in the Southern Apps at least has an idea of what they're doing. It's just the longevity of it, and the lack of sleep, combined. And weather. Plus the added element of geo-caching, without GPS.

[@JK-vc7ie]

They ran in the woods. It’s not a mystery.

[@CanIHasThisName]

@@JK-vc7ieYou assume they did. But if they attended a rave party, you would never know and you can't really prove they didn't.

[@NHisways]

I enjoyed seeing these guys suffer while I sat back in my comfortable chair in my air conditioned house. Keep up the hard work guys.

[@pinklemonade6597]

Benjamin Foster a me here

[@StephanoJayP]

"a distilled existence", this is what I look for in running and ultra running, well said

[@MichaelNetwork]

+Stephen Phen You don't have to be running for it to happen. Quiet your mind and focus on your breathing and you will find the stillness. If you are running you can do it to.

[@StephanoJayP]

+Vintage Michael Thank you, Michael, I truly will be meditating

[@MichaelNetwork]

Stephen Phen Have to be honest I don't believe in mediating... I believe in being still. I've found that it feels as though I'm very close to God when I can still my mind and find a place which I call presence. I was never able to find it running as I'm not a runner but I can only imagine how wonderful it would be.

[@StephanoJayP]

Meditating...being still...people equate these two things many times as the same, and that's why I mentioned meditating. I just find that it's easy to be "still" through running, as you are brought more into the present moment, by all the components of running (breathing, moving). When you focus on the breath and relax when running, it seems best. Meditating is done with you mentioned, through focusing on breath, and letting your thoughts go (quieting the mind), which in turn, can be done at any moment of your life, running, walking, sitting, working on your computer, speaking with others. Meditating doesn't have to be attached to religion or any form of spirituality either. From what I've learned in my life, meditating is universal, and just what you mentioned, only focusing on breath, and quieting the mind.

[@bensosnowski1128]

So beautiful. The work done to make this story so concise and elegant, truly breathtaking

[@longone844]

15:45 “I did what I could, I’m not ashamed” Words that everyone in life should aspire to be able to say.

[@franciscogutierrez818]

But no one said that. why the quotation marks?

[@aurboda]

It's 13:51

[@aurboda]

@Gary Mulverine_ man f*ck you, this annoyed me so much bc i knew id heard tthat somewhere in the doc, i spent 5 mins finding it

[@longone844]

@@aurboda lol lol

[@alistersibley2155]

A brilliant documentary about an incredible race and its participants!

[@theedscape8002]

Jared is a lovely guy and a masterful athlete, but hats off to Brett Maune, twice winner here and the person who showed him the way round the course. If you watch the full movie of the 2012 race you will see the greatest performance ever where Brett destroyed the fastest time despite losing two hours searching for book 1 on the last last lap. Well done to everyone who has competed over the Barkley in the knowledge that they will almost certainly fail to finish.

[@SydneyCarton2085]

Brett also waited for Jared on loop 4 but maybe it helped push Brett on that last lap.

[@ehietpas07]

Simply amazing. Many props to anyone that even attempts this race. I'm trying hard to get into Trail Running and hopefully a 50 in the next few years. This is inspiring.

[@jamesfinch389]

Eugene you an ultra runner now?

[@michali9952]

Its been four years , how’s it going

[@Five7weezy]

Hey Eugene how's the running going? xD

[@amblincork]

@@michali9952 I was going post some encouragement to him until I saw your post...I guess he may not have got into trail running...

[@amblincork]

@@Five7weezy He is probably too busy doing mega ultras to have time to reply.....

[@michaelgrimes5588]

"A feat of finance"...a lot of wisdom in that statement...kudos brother...im sold!

[@Barazin]

Watching this while laying down on the couch contemplating if I should be bothered go for a short walk to the store.

[@documentary]

Once a year in late March, 40 athletes from around the world attempt the Barkley Marathons. It is considered one of the thoughest and most secretive ultramarathons in the world. Only 14 runners have finished in 30 years. This documentary attempts to tell the story of one of the world's most difficult and bizarre sporting events

[@JeffersonDinedAlone]

Why were the requirements required for participation not included in the video? I would like to know how the participants are determined to be accepted.

