Newfoundland's Most Underrated Athlete?
I'm back after a one week hiatus due to a weekend of bowling and socializing. I'll recap my training as usual at the end of the blog, but the main portion of this blog is going to talk about one of Newfoundland's most outstanding athletes, a man who many outside of the running community have likely barely even heard of.
In the last month or so, there have been some phenomenal performances by Newfoundland athletes on the National and International stage. Katelyn Osmond won two Olympic medals and a World Championship. Liam Hickey won a silver medal as a member of the Canadian Sledge Hockey team at the Paralympics. And Brad Gushue's rink defended their Brier Championship and are preparing to defend their World Championship. These are all fantastic accomplishments that have been rightly celebrated.
What you may not know is that as I'm writing this, another Newfoundlander has been in the woods in Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee for about 36 hours, attempting to complete what is surely one of the most grueling races on the planet. And if he is to finish, he'll be out there for about another 24 hours yet! That man is Gary Robbins, and the event he is trying to complete is known as The Barkley Marathons.
The first thing you may notice is the little 's' at the end of the word 'Marathon'. That's because Gary is an ultra-marathoner. Ultra-marathons vary in distance, but they are all longer than the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles, or 42.2 kilometres. Gary has competed in 100 kilometer and 100 mile races against the best in the world, and his results are quite impressive.
Now, most ultra-marathon's are still generally run in the same manner as a standard race. There is a marked course, often a trail, checkpoints that have to be passed, and a time limit to complete the race. The Barkley Marathons is not just any other race though.
My first introduction to The Barkley Marathons was when I heard that a Newfoundlander (Gary) was competing in it in 2016. I found the idea of the race fascinating, and I immediately watched a recently released documentary titled "The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young". Unfortunately it is no longer available on Netflix, but it can be purchased via a number of sites online if you are interested. Here are some brief details about the race for those who are unfamiliar:
- the application process is secret; you need to work just to find out how to apply.
- only 40 competitors are accepted each year.
- the course is unmarked; the competitors are given a map with the checkpoints when they arrive and check-in.
- the start time can be anywhere between 12:00 am and 12:00 pm on race day; a conch shell is blown an hour before to alert the competitors.
- competitors must complete 5 loops within a 60 hour time limit. The first 4 are run with 2 clockwise and 2 counter- clockwise. The fifth loop, each competitor who leaves must go in the opposite direction from the last, to prevent teamwork for the final loop.
- each loop is nominally 20 miles; the problem is they change the course every time someone finishes, to make it more difficult; so most estimates now put the loops closer to 30 miles than 20.
- the checkpoints on the course are marked by books; the competitors are given a different bib number for each loop, and you must return with your page number from each of the books on course.
That covers some of the most basic quirks of the race. It really is impossible to do it justice in words though; the documentary does a fantastic job of laying it all out.
So that is The Barkley Marathons in a nutshell, which brings me back to Gary Robbins. In 2016, on his first attempt, Gary completed 4.5 loops before having to bow out. He returned in 2017, and he came agonizingly close to finishing, only to fall short yet again. While no cameras are allowed on course, Gary had a film crew in camp with him during his first two attempts. The documentary, titled "Where Dreams Go To Die: Gary Robbins and The Barkley Marathons" was released earlier this year. I watched it this weekend, and it is fantastic. It can be purchased online for about $11 CAD, and if you have any interest in what it takes to push a human being near the edge of their mental and physical capabilities, this film is a must watch. Seeing the planning, training, and effort that Gary and his family put into this endeavour is truly inspiring.
In the history of the Barkley Marathons, stretching over 30 years, there have only been 15 different people complete the full 5 loops, for a total of 18 finishes. That is out of a total of more than 1200 entries. So if Gary can achieve a finish on his 3rd attempt this year, he is truly joining elite company. And though he got a decent amount of media coverage due to how close he came last year, I hope he receives even more if he is able to pull it off this year, because what he is doing is truly astonishing.
