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RELATED: Q and A: Barkley Marathons documentary directors.Ī small portion of those who apply to run end up being selected. Lake at one point in the film states that, “you can’t accomplish anything without the possibility of failure.” That quote sums up the motivation behind runners attempting the race as the Barkley Marathons continues to draw world class athletes looking to join the exclusive finishers club. Next time you’re too lazy to work out watch The Barkley Marathons on Netflix and you’ll feel really silly. That in and of itself is a milestone, according to the film. Many people enter the race not to finish but to complete a “fun run,” the name given to the successful running of three of the five laps. There are no mile markers, no chip timing and no aid stations (runners re-fuel after each 20-mile loop).
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The race unmarked, with only one master map that people can see before the race, and involves battling cliffs, thorns and streams. Some scenes were so remarkable that it’s surprising that camera crews were even able to access certain locations. RELATED: No finishers in 2015 Barkley Marathons. Runners compete for 60 consecutive hours, the race’s time limit, and convince themselves that failure is not an option. Being on lap two of five and being absolutely gassed but finding the perseverance to continue.
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That’s exactly the draw of the film: seeing competitors run and compete at levels that very few people thought was even possible.
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