[@joewinch7548]

JeffersonDinedAlone Reading "Born to Run", hopping onto the latest fad of minimalist shoes, and whiling away one's evenings watching "reality" television do not qualify one to enter this event. This is no trivial "bucket list" event, but one reserved only for the few who have proven themselves worthy.

[@TheAAZSD]

JeffersonDinedAlone The best way to find out more about entering Barkley's can be done by approaching someone who has attempted it. Beyond that the Barkley's Fall Classic is open to all, hosted by the same race director, and covers ground in the same park(though not necessarily the actual course). Hopefully this was helpful.

[@ultrajayme]

Joe Winch amen!

[@maggie0285]

That's what I like about this sport. You are out in the fresh air for hours with other people and its spiritual too. I am incomplete if I don't run.

[@vearheart42]

Hours? You mean days correct? This isn't a nice early morning stroll that you do twice a week.

[@maggie0285]

vearheart42 True, I guess I mean going camping or something. Maybe a nice jog LOL

[@oliverruud2193]

These guys run for 60 hours, this isnt fun and lighthearted its as brutal as brutal can be

[@miketrask7559]

Great documentary! Watched it probably a dozen times now.

[@harrygrimley4352]

In the last couple years I have watched this a few times and it is always inspiring. Very well done. Thank you sir. I only wish I had heard of this when I was younger.

[@pepperroni2810]

Jared Campbell has finished the Barkley 3 times....

[@jeremyquiros5483]

He is an absolute monster.

[@Fireinthestubble]

Four now 😊

[@coemienergysolution]

I just started running last year and enjoy it. I thought running was a boring sport. But now it is a new world to me! So exciting!

[@remotegod255]

I just started running less than a year ago and it's one of the greatest things in my life now :) congrats see you out there!!

[@thekill1197]

Same here! It's incredible isn't it? Its interesting seeing how things change. When we see it under a different light, ya know?

[@matthewtelepneff2168]

I will never moan about doing an Half Marathon ever again.

[@eightbo]

In 2017, Gary Robbins made a wrong turn with 2 miles to go and returned 6 seconds over the 60 hour cutoff. Wow. I wonder how that guy felt. Probably classed it as a completion internally but would it go on to haunt him?

[@marienixon148]

Yep, I cried for him. He also went the wrong way though. There's a short clip of him doing this year's and he didn't finish it.

[@jeankenissan1528]

In case you haven't seen it there's a nice documentary about that on youtube called 'where dreams go to die'

[@marienixon148]

That's one of my favourite videos on KZbin. I often love to watch it if I can spare 90 minutes

[@jonathancazales1243]

I cried too. Especially when he was about to go out on the last loop and he had to cry.

[@jmsanderson]

The next barkley after that Laz had one of the books called 6 Seconds. Gary found it pretty funny from what I saw

[@xavierortiz1294]

Ed furthaw was the first to complete a "fun run" i believe which is 3 of the 5 laps. The first to finish the full Barkley was Mark Williams a runner from England

[@SaintSoapy]

+Xavier Ortiz The run itself has changed in length over time, but it's always been called the Barkley Marathon so it depends on whether you're willing to consider the previous ones valid. Further explanation: From Ed Furtaw (www.mattmahoney.net/barkley/bark-hst.txt) "I was the first official finisher of the *55-mile* Barkley Marathons, in 1988. The 60-mile course was first instituted last year, 1995, and I DNFed it. I believe that Barkley was called a 50-miler in its first year, 1986. However, no one finished that first year. The trail won, proclaimed Gary Cantrell (race creator/director) in UltraRunning. In 1987 the course was modified by the addition of another major hill ("Hell"), the nominal distance was adjusted upward to 55 miles, and again no one finished. That set the stage for 1988, where Tom Possert performed a world-class effort and crossed the finish line in just under 24 hours. Unfortunately, he had skipped a one-mile section of the course on two of the three loops, so he was disqualified. I subsequently plodded to a finish in 32+ hours, after having had several hours of sleep during the rainy night between the second and third loops. As punishment for the fact that Barkley was now proven to be finishable, in 1989 Gary made the 55-mile course more difficult by the addition of another major hill ("Rat Jaw") to each loop and the deletion of a comparable length of sissy trail. Also for 1989, he created the 100-mile race in addition to the 55-miler. No one finished either distance in 1989. The courses then stayed the same through 1994. In 1995, another major hill ("Worse Than Hell") was added to each loop, and the nominal distance was upped to 60 miles. Tom Possert won the 60-miler; thus he was the first to finish the 60-mile course. Mark Williams went on to become the first runner to ever seriously attempt to go beyond three loops, and he subsequently finished the 100-miler, thus destroying the myth which most of us actually believed, that no one could finish the 100. In my mind, the Barkley Marathons has a rich and colorful history, and is the most extreme example of a trail race in a sport of extremes. Unlike other ultras in which race management and volunteers do their best to help as many runners as possible finish, Barkley is intentionally set up to minimize the number of finishers, while still trying to keep it within the limits of possibility. Gary keeps making the course tougher when he thinks too many runners are finishing. I am still astounded to realize what Mark Williams accomplished last year. It will be truly remarkable if he can finish the 100 again. I'm not sure there are any Americans who are capable of finishing the 100. Possert is certainly one of the best at this type of thing, and I'm not sure he was capable of finishing the 100 last year. When he stopped after 60 miles and headed for home, he stated that he did not think anyone would finish the 100. I speculate that David Horton (record holder of the former 55-mile course, ~23:45) is one of the few Americans that I am aware of who has the ability to have even a reasonable chance to finish the 100. I hope he tries it this year."

