A lot has been written about the Barkley Marathons, a batshit crazy ultra in Tennessee that sees runners attempt to complete five loops of a self-navigated course with more than double the elevation gain of two Everest ascents, over 100 miles of the wild terrain, all inside a 60-hour time limit. The documentary, The Barkley Marathon – the race that eats its young catapulted this race into the mainstream and made it one of the most talked about races on the planet. That’s definitely worth a watch but for me this more recent hour-long documentary – Where dreams go to die – that follows ultra runner Gary Robbins as he attempts to join the tiny group of runners who’ve successfully completed this most arduous of races, offers a far more powerful insight into this race and ultra running in general.
You still get a neat summary of the quirks and eccentricities of the Barkley Marathons, bringing you stomach-churningly close to the hell these runners have to go through to complete just one loop. With cameras only allowed on two spots in the entire course, one of which is base camp, you only really get to see the runners as they return from 9-hour long battles with the wilderness and it’s never been more fascinating to watch a person change their socks or scoff down a burger. But this isn’t just a film about Barkley, it’s actually about how far one person will go to achieve something and it’s made all the more compelling when you’re watching someone as accomplished as Gary Robbins go through the struggles.
There are brilliant lessons in here for anyone chasing a goal about dedication in training, preparation and the importance of having a fantastic support network around you. It’s about what to do when you stare failure in the face and what your loved ones will go through to help you achieve your dreams.
You don’t have to be an ultra runner or even a runner to get something from this. If you’re out there trying to make something special happen, chasing a goal or a dream, hit play and it’ll be an hour well spent.
Where dreams go to die
Now read this: Is the dreaded DNF always a failure?
