Barkley Marathons
Held each year at an undisclosed time, the Barkley Marathons are considered by many (including me) to be the hardest trail race in the world. In 2022, the race took place in early March at Frozen Head State Park, a rugged, hilly forested area outside of Oak Ridge, TN. Runners must complete 5 “20 mile” loops in under 60 hours, with each loop containing upwards of 13,000’ of vertical ascent. A completed race would thus be the equivalent of summiting Everest, from sea level, twice. Since its inception in 1986, only 15 individuals have finished the race; over 1,000 have attempted it.
I was present at the race crewing first-time runner Harvey Lewis, and had the opportunity to take a few photographs along the way. The pictures below record of the suffering, elation, confusion, and heartache that is the Barkley Marathons.
The iconoclastic race director, Lazarus Lake, checks his watch before blowing a conch shell, signaling to runners that they have exactly one hour until the start of the race. The conch can be blown any time between midnight and noon on the day of the race—the time is only known to Lazarus himself.
Harvey Lewis, an elite ultrarunner from Ohio, makes his way to the starting line. Runners can carry only a race-issued wristwatch, map, and compass. No GPS, cell phones, or other way-finding devices are allowed.
Chris Roberts stands by the famous “Yellow Gate” (the starting and finishing point of the race) after returning from Loop 2 over the time cut-off.
While the remaining runners battle the course, “virgin” (a first time Barkley runner) Richard Sparks ponders the map with fellow runner Harvey Lewis. Reviewing the course can provide valuable clues for a future attempt.