Lazarus ‘Laz’ Lake‘s real name is actually Gary Cantrell and this relative man of mystery has made a huge impact on the ultrarunning scene.
The Barkley Marathons is his most famous – and fiendish – creation but Backyard Ultras, which go from strength to strength around the world, are all thanks to him too.
He’s now turned 70 and though he doesn’t run anymore, he does walk – and over extreme distances. Soon after the historic 2024 Barkley Marathons he set out on what was dubbed ‘Lazcon’ – an epic walk from the east coast of the United States to the west coast, Delaware to San Francisco.
He ended up calling a halt at the fitting point of Foyil in Oklahoma – he had made it to his parents’ graves the day before and then battled on to Foyil, where his father grew up.
The unfinished business of the next 350 miles is scheduled to be completed after this year’s Barkleys.
He’s actually ceded plenty of the control of the ‘race that eats its young’ over the last couple of years but he was front and centre when it mattered 12 months ago at Frozen Head State Park when Jasmin Paris became the first female finisher.
So here’s what we know about the man, the myth and the legend…
Laz Lake’s back story
In his younger days Lake was a seasoned ultrarunner himself who began creating long-distance challenges in the early 1980s. He was also a school basketball coach.
Now living with his wife Sandra on a farm near Bell Buckle, Tennesse, he no longer runs, but usually walks five to 10 miles a day. In 2018 he first walked 3,300 miles across the USA from Newport, Rhode Island, to Newport, Oregon before attempting something similar in mid-2024 as we mentioned earlier.
Lake was an accountant before retiring in 2011, but is now busier than ever as a race director. As well as the Barkley Marathons, Lake’s roster includes Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, the Barkley Fall Classic, Strolling Jim 40, Vol State 500k and Heart of the South Mystery Run.
These races are renowned for their difficulty and often have unconventional entry requirements, but Lake’s creations are something of a phenomenon and their popularity only seems to be increasing.
Close to impossible
Lake gave a glimpse of his philosophy when describing the Barkley Marathons in a 2019 interview.
He said: “It’s easy to design an impossible race, and it’s easy to make a race everyone can finish.
“It’s really hard to find that point where impossibility is just so close.”
But while most runners fail to finish his races, Lake also told outsideonline.com that this should not be viewed negatively.
He said: “Your job as a race director is to provide a platform for runners to find greatness in themselves,” he says. “Everyone can find success within the process of discovering what they’re capable of. If they do that, they walk off feeling a winner.”
Lake’s appearance is that of a self-proclaimed ‘hillbilly’ and he is missing 13 teeth, which he pulled out after they became rotten in order to avoid paying dentist fees. But he is clearly a very sharp thinker who has a growing global fanbase, many of whom follow his unique posts on Facebook.
What is Laz like?
David Miller met him in person when he photographed the Barkley Marathons for the first time in 2023 – and he was back last year to capture what are now iconic images of Jasmin Paris.
Miller told us: “Laz is a very intelligent guy. He really loves the sport, really loves pushing people to their limit, and I think that’s what the Barkley is about – pushing people to their absolute limit so they can find those new limits.
“He’s created a family there, he welcomes everyone, but at the same time, you just don’t want to break the rules or cross him.”
