Leslie Hunt and John DeWalt finished the fun run (3 loops; 60 miles) in 49 hours; approximately 23 hours on the last loop. John and Leslie's time was 9 hours over the 40 hour time limit and will not count as official finishers.

Blake Wood finished the fun run in 33:19 and made it to the first book on the 4th loop, becoming only the third runner ever to go any distance beyond three loops. Randy Isler finished the fun run in 33:47 and stopped at that point. Mike Dobies finished two loops and started a third loop, but was unable to finish.

What Wood and Isler achieved was unbelievable! The temperatures were in the low 80's and it was very humid. Wood actually ran the third loop faster than his second loop. For Hunt and DeWalt to spend 23 hours on the third loop is also amazing! Isler had never seen the course before coming out and training on it for a week.

In 1998, I made it a little over 3 1/2 loops before getting lost and not being able to find one of the 10 books that mark the course. Several others and I went down and trained on the course earlier this year, and I felt that I could stay on course. I trained harder and thought I was in better shape this year. I didn't plan on the heat and humidity and I wasn't acclimated. 

Early on in the first loop, I knew that 100 was out of the question...it was too hot. However, I kept on with the thought that it might rain or cool off, or it might get easier ... NOT!

I finished the first loop about 5 minutes after Isler and began the second loop. My inner thighs and feet started cramping on the climb up Bird Mountain. When I got to the top of the mountain, I sat down and waited on Isler. When he arrived, I ran with him halfway down the mountain and then made a tough decision ...

I knew 5 loops was not possible and at that point, if I slowed up, I might be able to finish the fun run in 33 or 34 hours. I had already finished the fun run 4 times ... all faster than that! I couldn't think of enough good reasons to go on. So, I wimped out and went back to camp. There was really nothing wrong with me.There just wasn't enough good reasons for me to suffer another 24 hours for a fun run finish.

Character flaw ... maybe; personal weakness ... maybe; lack of mental toughness ... maybe; over the hill ... I hope not!

There is always a point in every ultra where we have to decide if the reward is worth the effort. Wood, Isler, Dobies, Hunt, and DeWalt made the effort, paid the price, and have my utmost respect for what they accomplished. They sucked it up ... I didn't! I hope and pray that I  will "suck it up" next time!

By comparison - The Hardrock 100 is considered by most to be the hardest 100 miler. In 1998, I finished this race in 2nd place in 30:27. In 1998, I finished 3 loops at Barkley (60 miles) in 30:23. Think how tough or how long it would take to finish 160 miles of Hardrock or 100 miles of the Barkley!!! It took Englishman Mark Williams 59 hours and 28 minutes to finish the Barkley 100. No American has ever finished the 100 miler.