Personally, as I an ultra runner it is the least interesting to me out of all the big races to be hyped over. But I understand why it appeals to others.
If you understand that these morons are obsessed with walking and calling it "ultra running" then yes, you do understand why it appeals to others. They are pathetic, but you understand them.
Personally, as I an ultra runner it is the least interesting to me out of all the big races to be hyped over. But I understand why it appeals to others.
If you understand that these morons are obsessed with walking and calling it "ultra running" then yes, you do understand why it appeals to others. They are pathetic, but you understand them.
I mean, this is the most reductive view possible of what the Barkley is. Especially to the people participating, I think whether its called one thing or another to them really doesn't matter. I imagine you could simply call it 'sh!tting in the woods' and the people there lining up there wouldn't give 2 sh1ts.
Its weird how obsessed people are with the idea that ultra running is called 'ultra running'. At this point its just worth it to keep calling it running to trigger you folks.
Its weird how obsessed people are with the idea that ultra running is called 'ultra running'. At this point its just worth it to keep calling it running to trigger you folks.
Wrong. The problem is that an activity that is correctly called 'ultra running' exists. It involves running, and at times walking up hill, for distances greater then 26.2mi, and to any serious person it begins at 50mi. Walking around a disgusting forest looking for book pages is the hillbilly equivalent of orienteering, and one step above an Easter egg hunt.
I mean, this is the most reductive view possible of what the Barkley is. Especially to the people participating, I think whether its called one thing or another to them really doesn't matter. I imagine you could simply call it 'sh!tting in the woods' and the people there lining up there wouldn't give 2 sh1ts.
Its weird how obsessed people are with the idea that ultra running is called 'ultra running'. At this point its just worth it to keep calling it running to trigger you folks.
Agreed nobody in the sport really cares what you call the verb. Most of the races are just named for a place or something specific to the event. "Badwater 135 mile" etc. Who cares if you call it a 5k run, a marathon run, or a 200-miler run.
Do most practitioners complete the race in less time than they would if race walking rules were applied? Yes. End of stupid disucssion.
I feel like this needs a standalone thread for all the Barkley haters out there, but Joe 'STRINGBEAN' McConaughy only made it through 3 of of the 5 laps (60 miles or so). He has track PRs of 15:08 5k and 4:12 mile as a Boston College runner. He also has multiple FKTs on long trails, meaning he's has fastest known time ever to hike those trails. For example, he hiked the Appalachian Trail at a pace of 48 miles per day. Basically a D1 level athlete and the fastest thru hiker ever got chewed up by the Barkley. So for all the sub-3 hour knobheads that think they can just train up and smash this event, no, you can't.
