The energy when we arrived was contagious! I recognized veterans from pictures I’d seen or from other ultras I’d run, familiar faces even if I’d never spoken to them.

Race Narrative – “pre-race” (skip ahead if you want)īarkley Newbie Lesson: Get your maps before the Visitor’s Center closes.Īfter a minor terror in finding the Frozen Head State Park Visitor’s Center to be closed when we arrived, Naresh and I decided to seek extra maps in camp. A successful “deflowering” of a new Barkley racer took place Fool’s Weekend including highfalutin goals, moderate anxiety, 16 pages worth reading, a geomagnetic storm (voodoo), a 4-hour “out there” experience, and a mantra with only 50% accuracy. This recent Barkley participant argues against the despair element, while fully accepting the preceding elements of the loss cycle. The Barkley Marathons have long provided new racers with the all too human cycle of loss as perceived by someone in love: unadulterated hope followed by an insurmountable physical and emotional experiment often times ending with failure and despair. “A Racer’s ‘Out There’ Experience Over Fool’s Weekend, 2012” The following is Will's fascinating acount of that hideously glorious day. Only 13 people have finished this race since 1986.

Fleet Feet Nashville race team member Will 'The Thrill' Arnold was lucky(?) enough to be invited to participate in this year's 100 mile Barkley Marathons, considered by many to be the worlds toughest foot race.

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