![]() ![]() Cantrell, who later renamed himself Lazarus “Laz” Lake, mailed Furtaw a race application form in 1988 and addressed it to “Frozen Head Ed.” The renowned co-founder of the Barkley, Gary Cantrell, stood at the yellow gate, his knit cap and long beard making him look like a sea captain manning the helm of his ship.įurtaw’s surroundings were fitting in a race famous for its traditions, Furtaw is both a part and a keeper of its lore. The smell of chicken roasting on a nearby grill, a yearly staple, wafted. ![]() ![]() A wall of license plates hung in front of him, brought by Barkley “virgins,” intrepid newcomers to what is arguably the hardest ultramarathon in the world. In his chair at the campsite-turned-race-headquarters, Furtaw sat among the icons of the Barkley. He struck up a conversation with the nurse, settling into his natural soft-spoken manner. A nurse tended to a gash in his arm – perhaps sustained while grabbing saplings to haul himself up a precipitous slope, an experience that reminded him of his days on a Navy rope climbing team. “What I did was nothing compared to the athletes. Self-deprecation replaced playful bravado as he settled into a collapsible camping chair. RELATED: Watch – The Race That Eats Its Young Muddy and still carrying his water bottles and a single trekking pole, he explained that this run was particularly important to him, as it marked his return to the Barkley after being diagnosed with prostate cancer three years earlier. Runners must collect pages from each of these books to get credit for a loop. No one has finished this race since 2017.įurtaw had just withdrawn from the race after completing a portion of one loop and collecting pages from five of 14 books strewn along the course. ![]() This famed gate is the start and finish line of the grueling ultramarathon, where runners must complete five loops of about 20 miles each in under 60 hours through the steep hills and dense underbrush of Frozen Head State Park in Eastern Tennessee. The slender 74-year-old folded his arms and leaned on one of the stone columns supporting a yellow gate. “Anyone who doesn’t think five books at the Barkley is an accomplishment can kiss my ass!” shouted Ed Furtaw to the crowd gathered for the 2022 Barkley Marathons. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! ![]()
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