The toughest and most bizarre ultra marathon

Consensus amongst most people is that it takes a fair bit to run a marathon. Not that many people around the world can claim to have completed one. If you don’t believe me then feel free to do a straw poll around your family, friends or workplace and I am sure you will find not many hands being raised.

Ultras and Ironman events are another story and fewer hands will stay up once you quiz people on events around the 100km or 100 mile mark or longer.

What is the toughest event around then you may ask?

I had always thought that the Badwater 135 mile run through Death Valley in temperatures of 40c plus would have to take the cake. That was until I heard about the Barclay Ultra marathons.

The Barkley Marathons are run in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee (there is a 100 mile run and a 60 mile Fun Run) and was started in 1986 as a 50 mile race, but there were no finishers until 1988.

It is considered one of the toughest 100 mile races in the world. It has 59,100 feet of climb (and 59,100 feet of descent); more than any other 100 mile race.

Since the race began, only 9 runners out of about 700 have finished within the 60 hour cut-off. The runners who have entered are very tough ultra marathoners so this is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Mark Williams of the UK finished first in 1995 in 59:28. Here is his race report.

Just how tough is this event you may be asking yourself?

The Barkley consists of five 20-mile loops with no aid except for water at two points. The cut-offs for the 100 mile race are 12 hours per loop. The 60 mile "fun run" has a cut-off of 40 hours, or 13:20 per loop. To prove you completed each loop, you must find 9 to 11 books (varies) at various points along the course and return a page from each book.

At most about 35 people enter each year and it is largely invitation only, although you have to write an essay to see if you are worthy. If you want to read more then look at the official website, although like many involved in this sort of stuff, they are more involved in the actual doing than the maintenance of the site.

Have not ascertained yet what you get for finishing, but by the sounds of it it is a pat on the back.

Keep running for the pats on the back. – Sean Muller