Gary Cantrell (Lazarus Lake) and Karl Henn (Raw Dog) are identified as the race’s co-founders, but the documentary focuses far more on Laz. The movie is set at the 2012 race, but don’t worry this review won’t give you any spoilers. Indeed, it is shot in such a compelling way that you don’t need to have the faintest idea about trail or ultra-running to be thoroughly engrossed.Ĭomrades Marathon: Route, live tracking & how to enter As a result, this film is just as relevant an insight into the race as it was back then. Since then, the Barkley has grown in stature as ‘bigger names’ such as Courtney Dauwalter, Jasmin Paris and John Kelly have taken part, but the race remains as raw and quirky as ever. It is no surprise that it won a series of awards after its release in 2014. It feels like a handheld camera documentary as we get up close and personal with ‘Laz’ and those taking on his fiendish race without the film ever looking and sounding like one.
The movie is warm and endearing while offering a genuine fly-on-the-wall perspective of what many regard as the world’s toughest race. The Barkley Marathons documentary – The Race That Eats Its Young – does a brilliant job of capturing the uniquely crazy Barkley experience. After all, even entering the race is hard enough. Race Director Gary ‘Lazarus Lake’ Cantrell revels in its obscurity and the near impossible challenge the course presents to even the best runners. In an age when publicity and slick marketing have increasingly come to the fore in trail and ultra-running, the Barkley is unashamedly the opposite. Not a chance in hell I'd try it myself though.The Barkley Marathons is an iconic yet elusive race like no other. It is heart breaking and it makes for gripping viewing.
With no markers and no GPS, can't you cheat? No, there are books at various points in the woods and you have to find them all, tear out the page that matches your race number (that changes each loop) and get a full set. but you only have 60 hours to complete it. Completely solo, no help, no markers, no water stations, intentionally fluid organisation, even no set start time. Most people don't complete 1 Lap, never mind all 5. 5 laps, in daylight and at night, going opposite directions on each loop. Invite only and limited to 40 entrants per year, to tackle a 130(ish) mile course, across mind bogglingly hard terrain that you have to navigate yourself, with map/compass, no GPS. Low-fi homespun logistics tying together possibly the nuttiest and toughest course on the planet. I've heard of The Barkley Marathons before, but this doc really nails it. Reviewed by garethcrook 8 / 10 Inspiring and heart breaking.
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