[@xavierortiz1294]

+Saint Soapy (Tewq) Well, whats interesting is Ed is being deliberate on calling it the *55-mile Barkley* which i think strengthens the point that before the 100 were ran the general consensus among the runners was that the 100 miles were impossible so the "fun run" finishers were *barkley* finishers as far as they were concerned. In the Documentary" The Barkley Marathons: The race that eats it's young" Gary states the first finisher of the Barkley was Williams and never really credited the 55-60 mile finishers as *Full Barkley* finishers. I in no way wish to discredit Ed or any past runners but if the creator and director of the race didn't count that as a complete Barkley i have to take his word for it, given nothing really is written in stone for this event.

[@jimcoyle7262]

@@xavierortiz1294 I would say yes and no ... in this sense ... things change over time obviously. The people maybe have been told they finished the barkley in the 1990's etc ... then the race director changes the distance and sort of forgets those people that went before at the very beginning. This is a very common phenomenon that value of someones achieve often degrades as time moves on. Think of records in basket ball, long jump, tennis, weight lifting, sprinting, and the list goes on. In all these sports there are many reasons why past records are broken - in sprinting, tennis, and weight lifting there has been tremendous equipment improvements that have helped. Yet most of the time that is never mentioned when a record is broken - even a record that stood for say 20 plus years!

[@shreyaskalaskar]

it detaches your present moment from your soul

[@stangiles2001]

4000 have climbed Everest, 438 have died. Barkley 15, 1200 attempts, 0 deaths. There is no death or glory, as there is no glory parade or photo ops. Amazing people

[@lionatticus9743]

I cry watching these - feeling the mental, physical, and even spiritual struggles of these people trying something that they’re so likely to fail. Amazing.

[@brendanredler3666]

Man. That guy at 12:50. He is crushed. But also, if that was in sequence, it looks like he also got less than one loop.

[@TheTurdFerguson]

+Brendan Redler I've have been broken by ultra running before and seeing that guy THAT broken was borderline difficult to watch

[@orirune3079]

+Brendan Redler I know, that was heartbreaking to see. He looked like he was about to break down.

[@DnBarPoet77]

You can see it really crushed him when Laz asked "well why in the world did you stop?" I felt for him!

[@jimcoyle7262]

Notice all the compassion he got from those not running as well !! Not what I thought was portrayed in the intro!

[@itypethetruthnobshere8975]

That guy is an example of who and what not to be in life

[@jordanwillis243]

Its so crazy that this happens in petros, tn. My grandparents (and most of my family) live in morgan county and I have hiked and camped frozen head park countless times. Incredible place. I couldnt imagine running 100 miles there. Also, for anyone reading this in 2020, that prison is now open for tours and its really breathtaking to walk through it. A close family friend is over the tours and its just an awesome. The moonshine isnt too bad either.

[@kellymrottenbucher7777]

Insanely awesome. Badwater was always on my top shelf...I now have a new item to place there...amazing. Reminder that setting limits or making excuses for far less feats is just plain silly. LOVE THIS

[@PaDutchRunner]

So much different from Badwater. Just completely different.

