Gary Robbins is the favourite
to inish the 2017 race. Powerfully
built with a shaved head, Robbins
specialises in mountain trails. He
ran the Barkley for the irst time
the previous year and got as far
as the ifth loop, an impressive
feat for a virgin. Behind him is
Mike Wardian from Virginia.
In January 2017, he completed
the World Marathon Challenge,
running seven marathons in
seven continents in seven days.
Heather Anderson is one of six
women competing; she broke the
women’s and men’s records for
hiking the 3523-km Appalachian
Trail unsupported. Each of the 40
competitors has been chosen for
his or her particular skill set.
SMOKE SIGNAL
On the Friday before the race,
the weather is looking
favourable. Robbins has even
predicted that four runners will
start loop ive, the most ever.
“We’ve got some really fast
people this year,” Laz says. “But,
you know, speed kills.”
What does he think of
Robbins’s chances? “He’s good,
there’s no doubt, but he’s put
an awful lot of pressure on his
shoulders.” He points to the
hills. “Public opinion ain’t going
to mean much when he’s out
there.” So who does Laz think
can inish the course? “Well, no
one seems to be mentioning John
Kelly at all.”
Kelly is the local boy. His
family has lived on the edge
of the park for 200 years. This
is Kelly’s third attempt at the
Barkley. The previous year, he
was garrotted by the inch-long
thorns that lace the course, which
left gashes across his neck. By the
end of the fourth loop, he was
unable to recognise his crew, and
he fell asleep less than 100m into
the ifth, a spot since christened
‘Upper Kelly Camp’.
By 10pm, conversation has0607