The Barkley Marathons: A Cult-Like Race That Eats Its Young
The Race Inspired by a Famous Prison Escape
In 1977, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., escaped from Tennessee's Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. The escape sparked the imagination of Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell, a local ultramarathon runner. Cantrell envisioned a race that would be so difficult that only the most elite athletes could complete it. Thus, the Barkley Marathons was born.
A Cult-Like Following
The Barkley Marathons has gained a cult-like following. Runners from all over the world flock to Tennessee each year to attempt the grueling 100-mile course. The race has only 10 finishers in its first 25 years, making it one of the most difficult races in the world.
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