[@TheTurdFerguson]

Am I the only one watching this thinking that David Goggins would be an awesome participant at this race?

[@christiansearcy5963]

+TheTurdFerguson1 Just heard about this event today. I searched to see if David had been one of the finishers :D

[@remotegod255]

lol I thought the same

[@Burnthesof]

Goggins would absolutely be in his element here. Also his book is comming out on december 4th

[@Ignore14]

Yes, you're the only one and nobody has ever thought that befoe

[@jonasandersson1121]

Maybe as the yearly sacrifice. Plenty seal babies tried allready.

[@stangiles2001]

12 people have walked on the moon , 15 have finished the Barkley.

[@CasperUK31]

And one cost $152 billion in today's dollars, the other costs $6, a pair of socks, a license plate and a pack of smokes

[@aurboda]

@@CasperUK31 yeah lmfao and what about all the nutrition, the gear, the training

[@TheDreamClaw]

Love this....Its really fascinating what people will put themselves through.

[@randyholloway920]

This was published inRunner’s World in the early 1990s, So the running community certainly has known about it for decades. You can go there any time and hike the park to familiarize yourself with the area. You may not know the exact course from year to year, but you could practice the majority of it.

[@Mattantil78911]

holy crap. is that champion arm wrestler Travis Bagent in the background at 5:27?

[@MFFNde]

Yeah!

[@hargilad]

Jared is a beast, Feels good that such humans exist...

[@mikkmurrayconnect]

Awesome! Great video, first I've heard of the run. Really interesting and inspiring! Thumbs up!

[@EverythingWright]

Great job putting this together. Perfecto!

[@JavierISampedroTNF]

Brutal race and yet inspiring. Great video

[@Thrilla4romManila]

I read that Mark Williams from the U.K. was the first finisher of the Barkley Marathons. Not Ed Furtaw.

[@brettbessler5680]

jared campbell did not even look tired at the end

[@derfer007]

Ed is going to live forever. 16 time Barkley veteran. The man’s a beast!

[@davidsuwal]

I LOVE the soundtrack by Keith Shacklett. Any chance it'll be released on its own?

[@CsabaTothMr]

Ditto

[@BeeGeeHikes]

Scary, fascinating, and so inspiring!!

[@williamdowling7718]

Damn this kind of documentary.. Damn it to hell. Making me feel like I could do a whole lot more than I actually can do...

[@detectivejonesw]

You can do...

[@SIkRiILLeX]

You feel that way because thats the way it is :)

[@truthhurts1785]

That was a really good video very inspiring and even though I have ran a few marathons I don't know if I would be up for this at 56 years old but then again I will never know unless I try huh

[@Tjakelol106]

Only Forrest Gump can do this......

[@paulstupple6855]

I first heard of this race about a year ago and just thought it was mental. Now, having watched the video, I still think it's mental, but also quite awesome!

[@truthhurts1785]

Mental strength and physical capability, two of the things that truly Define Who We Are and unfortunately there are a lot of people out there that have practically zero of both and that is very sad because the ticket is only good for one ride and if you lack these two things your ride is going to really suck

[@gigiis526]

A finisher! Great video. Thanks :)

[@chriscoop6852]

Jared is a machine! Kudos to all the runners as well.

[@tubesockets120v]

I'd like to give this a crack. Can I volunteer as the sacrificial lamb? I have a '57 Chevrolet Belair license plate to barter.

[@ronniekotler9265]

There is no words!

[@nates386]

Why wasn't this video recommended to me after i finished the Appalachian trail?

[@RMJ1984]

21:14 dude looks like Hugh Jackman :) he sure is tough enough to be wolverine.

[@Suckyea]

wow,what an amazing race. such down to earth people.

[@imdoc7872]

Wow. This was amazing. I would love to run Badwater first, then I’ll consider this one. I need to get my navigation skills up to par.

[@everythingviral972]

I'm surprised that there aren't a lot of special forces guys doing this event. They know better than most what it is to push their limits, and they also would be great at land navigation.

[@Tarmac2021]

Special forces on the ECO-CHALLENGE were not that good even if they have a good resilience...

[@amblincork]

That also occurred to me - seems like it an ideal for them. There is a Army Ranger doing Spartan and is usually in the top three.

