The first Barkley was held in 1986, with three loops, for about 55 miles, 25,000 feet of climbing, with a 24-hour cutoff. Thirteen unlucky runners started. They paid the entry fee of 35 cents
John Kelly
@RndmForestRunnr
So painfully close. But this is an incredible trio who now have great experience under their belts. This sort of density of top veteran talent on the women’s side is something that has been needed at #BM100. I look forward to seeing where it leads. Congrats to all of them!
It’s especially cute when big names start the #BM100 and everyone just expects them to finish the first time, like Wardian.
Yeah, we’ve been spoiled with finishers in the 2010s. With 2020 being cancelled this will (most likely) only be the third consecutive race without a loop 5 finish. 2018 and 2020 had thunderstorms. I think 2019 had freezing rain/snow?
Next year, like this year, and every year, there will be Barkley Weather. It never not happens. Anyone who thinks this year’s Barkley weather is particularly harsh or unique hasn’t been around the race long enough. Same could be said about the start time.
There’s not bad weather, just the ill prepared. That speaks to experience more than grit. Course knowledge. One example. 2003 #BM100. Cavedog blazed through 5 loops through rain, wind, snow when almost all quit before 3 loops. But he’d trained relentlessly on the course for weeks
The point is: If you’re blaming the weather for the difficulty, you’re not really taking #BM100 history into account. It’s like saying, “Man, all that snow really slowed down the Iditarod.”
Go Jared!!! Barkley us NOT about running! Stop bringing up how great elite runners would do. Barkley is all about orienteering and bushwhacking. There is no nice trail to run fast on. That’s what makes it great!
Experience is number one. Age is another factor – Barkley is “No country for old men(women)”. Weather and start time ultimately don’t matter.Veteran present is part of experience as are some of the others listed. Karma and luck are nice but “fate smiles on the prepared”
Barkley never “pulls back”. There is also never a “perfect” run at Barkley. It’s always an exercise of how one deals and manages the endless stream of imperfections as the event unfolds
9 finish years/9 finishers in 10 years (2008-2017) was way too much for a #BM100 course that is supposed to be on the edge of elite ability. These 0 finisher years are necessary to juxtapose against the finish ones. We were overdue for a long drought.
Also, there is course knowledge. The course changes from year to year but it’s not a complete wholesale change – there are adjustments. Over time one can accumulate a “base” of course knowledge that’s applicable no matter the year
Based on what I know of the #BM100, I’d say the ability to run fast is actually quite a ways down the list of things that will contribute to a runner’s ability to finish.
John Kelly
@RndmForestRunnr
My time as the most recent #BM100 finisher will now have (at the least) outlasted a presidency, a pandemic (hopefully), and the entire Brexit saga. It’s nearly the same age as our twins who start school this year. I think the Barkley course needs term limits.
Dave Horton had a quote that captured this sentiment that was something like(not a direct quote): “At Barkley, it’s not enough to be good at running fast, you also have to be good at running slow.” There are many talented “fast” runners that won’t be able to do this
John Kelly
@RndmForestRunnr
A few #BM100 misperceptions I’ve noticed:
1. The race requires mental toughness, but you can’t simply tough it out. Failure doesn’t mean you weren’t tough enough and being tough enough doesn’t mean you’ll be successful. (1/5)
2. Conditions matter, but they’ll never be perfect at #BM100. Swings from frozen solid water jugs to scorching hot in 12 hours… that’s just TN in March. I’ve had fierce storms from nowhere, fog from everywhere, and starts from 1:42 to 11:20 AM. (2/5)
If someone thinks a #BM100 finish requires good conditions, they’ve already failed. Bad conditions most affect those who had no chance to begin with. Energy must be focused on the things that are actually controllable. (3/5)
3. Yes, the #BM100 course gets tougher. So too does our gear, our training, and our collective experience. It’s a delicate balancing act, to keep it just at that edge of possible & stretch us out fully across our spectrum of possibilities. (4/5)
Has it become too hard? That’s been asked often in the last 30 years. And that’s where the opportunity lies. Doing what couldn’t be done carries far greater appeal than re-defeating something already conquered. #BM100 requires that motivation, as all great goals should. (5/5)
FOLLOW ME:
