The Barkley Marathons
60 Mile Fun Run
100 Mile Race
by David Horton
The most difficult race to finish in the world is the Barkley 100 miler. I had finished the fun run three times previously. The fun run consists of 3 – 20 mile loops with a 40 hour time limit and the 100 miler has 5 – 20 mile loops with a 60 hour time limit. In 1995, Mark Williams of England finished the 100 miler in 59 hours and 28 minutes. No American (or anyone else) had ever finished the 100 miler.
Each loop of the Barkley has "10,000" feet of elevation gain and 10,000 feet of elevation loss. The Mountain Masochist has between 8 and 9,000 feet of elevation gain-in 50 miles. To make the Barkley even more difficult, there are: no course markings, no aid stations, no crew access, and few trails. You also have to find 10 books positioned throughout the course and tear out one page and turn all 10 pages in at the end of each loop.
After an all night rain, thirty-five runners started at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday,
April 4. It was cool and foggy all day Saturday and cold Saturday night with occasional snow flurries.
I completed the 1st lap in just over 8 hours and two laps in 18 hours and 24 minutes. My goal had been to complete three laps under 31 hours. My three lap time of 30:23 was very satisfying. The good news was that I was running at a very comfortable pace, felt great, and did not even consider stopping…My goal was five laps.
In 1995, when Mark Williams finished 5 laps, runners were allowed to go the same direction (clockwise) every lap. After that year, the race director decided that the 1st two laps would be clockwise and the next two laps must be run counterclockwise, with the last lap the runner’s choice. I never had difficulty finding the books or course in all of my previous Barkley races, however, I had never run the opposite direction. Just to be safe, I carried a map with me on the third lap. Sure enough, it was a good thing that I did. I got off course and lost 30-45 minutes looking for the 2nd book and also lost a few more minutes looking for the 6th book.
After a 15 minute break following the third lap, I ventured out on my fourth loop-a place where no American had ever been. Things went well all Sunday afternoon as I made good progress and continued to feel good. I started contemplating what time I would finish 4 loops, around 2:15 a.m. on Monday morning and my eventual finishing time around 3:30 Monday afternoon – 56 total hours.
Just after dark, around 7:30 or 8:00, I made a major mistake. Descending off a very steep mountain, I came to a stream that was flowing from right to left…the stream I was supposed to come upon flowed left to right. I was lost. For the next hour or so, I studied the map, went up & down the stream trying to figure out where I was. To make matters worse I set my prescription glasses down on a rock…and left them…the second pair I had lost in two weeks. Finally I gave up after not being able to find the book or determine where I was. It took me three hours to get back to the starting point.
I’m not as disappointed as you would think I might be. I felt good throughout. I was on the same pace during the 4th lap as I was during the third lap. There was no doubt in my mind that I was going to finish. I didn’t stop because I wanted to or because I was suffering & wouldn’t go on or because I couldn’t go on. I was well under a 60 hour pace.
Still, no American has finished the Barkley 100. Will I go back next year? What do you think?
P.S. Only five of the 35 runners managed to finish the 60 mile fun run! Looking for an unbelievable challenge? Try the Barkley. The Barkley race motto is, "The race that eats its young." How about the Barkley ’99 Steve Bozeman?