Watch The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young

The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young is a 2014 documentary film that explores the world's toughest ultramarathon, which takes place in the wilds of Tennessee every year. The race, known as The Barkley, challenges competitors to complete a grueling 100-mile course through the mountains of Frozen Head State Park, with only 60 hours to finish.

The film is directed by Annika Iltis and Timothy James Kane, and features interviews with Lazarus Lake, the eccentric and mysterious race director who created the Barkley back in 1986. Through Lake's interviews and stories, viewers get a glimpse into the twisted and sadistic mind that dreamed up this unforgiving race, which has only been completed by a total of 15 people in its 30+ year history.

The Barkley Marathons is not your typical celebration of athletic achievement. Instead, it's an exploration of the human spirit, and what drives people to push themselves to the absolute limits of physical and mental endurance. The film follows several competitors as they attempt the Barkley for the first time, each with their own motivations and struggles. Some are seasoned ultramarathoners seeking a new challenge, while others are just ordinary people looking to prove something to themselves.

The race itself is unlike anything most people have ever seen. The course is unmarked, with no aid stations or crews allowed. Competitors are given a map and a com, and told to find their way through the wilderness on their own. Each lap of the course involves roughly 10,000 feet of elevation gain, with steep climbs and treacherous descents that test even the most experienced trail runners.

But the real challenge of the Barkley is psychological. The race is designed to break people, both physically and mentally. Competitors are pushed to their limits, and beyond, as they navigate dense forests, climb steep ridges, and battle exhaustion and sleep deprivation. And that's just on the first lap.

As the film unfolds, viewers are treated to some incredible footage of the Barkley in action. We see runners stumbling through the woods in the middle of the night, soaked to the bone and covered in mud. We see them collapsing at the finish line, weeping with joy and relief. And we see the trail reject runners one by one, as they succumb to injury, exhaustion, or the sheer impossibility of the challenge.

But what sets The Barkley Marathons apart from other sports documentaries is its quirky sense of humor and irreverence. The race is filled with bizarre rituals and traditions, like the requirement that runners bring a page from a book as part of their registration fee. And race director Lazarus Lake is a larger-than-life figure, with a penchant for cigars, whiskey, and deadpan humor. His interviews provide some of the film's funniest and most insightful moments, as he waxes philosophic on the nature of competition and the human condition.

Of course, not everyone will appreciate the Barkley's particular brand of insanity. To some, it might seem like an exercise in pointless suffering. But for those who are drawn to the challenge, the Barkley represents the ultimate test of human endurance. And for fans of endurance sports, The Barkley Marathons is a must-see documentary that captures the spirit of this unique and awe-inspiring event.

The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 67.