I have thought about the navigation of this race a lot. When I was a kid growing up in Missouri we would hike and run the hills in the Ozarks before There were “trails” etc. one thing I learned was no one pass through the forest without leaving a trail (evidence of their passing). Learning To read these signs would give all but the leader navigational help. Since the books are in the same place each loop as more runners reach the books more trails to the books are left in the forest. Just an observation.
I’m an ultra runner & 100 mile finisher, I can finish nearly any ultra but wouldn’t come close to Barclays, your observation is incorrect. Multi loop races run on established trails, are marked, and are still very tricky, we train for years to run but we’re new to the terrain so navigation mistakes happen. The typical 100 mile finisher spends 28+ hours on the course with no sleep and we get lost...on marked trails. We start in the dark and run day & night until we finish so it’s easy to make mistakes. The typical 100 mile event will have 150-200 runners start the race and maybe 60% finish rate on a good weekend if conditions are favorable. Even with 200 starting a race by 40 miles we can run for hours at a time without seeing another runner. We run in the heat, rain, mud, snow, daylight, & darkness and we’re the best trained runners on the planet, we crush 5k’s & everything north of that, 100 mile ultramarathons crush half the field...Barclays crushes everyone including the finishers. Very few of the 40 yearly Barclays runners make it past the first of five loops so there’s not many feet on the ground and in many places there are trails interwoven so you need to follow the compass and not the path, you change direction each loop, you run the loops at different times of day and night and it’s compass navigated so few follow the exact same path anyway...in some areas you’re running a connector trail but otherwise no, there is no path to follow. Barclays participants trade everything for the privilege to touch that yellow starting gate because the challenge is unique and beyond reason. (Imho). P.s. There’s a great documentary on Netflix about Barclays and a greater UA-cam video titled “Barclays...where dreams go to die”. The latter in particular will clear things up.
The original documentary "The Barkley Marathons: The Race that Eats it's Young" is phenomenal. I can't seem to find it anywhere for free but it's worth buying if you see it.
Rosemary Hofstedt dude c'mon it's pretty clear that his son was in an addiction center so he couldn't talk to him much anyway. He chose to run the marathon to show his son he understands how hard it is🙄
Akaroa Male The Kepler is a cakewalk compared to the Barkley. Similar elevation and only 60K? This my metric friend is 100 Miles. Also you must find books that are hidden and collect your page to prove you did the route.
The Kepler is on a man made trail and the elevation change is nothing compared to the Barkley. Barkley is 36,000 meters in elevation; I even converted it for you my friend.
Amazing video, thanks for sharing. Your gruelling efforts and determination are inspiring!! Will be watching next year!
I have thought about the navigation of this race a lot. When I was a kid growing up in Missouri we would hike and run the hills in the Ozarks before
There were “trails” etc. one thing I learned was no one pass through the forest without leaving a trail (evidence of their passing). Learning
To read these signs would give all but the leader navigational help. Since the books are in the same place each loop as more runners reach the books more trails to the books are left in the forest. Just an observation.
I’m an ultra runner & 100 mile finisher, I can finish nearly any ultra but wouldn’t come close to Barclays, your observation is incorrect. Multi loop races run on established trails, are marked, and are still very tricky, we train for years to run but we’re new to the terrain so navigation mistakes happen. The typical 100 mile finisher spends 28+ hours on the course with no sleep and we get lost...on marked trails. We start in the dark and run day & night until we finish so it’s easy to make mistakes. The typical 100 mile event will have 150-200 runners start the race and maybe 60% finish rate on a good weekend if conditions are favorable. Even with 200 starting a race by 40 miles we can run for hours at a time without seeing another runner. We run in the heat, rain, mud, snow, daylight, & darkness and we’re the best trained runners on the planet, we crush 5k’s & everything north of that, 100 mile ultramarathons crush half the field...Barclays crushes everyone including the finishers. Very few of the 40 yearly Barclays runners make it past the first of five loops so there’s not many feet on the ground and in many places there are trails interwoven so you need to follow the compass and not the path, you change direction each loop, you run the loops at different times of day and night and it’s compass navigated so few follow the exact same path anyway...in some areas you’re running a connector trail but otherwise no, there is no path to follow. Barclays participants trade everything for the privilege to touch that yellow starting gate because the challenge is unique and beyond reason. (Imho). P.s. There’s a great documentary on Netflix about Barclays and a greater UA-cam video titled “Barclays...where dreams go to die”. The latter in particular will clear things up.
The original documentary "The Barkley Marathons: The Race that Eats it's Young" is phenomenal. I can't seem to find it anywhere for free but it's worth buying if you see it.
Brother Ed is the real deal!! REM!!!
awesome!
It's on Netflix
There was a passage in my test paper about it
Arthur Tan lol
Marathon de Sables
LOL! That's a run around your local park compared to the Barkleys.
Third, Hi
This is not the most gruelling race in the world
Do enlighten us as to what is then?
So you trained for and ran a marathon instead of spending time with your son? How is this for your son exactly?
Rosemary Hofstedt dude c'mon it's pretty clear that his son was in an addiction center so he couldn't talk to him much anyway. He chose to run the marathon to show his son he understands how hard it is🙄
First of all, you can do both - and second of all - perhaps that is not your concern.
This might quell some of those doubts eu.argusleader.com/story/news/local/2014/06/06/running-helps-father-connect-son-grip-addiction/10099463/
What an ignorant thing to say.
FIRST
first and HEY
They only consider it the most gruelling race because they have not heard of the Kepler in New Zealand, now that is a real race for real people.
Akaroa Male The Kepler is a cakewalk compared to the Barkley. Similar elevation and only 60K? This my metric friend is 100 Miles. Also you must find books that are hidden and collect your page to prove you did the route.
Francesco - Yes you are right I shot my mouth off before doing the correct amount of research, “I’am Bad” Thank you.
The Kepler is on a man made trail and the elevation change is nothing compared to the Barkley. Barkley is 36,000 meters in elevation; I even converted it for you my friend.
Akaroa Male good on you for saying that, not everyone would