We’re into swimming, biking and running every day, but right now, the internet is all about the infamous Barkley Marathons. The race, considered probably the toughest ultrarun in the world, started early this morning.
This run is known as the most brutal ultra run in the world. Since its first edition in 1989, only 17 participants made it to the finish line. This is not surprising; participants run 160 kilometers divided into five rounds of 32 kilometers (and most of the time a lap consists of many more kilometers because of navigation problems, ed.). For each lap, you have 12 hours to complete the distance; if you don’t make that cutoff, you are eliminated from the race. The Barkley Marathons takes place annually at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, USA, and the course is extremely inhospitable, including a countless amount of elevation gain. In addition, participants must navigate on their own – day and night – and the course is not marked. Participants pay a symbolic amount of $1 to participate. Every year that a participant reaches the finish line the Barkley Marathon is made even harder. Last year something really special happened, as three (!) runners made it to the finish.
