I'm sure it won't surprise anyone to learn that since ultra running dominates our lives, The Runner likes to read about other running nutters. He often chuckles away to himself and regularly says 'Listen to this!' However, last night when he told me about an event (in the States naturally) called The Barkely Marathons I was intrigued enough to Google it and find out more. Just because it sounded so mad.
It's a 100 miler in Tennessee consisting of 5 loops but there is a 60 mile Fun Run if you're not up to the full event! There's a time limit of 12 hours to complete each loop and consists of 20,000 feet of ascent and descent per loop! The trails haven't been maintained for years and the course isn't marked. To prove you actually made it round each loop, you have to rip a page out of paperback books placed around the course with appropriately named titles such as Fatal Terrain, Curl Up and Die and Going Nowhere Fast! Runners who drop out are taunted by a bugler playing "Taps!" Entry to this race requires an essay called "Why I should be allowed to run the Barkely." Only 7 people have ever managed to complete 5 loops.
Have a look at the site and make sure sure you click on some of the links especially the one with a photo of the guy's knee with a hole in it!!
http://mattmahoney.net/barkley/
The pictured book was loaned to The Runner by McStecko, a fellow Strathearn Harrier who is running in this year's WHW. It's full of great stories about the extreme events to which some runners are inexplicably drawn. I thought the WHW race was bad enough!
ETA It was actually The Doctor who gave The Runner the book.
1 comment:
I've borrowed that book from Mike Thomson. Saving it for the journey to London on Friday. Sounds like it makes WHW-ers seem positively sane.
Very impressed with your dedication. Swotting up should get you some brownie (ie new shoes) points.
Love the picture of Ian in the chair about Beinglas. Who looks about five-years-old. Maybe he shrunk on the lochside.
x
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