‘A race that’s kinda crazy called Barkley’ – new film showcases astonishing debut win

The start of the 2024 Barkley Marathons surely beckons soon but, before then, the event has already reached a wider audience thanks to a new documentary released this week.

Back in 2014 ‘The Race That Eats Its Young‘, which was originally streamed on Netflix, took the race from near-obscurity to millions of households with over five million downloads to date.

Many excellent films have followed – we’ve brought together five of the best here – and now the documentary reportage arm of France’s L’Équipe has produced a 52-minute feature around Aurélien Sanchez‘s incredible victory in Tennessee 12 months ago.

Sanchez’s amazing Barkley debut

The Frenchman defied conventional wisdom by winning on his very first attempt at what is regarded as the most brutal ultramarathon around – and certainly one with the highest non-completion rate.

Sanchez was one of three to complete last year – the first time anyone had made it around all five 20-mile loops at Frozen Head State Park since 2017.

He returned ahead of John Kelly and Karel Sabbe, who himself is about to release his own film on YouTube called #17 to mark the fact he was the 17th-ever finisher – and we’ll take a look at that later this week.

But first to Sanchez’s remarkable feat – which was also a first for France – and the documentary around it provides many more great insights into a race that is shrouded in secrecy.

“You always know the people who have a shot because you can see it in their eyes,” says legendary Barkley creator Lazarus Lake of Sanchez in the film.

‘A race that’s kinda crazy’

And writing on Instagram about the film, Sanchez says: “Came out today on L’Équipe Explore.

“March 2017 I started dreaming, trying to run a race that’s kinda crazy called Barkley.

“Six years of obsession, discovery, emotion and sharing an introspective journey that made me live and grow as a racer, but especially as a person.

“This 52min reportage tries to convey and narrate this project, which led me to finally participate in this race in March 2023 for the first time. 😊

“Excited to share this with you 🙌🏼😌”

The post below gives a flavour of the film, the full version of which is behind a monthly subscription paywall. And with L’Équipe’s social following of over 10 million it is likely the notoriety of the Barkley Marathons is poised to step up again.