Les Jones

East Tennessee > The Barkley Marathons for Insane People

Brian sent me this link to the Barkley Marathons, a grueling foot race inspired by James Earl Ray's attempt to escape from Brushy Mountain State Prison.

The very first Barkley was run in 1977 by one man. He ran it with no aid stations, no map, no light and no provisions beyond a bag of wheat germ. The runner was the infamous James Earl Ray, the man convicted of murdering Martin Luther King jr.. He ran the woods of Frozen Head for 54 and one half hours while escaped from nearby Brushy Mountain State penitentiary. When he was captured only miles from the prison it was obvious that is was the surroundings that made the facility maximum security.[...]

The course amasses an average grade of over 20% and between 50 and near 100 percent grade on the abandoned trails and bushwhacking sections. The grade is the reason that the trails have been abandoned or not built in the first pace. Each climb bears a unique name which in many cases gives a good idea of their nature. Some examples of this would be: Bird Mountain which rises 1,530 feet in under a mile and a quarter, Little Hell which climbs 1,240 feet in six tenths of a mile, Rat Jaw which uses only half of a mile to climb 1,020 feet and Big Hell which gains 1,600 feet of altitude in a mere three quarters of a mile. These are accompanied by some equally difficult descents like The Zip Line and Leonards Butt Slide. The Zip Line descends 1,600 feet in three quarters of a mile while Leonards Butt Slide uses only 350 yards to drop 600 feet of elevation.

The difficult terrain around the prison is no joke. If you go to Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area and hike to the top of Old Mac Mountain, you can look down into Brushy Mountain State Prison, which is set into a natural bowl surrounded by mountains. There's a description on that page of difficult foliage, and that's no joke, either. The worst Stinging Nettle I've ever run into on a trail was at Frozen Head.

Race founder and organizer, Gary Cantrell:

The best way to understand the man though may be through his actions surrounding his race. His entry procedures for example prove very unique. The entry form says that 25 entrants will be selected "by whim," however the choice is ultimately his. Apparently the easiest way to lose a chance to run the race is to ask him for any information about the course. Even if you ask him to send you an entry form you won't necessarily get one. The entry form includes such rules as no Women, Children, Californians, soccer fans, Marines, Yankees, Wimps, Worms, Slugs or Weeniies and especially no Health fascists. He also provides a reason why each may not enter, however these rules are obviously not followed. Entry also requires an essay from each runner on "Why I should be allowed to run in the Barkley." He asks that you include discussion on such topics as unnecessary surgery, Tommy Lasorda, uninspected poultry, duck costumes, investment bankers and unwanted hairs. The form also includes such other off beat questions like the one asking why "You can never know too much about fungus," or the one asking whait is your "favorite parasite?" Once you have completed his form and enclosed your $1.55 he asks you address it not to him but to Idiot.