Forums >Off the Beaten Path>Barkley
Are we there, yet?
Keith
@keithdunn
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Karel Sabbe completed loop five and has finished the 2023 Barkley Marathons in 59:53:33.
2023 Races:
04/15 - Alexander County 12-Hour
05/13 - Dawn to Dusk to Dawn 50K 06/16 - Six Days in the Dome 12-Hour
RIP Milkman
What do you guys think is the best summary article to read about the race? Not this year's race, but just in general. I've read a few things here and there, but I didn't know if there was a "definitive history" article (including long form).
5K: 16:37 (11/20) | 10K: 34:49 (10/19) | HM: 1:14:57 (5/22) | FM: 2:36:31 (12/19)
Next Race: NYC Half (3/19)
Here is more than you will ever want to know.
https://ultrarunninghistory.com/barkley-marathons-birth/
https://ultrarunninghistory.com/barkley-marathons-first-few-years/
I recommend the documentary The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young. I think I watched it on Netflix, but it’s not there anymore; IDK if it’s streaming free anywhere, but you can rent it on Amazon Prime.
Dave
Running Musician
I'm told it can be found on Tubi.
5k 23:48.45 (3/22); 4M 31:26 (2/22); 5M 38:57 (11/22); 10k 49:24 (10/22); Half 1:48:32 (10/22)Upcoming race(s): RunAPalooza Half, Asbury Park, 4/1; Jersey City Half, 4/22
Monkey Mind
Agree with recs above. This is also great -
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/sports/the-barkley-marathons-few-know-how-to-enter-fewer-finish.html
I'm running somewhere tomorrow. It's going to be beautiful. I can't wait.
Poor baby
And also on YouTube
Frequent Racer Group
PRs: 400m- 1:04.94 (2015) / 1M - 5:13 (2022) / 5K -18:23 (2017) / 5M - 31:14 (2022) / 10K - 39:29 (2018) / 10M -1:05:39 (2017) / HM - 1:27:34 (2023) / FM -3:20:02 (2022)Coming up: Opening Day 5K (4/1), St.Luke's HM (4/23), Broad Street Run (4/30)
Looks like the movie is also on Amazon and Apple.
http://barkleymovie.com/
The movie about Gary Robbins is also quite an event -
https://wheredreamsgotodie.com/
Some have said that Barkey: the Race that Eats its Young makes you want to run Barkley. Where Dreams Go to Die makes you realize why you don't want to.
This is awesome. Sabbe is the same guy who was brought in by the local sheriff after being spotted in the town behind Frozen Head State Park wearing a dress and talking to a garbage can.
Agree with recs above. This is also great - https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/sports/the-barkley-marathons-few-know-how-to-enter-fewer-finish.html
This was great, thanks. I will check out the others soon.
Problem Child
The movie about Gary is heartbreaking. Especially after watching his training and him doing hill repeats in the snow for a crazy amount of vert to prepare.
Something I just read...a book was removed by a hiker.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/sport/aurelien-sanchez-barkley-marathons-ultrarunning-spt-intl/index.html
The final loop was made even harder this year after a day hiker removed one of the 13 books from the course. Sanchez decided to dismantle a stack of stones at the checkpoint to prove he had passed through, but he was nonetheless relieved to see Cantrell holding the missing book at the end of the race.
“Guillaume [Calmettes], my friend who was in camp at this time offered to replace a book because he had time to put it back,” says Sanchez. “But Laz didn’t want to, he said that it’s part of the race, so I had to deal with that.”
Many of us aren't sure what the hell point you are trying to make and no matter how we guess, it always seems to be something else. Which usually means a person is doing it on purpose.
VDOT 52.45
5k19:35 | Marathon 2:56:07
EVERYBODY is sending me that CNN article hahah. Headline news 5 days after it was news.
Yea, the book drama is quite something. Laz would not let them replace it. I cannot imagine being out there for 5 loops for sure, but also could not imagine being out there and being very sure you were at the book location and cannot find it...then not just quitting.
“But Laz didn’t want to, he said that it’s part of the race, so I had to deal with that.”
That is so in-character with everything I've seen and read about him. Gotta love it.