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Finish #18: John Kelly, 2017, 59:30:53

 The White Whale of Tennessee

For three years I obsessively chased my white whale through the very Tennessee mountains where I grew up.  In 2015 I failed after 3 loops, a harsh introduction to Barkley where I had been doomed by a poor nutrition strategy.  In 2016 I failed just after starting the 5th loop, done in by navigational errors that led to sleep deprivation.  Those taught me valuable lessons, though, and I came into this year’s race more prepared, with a better mindset, and with the same incredible support from my wife, family, and friends, as well as some outstanding companies (Hammer Nutrition, Ultimate Direction, Every Man Jack, Chopt).

Read more at … http://www.irunfar.com/2017/04/the-white-whale-of-tennessee-john-kellys-2017-barkley-marathons-report.html

Finish #17: Jared Campbell, 2016, 59:32:30

Synopsis

I am honored and lucky to have been given another opportunity to participate in the one and only Barkley Marathons.  Past events have been quiet, introspective, and “dark” challenges for me in some ways.  In contrast, 2016 was a different experience as I traveled out with other people, had multiple close friends running, Mindy (my wife) came along, I had fantastic company for the first 4 loops, the skies were clear for nearly the entire race, and the temperatures were perfect.  Was this really Barkley?  I am thrilled to have finished in 59 hrs 33 minutes, forfeiting only 27 minutes and setting a new personal standard for how much adventure I can extract out of $1.60.    Read Race Report at …

https://door5.com/2016/04/16/barkley-2016-act-4-the-guide/#more-2302

Finish #16: Jared Campbell, 2014, 57:00:16

 There are lessons in life that can only be learned through fairly massive deviations from our normal, comfortable routines. These lessons alter our perspective on life and better equip us to deal with life’s unforeseen challenges. They can sharpen our optimism and generate a deeper appreciation for the simple things in life.   Read Race Report at …

http://www.irunfar.com/2014/04/silver-linings-at-the-barkley-marathons-jared-campbells-2014-report.html

Finish #15: Travis Wildeboer, 2013, 58:41

The 60-hour day 2013 Barkley Marathons race report by Travis Wildeboer “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their […]

Finish #14: Nickademus Hollon, 2013, 57:41

The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself; to be conquered by yourself is of all things most shameful and vile. -Plato

Prelude by Lazarus Lake The conditions this year were impossible, yet there were finishers. Nick Hollon, and Travis Wildeboer, each making their third attempt, made a lie of human limitation… at a price. To be at the yellow gate after a Barkley finish must be experienced to be understood. I felt like a child at […]

Finish #13: John Fegyveresi, 2012, 59:41:21

John Fegyveresi’s Race Report, 2012 Barkley Marathons “And Not to Yield” 2012 Barkley Race Report – John Fegyveresi “I did not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the moonlight amid the mountains. I do not […]

Finish #12: Jared Campbell, 2012, 56:00:16

I am thrilled to have dragged myself to the finish line after 5 laps at the infamous Barkley Marathons.

I met and ran with many incredible and inspirational people.

This course is as hard as they say it is.

On the final lap 5, due to some extreme foot pain (skin) and sleep deprivation I experienced an incredible distillation of my physical and mental self down to a few basic senses and thoughts, which was both an educational and beautiful experience.

Read more …  http://door5.com/2012/04/13/barkley-100-2012/

Finish #11: Brett Maune, 2012, 52:03:08

Back on the Horse 2012 Race Report By Brett Maune IntroductionWhen I submitted my application for the 2012 Barkley I was not planning on trying for another 5 loops. If anything, I was thinking of trying to break the 1 or 3 loop records. Then the banter on the Barkley list started which quickly got […]

Finish #10: Brett Maune, 2011, 57:13:33

Barkley: 4/5 Pure Joy 1/5 Pure Hell 2011 Race Report By Brett Maune Introduction Prior to Barkley, my only real ‘ultra’ experience to speak of was my breaking of the JohnMuir Trail (JMT) speed record in 2009—a record that had been broken repeatedly inrecent years by people calling themselves “ultra runners”. This is how I […]

Finish #9: Jonathan Basham, 2010, 59:18:44

My Barkley 100 race report: 2010 –Jonathan Basham “I know where he’s taking us. Take out your map at look at Big Fodderstack. It’s got a huge climb and it doesn’t seem as if it would add too much mileage.” I was convinced that I had just discovered the Bad Thing while standing atop the […]

Finish #8: Andrew Thompson, 2009, 57:37:19

Like water The 2009 Barkley Marathons By Andrew Thompson “And since, There’s no one else around, We let our hair grow long, And forget all we used to know. Then our skin gets thicker, From living out in the snow.” –Arcade Fire Finishing the Barkley Hundred was not at all what I expected. I didn’t […]

Finish #6: Jim Nelson, 2004, 57:28:25

BARKLEY’S RACE REPORT JIM NELSON

The following items are what I remember from the 04 Barkley’s marathons: Mike and I arrived at Frozen Head State Park about 4:00 am on Friday morning and camped out on the picnic tables near park headquarters ratherthan wake everybody up in the campground. We spent Friday setting up campand scrounging the local grocery stores for food and Red Bull.The party began in earnest as we signed in and got a big ole chicken quarter, burnt on the outside and frozen on the inside. The trick is toeat the burnt parts then throw it back on the grill to cook more deeply. Repeat as necessary. Hal was registering and I heard him say he had a mapof the park and had acquired some topo maps. I thought, “Hum, those might come in handy.”   Read more …

Finish #4: Ted Kaiser, 2003, 56:57:52

Live The Dream Race Report by Cave Dog (Ted Kaiser) 2003 I had a great time at the Barkley. The Cumberland Mountains in Tennessee were beautiful and refreshing. The creeks were vibrant and the wildflowers were beginning to blossom. The songbirds chirped and the newts came out in the rainstorms. During the dimly lit dawn, […]

Finish #3: Blake Wood, 2001, 58:21:01

Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2001 13:03:52 -0600 To: ultra@LISTSERV.DARTMOUTH.EDU From: “Blake P. Wood” Subject: Unofficial Barkley results, comments, and observations I had a lot of fun reading through the ultra posts when wegot home last night. I never imagined that David and my”tie” would generate such a lively discussion.So… to answer the question as to […]