The Barkley Marathons is an event like no other. A brutal ultra trail race held in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee. Where the start date and even the route is shrouded in secrecy until the 11th hour. The obscurity only adding to the intrigue. Where the the one hour warning for the race commencing is signalled by the blowing of a conch, which can happen at any time in a 12-hour window. And the race start itself is signified by the mind behind the madness, Lazarus Lake, lighting a cigarette. Taking almost fiendish delight in the formidable nature of the event he’s created, he’s a legend like no other.
The usual high-tech GPS devices and tracking systems of ultras are foregone, with the few competitors lucky – or unlucky – enough to have a chance to take on the brutal Barkley handed a cheap Walmart watch set to race time on 24-hour mode – regardless of what time the race actually starts. The checkpoints are marked only by books, hidden in obscure places, which runners must tear a page out of, corresponding to their race number. The unforgiving terrain and unpredictable weather lies in wait to claim its victims. And it has claimed many: it’s not unusual for there to be zero finishers. And since its inception in 1986, to date only 20 different runners complete all five loops of the Barkley Marathons.
After the drama of 2024, where Jasmin Paris made history and a record five finishers made it back to the gate in time. We can only assumed that 2025 will be a case of “Laz Lake’s revenge”. Can this insane ultra possibly get even MORE brutal!? Time – or more accurately, obscure updates on X, will tell. But for now, here’s our pick of the best Barkley Marathons documentaries to – if not satisfy – at least quench some of your curiosity about the world’s toughest trail race.
1) The Race That Eats Its Young
Released: October 2014
Run time: 89 mins
Watch on: Apple TV, Amazon Prime, YouTube
Perhaps one of the most well-known Barkley Marathons documentaries is The Race That Eats Its Young, originally streamed on Netflix and bringing the race out of total obscurity to a much wider audience. Though filmed at the 2012 race, it has maintained its integrity as raw, off the grid, and completely off the wall bonkers. It’s just as relevant an insight into the race now as it was when it was released back in 2014, to much acclaim.
Read our full review here.
2) 2023 Barkley Marathons Documentary
Released: July 2023
Run time: 41 mins
Watch on: YouTube
2023 was a year for the Barkley Marathons history books, with four runners starting the final loop for the first time ever. And only the second time in the event’s history that three runners have finished. And Jasmin Paris improved on her three loop ‘fun run’ from 12 months previously to start a fourth lap this time, the first ssince Beverley Anderson-Abbs in 2012, before being defeated by the Barkley beast. The 2023 documentary shows the struggles and the drama, as Aurelien Sanchez, John Kelly and Karel Sabbe fought their way to the finish.
That three-finisher stat has to make us wonder – what will Laz have in store for 2024 to up the ante?
3) Last Women Standing ft Nicky Spinks
Released: November 2019
Run time: 40 mins
Watch on: YouTube
To date, a woman has not finished the Barkley Marathons – with Jasmin Paris being the most recent female runner to come close having completed 3 loops in 2023. But Last Women Standing ft. British ultra runner Nicky Spinks carries with it a strong reminder that women are more than capable. At the start, Nicky reminds us that we don’t have to go far back into running history to find a time when women weren’t allowed to run – in any race. That means that we’re really only just at the start of seeing what’s possible for female runners.
Last Women Standing gives possibly the best insight into what it’s actually like to be out on the loops at the Barkley Marathons, documenting Nicky’s first Barkley attempt in 2019. Due to the event’s notoriously secretive nature, spectators are only allowed at one designated location. And there’s very limited access for film crews. But the use of a Dictaphone to capture Nicky’s experience adds a raw layer of storytelling that helps you to appreciate just how difficult it is to take on the Barkley, even for the most experienced of trail runners. In 2023, Nicky returned to the Barkley Marathons, where Lazarus handed her the ‘sacrificial lamb’ bib #1 – a race number reserved for the runner he believes won’t even make it round a single loop. She proved him wrong, making it out on to loop 2. But once again, that coveted finish wasn’t meant to be.
4) Where Dreams Go to Die: Gary Robbins and the Barkley Marathons
Released: May 2018
Run time: 1hr 16 mins
Watch on: YouTube
Where Dreams Go to Die tells the tale of Gary Robbins as he faces defeat by the Barkley Marathons not once, but twice. With so many fastest known times, podiums and other trail running accolades to his name. It’s yet another example of how tough the Barkley truly is. What makes this documentary special is that we really get to see what it takes to even attempt to complete this dream-destroying event. After the first DNF in 2016, Gary shares that it took him six months to recover. And he didn’t do a single running event in the 12 months that followed. We get an insight into what it takes to train for the Barkley, as Gary self-films footage of himself running up and down a mountain solo all through the night as part of his training for his second Barkley Marathons attempt in 2017.
Watching the film provides inspiration and heartbreak in equal measure. And it brings into sharp relief just how much Laz Lake’s outlandish event pushes even the top trail runners to their absolute limit.
5) Out There – A Journey to the Barkley Marathons
Released: February 2020
Run time: 54 mins
Watch on: YouTube
In 2023, Karel Sabbe finally completed the Barkley Marathons after two failed attempts (see below). But the Out There documentary takes us back to the beginning – from the hiking trip that led him to ultrarunning in the first place. To using the famously tough Marathon des Sables as a training run for the Pacific Crest Trail (for which he still currently holds the fastest known time). His journey to the start line of the Barkley Marathons saw him achieve world records on both the Pacific Crest and the Appalachian Trail. But even that wasn’t enough to tame the Barkley best, at least not the first – or second – time round.
6) “A race that’s kinda crazy”
Released: March 2024
Run time: 52 mins
Watch on: L’Equipe
This feature film, available to watch via subscription on L’Équipe Explore, tells the story of Aurélien Sanchez and the ““Six years of obsession, discovery, emotion” (his words) that finally saw him defeat “a race that’s kinda crazy called Barkley” and take the win in 2023.
#17 finisher Karel Sabbe
Released: March 2024
Run time: 1hr 3 mins
Watch on: YouTube
In 2022, Karel Sabbe looked set to become the first Barkley Marathons finisher since 2017. But then, in true ‘race that eats its young’ style, he fell – spectacularly – to pieces. So brutal was the race, it left him hallucinating – talking to a trash can which he believed to be a woman. He arrived back at the yellow gate, not triumphant. But instead, in the back of a police car. Undeterred, Karel returned to vanquish the Barkley demon in 2023. As you might guess from the title of this documentary, this time he was successful.
The documentary takes us deep into the belly of the beast, showcasing the camaraderie between the Barkley runners and giving never before seen footage of Sabbe’s finish.
The Edge of Possible: A Barkley Marathons Tale
Released: March 2025
Run time: 1hr 23 mins
Watch on: YouTube
The 2025 Barkley Marathons quickly cemented itself as the stuff of legends. The indomitable Jasmin Paris made history by becoming the first woman to EVER finish the Barkleys – arriving at the gate with just 99 seconds to spare. And an incredible five finishers in total completed the race.
This new documentary follows Harvey Lewis, but also features Jasmin Paris, Lazarus Lake, past Barkley finisher John Kelly and Gary Robbin. Giving us an unprecedented glimpse into what really happens on the unforgiving trails of Frozen Head State Park.
Once this year’s event does start to unfold, we can expect little in the way of live updates. But we’ll keep you as informed as possible over on our race preview.
