The Barkley Marathons

Anyone seen this on Netflix? Watched it this weekend and found it extremely interesting. I would never be interested in joining a marathon, but I would jump at the chance to try and finish a loop.

For those that don't know, this is an ultra-marathon that is between 100-130 miles long in Frozen Head State Park WNW of Knoxville, TN. The registration process is a secret, but the application fee is less than $2 and "virgins" have to bring a license plate from their state. Only about 35 people get compete each year. In the 30 year history of it, only about 15 people have finished.

Only about 1/3 of the race is on a trail. You get a map the area day before the race, but the path is not marked. You get another sheet of paper with directions like, "When you get to the tree with 4 trunks next to the tree with 3 trunks, take the hardest route." You have 60 hours to complete 5 laps.

I think this doc was filmed in 2012 and it was the only year that 3 people finished the race, and was the first time someone finished for the second time. The vast majority of the racers never finish the 3rd lap.