Weekly Summaries (March 12-18 and 19-25)
Mon. (Evening): 10 min warmup, 10x1 min w/ 1 min recovery (3:38/km average for intervals), 10 minute cooldown (Workout total: 7.83 km, 39:50, 5:05/km pace)
Tue. (Lunch): 6 km, 30:08, 5:01/km pace
Wed. (Lunch): 10 min warmup, 10 min tempo (8.9-9.5 mph, 4:00/km), 10 min cooldown [treadmill] (Workout total: 6.26 km, 30:00, 4:47/km pace)
Thu. (Lunch): 5 km, 24:49, 4:58/km pace [treadmill]
Fri.-Mon.: Off
Tue. (Lunch): 10 min warmup, 5x400m (11mph/82 sec, w/ 60 sec rest), 7 min cooldown [treadmill] (Workout total: 5.25 km, 23:50, 4:32/km pace)
Wed. (Lunch): 6 km, 30:05, 5:00/km pace
Thu. (Lunch): 7 min warmup, 2x5 min + 1x2 min tempo, w/ 2 min recovery (9.2 mph, 4:03/km), 7 min cooldown [treadmill] (Workout total: 6.34 km, 30:00, 4:44/km pace)
Fri: Off
Sat. (Morning): 2.97 km, 25:01, 8:25/km pace
Sun. (Afternoon): 14.6 km, 1:15:39, 5:10/km pace
Total: 60.2 km
When I last wrote, I mentioned that my next week of training, March 12-18, would be scaled back a little due to a bowling tournament that weekend. I did manage to get in 4 runs in the early part of that week, and I got some good variety. I did an outdoor speed session with a friend Monday evening, and we were paced by David Freake, who is coaching her. It was nice to get some speed work done on the pavement, but having someone like Dave pace me showed me how far I have to go to get where I want to be this year! Thankfully I've signed up for a Tely Training program with him for the next few months, so that should definitely help. :)
I finished out that week with a nice outdoor recovery run on Tuesday, a tempo on the treadmill Wednesday, and an easy 5k on the treadmill Thursday. I then proceeded to bowl all weekend, while having late nights Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Needless to say, that impacted my training more the week AFTER than it did the week before. haha
This past week, March 19-25, was tough. I was supposed to do 7x400m on Tuesday, and I had to cut it short to 5 intervals. On Thursday, I planned to do 3x5 minute tempos at goal Tely pace, and again I had to cut the last one short. Thankfully, Saturday morning was a reprieve both mentally and physically, as I got to help lead our Learn to Run group with the Paradise Running Club. It was great to meet a group of people who are just learning to love the sport of running [although a little reluctantly for some. :)], and it was also nice to head out for a run with no real goal in mind personally.
Then came today, and I had a long run on the schedule. I was planning to go with a friend in the morning, but she had to skip due to family commitments, and I was honestly grateful. The wind sounded dreadful, and I had no desire to go out and run in it. But then, I spent the whole day reading updates on Twitter about Gary Robbins and The Barkley Marathons. And I couldn't help but feel a bit ridiculous skipping out on a 75 minute run in some cold and wind, while he was in the midst of 60 hours in the middle of the woods in rain, fog, sleet, and got knows what else. So I used that as inspiration and got myself out on the road. I couldn't feel my right hand by the time I returned, but in the end I'm glad I got out there. Let that be a lesson: take your inspiration wherever you can find it, as long as it gets you out the door!
I think that's more than enough from me for this week. As always, thanks for reading. Cheers!
In the last month or so, there have been some phenomenal performances by Newfoundland athletes on the National and International stage. Katelyn Osmond won two Olympic medals and a World Championship. Liam Hickey won a silver medal as a member of the Canadian Sledge Hockey team at the Paralympics. And Brad Gushue's rink defended their Brier Championship and are preparing to defend their World Championship. These are all fantastic accomplishments that have been rightly celebrated.
