Barkley Marathons
| Barkley Marathons | |
|---|---|
The start of the 2009 Barkley Marathons | |
| Date | Varies; usually near April Fools' Day |
| Location | Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, U.S. 36°07′34″N 84°30′04″W / 36.126°N 84.501°W |
| Event type | Trail racing |
| Distance | 100 miles (160 km) (5 laps of 20 miles (32 km)) |
| Established | 1986 |
| Organizer | Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell |
| Course records | Men: 52:03:08, Brett Maune (2012) Women: 59:58:21, Jasmin Paris (2024) |
| Participants | 40 |
The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon trail race held each year in Frozen Head State Park in Morgan County, Tennessee, United States. Described as "The Race That Eats Its Young", it is known for its extreme difficulty, purposefully difficult application process, and many strange traditions, having been completed only 26 times by 20 runners since 1995.
The course, which varies from year to year, consists of five loops of 20 miles (32 km) of off-trail course for a total of 100 miles (160 km) of harsh terrain. The race is limited to a 60-hour period from the start of the first loop, and takes place usually between mid-March and early April each year; though the actual start date and time is a closely held secret until the race begins. A "fun run" ultramarathon, which consists of three of the loops for a total of 60 miles, can be run within the larger race.