Barkley Marathons genius Laz Lake nearing next finish line in his trek across America

Barkley Marathons creator Lazarus Lake is nearing the end of the second part of his epic #Lazcon trek across America.

After last year’s Barkleys, 70-year-old Lake’s original aim was to walk from Delaware in the east to San Francisco on the west coast – a distance of around 3,000 miles.

He’d done a transcon six years before but this latest attempt had a revised initial end point. And it was a poignant and significant one – for he had made it to his parents’ graves and then battled on to Foyil, where his father grew up.

In total it was 83 days, 1,717 miles – and over five million steps – of walking.

But as he himself was the first to acknowledge, that left unfinished business.

Compulsion to finish

Writing this week on his Facebook page, in his own inimitable style, he explained: “i made it 1717 miles to the andy payne statue in foyil oklahoma before i had to call it and go home.

“i have failed at retirement and had responsibilities to attend to.
(and the crew arrangements were impossibly broken)

“but something started is a compulsion to finish.
i was planning my return before i started for home.

“steve durbin brought me back to foyil in april
hal turner has picked me up in may
and up through today i have done another 609 miles in 27 days
(a better average than last year)
i have reached lamar colorado.
and am trying to make another 120 miles to pueblo colorado before i have to go home again for work.”

‘An amazing adventure’

All of which tees up part three of the trek, with Laz adding: “as soon as i start home i will be planning for an august attempt to go from pueblo to fruita.
i have learned better than to plan further ahead than the next piece of the journey.
at 70 (71 soon) i can only do what i can do.

“many 70+ athletes are accomplishing amazing things.
i am not one of them.
i am just an old guy who remembers when he could run,
and wants to do the best he can
as long as he can do it.

“i dont know if this could even be considered a legitimate transcon attempt.
but it is an amazing adventure every day.
the debt i owe these generous people who are helping me is incalculable.”