Netflix Sunday: The Barkley Marathons

A documentary about one of the toughest…and weirdest races in the world.

Documentaries are awesome for the simple fact that they can expose you to things that you otherwise never would’ve been aware of. The Barkley Marathons is a perfect example.

The race itself is ran every year in late March or early April in Frozen Head State Park. It’s a 100 mile race consisting of 5 loops that must be completed within 60 hours. Each time you complete a loop, you must then repeat in the opposite direction so as to not be able to create a path. It’s creator, Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell developed the course after hearing of MLK Jr’s assassin’s escape from prison in the very same woods where the course is located. In 30 years, only 14 people have finished the race.

The race itself has always been sealed under a veil of secrecy, but the documentary follows a few of the lucky (or perhaps unlucky) participants. It’s a grueling competition that requires competitors to run on little to no sleep, bringing themselves to the edge of their breaking point.

Watch the trailer below and let us know your thoughts about The Barkley Marathons!

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