[@ChristopherMoye]

Oof, for the guy that only made it an hour. He looked like he was about to cry

[@markbayer5372]

A very nice job on the film of this event. I'm not a runner but I'd love to meet this Laz guy some day. It kind of blows me away that he actually appears to smoke the cigarette after lighting it.

[@InvestorAcademyPodca]

Amazing story, thanks for making it.

[@ECsponger2]

Man, ya'll are gaddang crazy. I want in.

[@oliverallen5324]

"What's in there?" -"Only what you take with you."

[@a.davidcruz5353]

Thank you so much!!!! truly outstanding

[@SksToTheMini14]

16:29 David Gogins Motivational talks on repeat

[@liamleese-taylor8798]

I dream of competing in a challenge like this one day

[@frankblangeard8865]

He remembers looking up into the trees and sort of seeing the leaves move 19:16. Yes, but there were no leaves in the trees at that time of year. .

[@wannabehick5221]

Dude was tripping at that point

[@J19Pritch]

Ok, that was amazing! What an event, and much respect to the guy who finished that.

[@daddysgal4505]

Xx v

[@NathanHassall]

this is getting me stocked to get another bowl of cereal but i think I'll keep sitting for awhile.

[@ChristopherMorrow]

Published 5 years ago... no one fixed 'thoughest' in the description?

[@sen.skyburn7859]

😂 Good eye, I hadn’t even noticed it.

[@marklewis4793]

it's a word specific to this secret, public excercise,

[@willpower89]

Would love to know more about their stretching routines. I'm 30 and have chronic knee issues due to tight muscles and therefore tendons. If any of you can point me in a helpful direction then please message me

[@diogomorgado4844]

What is the name of the song in minute 1:12 ?

[@dogtato]

so basically it's the ninja warrior of ultra marathons

[@anastarmouti1893]

guys pls the music at the beginning of the documentary pls

[@shanewilcock3943]

Fantastic video 👏👏👏👏

[@gupitube]

This intro is super cool

[@kevinherd3437]

Pagosa Springs is a stunning town.

[@bsutton530]

Pair this with the doc by Annika Iltis about the 2011 race (currently in Netflix).

[@tonybobay6276]

Colorado proud!

[@JWB86]

How come in the official Barkley documentary, Lazarus says the first ever finisher was from England 🤷‍♂️

[@a_perfect_human_being]

First finisher of the 100 was from England, Mark Williams. Frozen Ed (first finisher of Barkley way back when it was a “50-miler”) wrote in his book that at the time, Gary touted the 100 as a half-joke. No one thought it was possible. Not many people tried or covered significant ground into loop 4. Being from overseas and disconnected from stateside ultra culture, Mark apparently wasn’t very familiar with the Barkley lore, so he legitimately thought it was a 5-loop race.

[@Sebastian-oo7xi]

I just enjoy this so much! really had to laugh a couple of times hahaha, it is just so motivational :D

[@fredg8564]

Is the route different every year?

[@thinkoholic9441]

What backpack did the winner use?

[@HydeMyJekyll]

I would totally try this. Completing it may be out of reach, but I think I could do pretty good comparatively speaking.

[@MFFNde]

Then just try it man! Good luck!

[@amblincork]

Nice to see the organizer say " I count 13 pages" at the end without actually counting them !!!! Would be a heart breaker if there hadnt been 13 ...guess he has a heart after all !!

[@headphonic8]

amblincork he ALWAYS counts. That’s why there’s a cut. The guy isn’t lenient about the rules. It’s a hard race for good reason, and he has to keep the integrity of it for the sake of all the runners participating

[@atomsk1972]

Freezing nights and warm days - that alone is enough to break you.

[@CasperUK31]

Lazarus, the organiser, has got to be the dad of Adam from Mythbusters

[@randyholloway920]

Now with these videos and social media, the basic course is really no longer so secret.

[@LadyoAbigail]

Thank you!

[@tongmaa]

Inspiring and an open challenge to Olympic athletes to test themselves. I wonder where all the Seals are hiding out; avoiding the competition? :)

[@njm92495]

What happens when your page isn't in the book to begin with?

[@John-Trager]

Astroxy your fucked

[@teodelfuego]

Why wouldn’t it be?

[@michaelregan427]

Awesome accomplishment. The winner is a subtle monster, and he knows it.

[@dixonau128]

Inspirational

[@mircea-ioanoprea4973]

Does anyone know the soundtrack?