What you may not know is that as I'm writing this, another Newfoundlander has been in the woods in Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee for about 36 hours, attempting to complete what is surely one of the most grueling races on the planet. And if he is to finish, he'll be out there for about another 24 hours yet! That man is Gary Robbins, and the event he is trying to complete is known as The Barkley Marathons.
The first thing you may notice is the little 's' at the end of the word 'Marathon'. That's because Gary is an ultra-marathoner. Ultra-marathons vary in distance, but they are all longer than the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles, or 42.2 kilometres. Gary has competed in 100 kilometer and 100 mile races against the best in the world, and his results are quite impressive.
Now, most ultra-marathon's are still generally run in the same manner as a standard race. There is a marked course, often a trail, checkpoints that have to be passed, and a time limit to complete the race. The Barkley Marathons is not just any other race though.
My first introduction to The Barkley Marathons was when I heard that a Newfoundlander (Gary) was competing in it in 2016. I found the idea of the race fascinating, and I immediately watched a recently released documentary titled "The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young". Unfortunately it is no longer available on Netflix, but it can be purchased via a number of sites online if you are interested. Here are some brief details about the race for those who are unfamiliar:
- the application process is secret; you need to work just to find out how to apply.
- only 40 competitors are accepted each year.
- the course is unmarked; the competitors are given a map with the checkpoints when they arrive and check-in.
- the start time can be anywhere between 12:00 am and 12:00 pm on race day; a conch shell is blown an hour before to alert the competitors.
- competitors must complete 5 loops within a 60 hour time limit. The first 4 are run with 2 clockwise and 2 counter- clockwise. The fifth loop, each competitor who leaves must go in the opposite direction from the last, to prevent teamwork for the final loop.
- each loop is nominally 20 miles; the problem is they change the course every time someone finishes, to make it more difficult; so most estimates now put the loops closer to 30 miles than 20.
- the checkpoints on the course are marked by books; the competitors are given a different bib number for each loop, and you must return with your page number from each of the books on course.
That covers some of the most basic quirks of the race. It really is impossible to do it justice in words though; the documentary does a fantastic job of laying it all out.
So that is The Barkley Marathons in a nutshell, which brings me back to Gary Robbins. In 2016, on his first attempt, Gary completed 4.5 loops before having to bow out. He returned in 2017, and he came agonizingly close to finishing, only to fall short yet again. While no cameras are allowed on course, Gary had a film crew in camp with him during his first two attempts. The documentary, titled "Where Dreams Go To Die: Gary Robbins and The Barkley Marathons" was released earlier this year. I watched it this weekend, and it is fantastic. It can be purchased online for about $11 CAD, and if you have any interest in what it takes to push a human being near the edge of their mental and physical capabilities, this film is a must watch. Seeing the planning, training, and effort that Gary and his family put into this endeavour is truly inspiring.
In the history of the Barkley Marathons, stretching over 30 years, there have only been 15 different people complete the full 5 loops, for a total of 18 finishes. That is out of a total of more than 1200 entries. So if Gary can achieve a finish on his 3rd attempt this year, he is truly joining elite company. And though he got a decent amount of media coverage due to how close he came last year, I hope he receives even more if he is able to pull it off this year, because what he is doing is truly astonishing.
Weekly Summaries (March 12-18 and 19-25)
Mon. (Evening): 10 min warmup, 10x1 min w/ 1 min recovery (3:38/km average for intervals), 10 minute cooldown (Workout total: 7.83 km, 39:50, 5:05/km pace)
Tue. (Lunch): 6 km, 30:08, 5:01/km pace
Wed. (Lunch): 10 min warmup, 10 min tempo (8.9-9.5 mph, 4:00/km), 10 min cooldown [treadmill] (Workout total: 6.26 km, 30:00, 4:47/km pace)
Thu. (Lunch): 5 km, 24:49, 4:58/km pace [treadmill]
Fri.-Mon.: Off
Tue. (Lunch): 10 min warmup, 5x400m (11mph/82 sec, w/ 60 sec rest), 7 min cooldown [treadmill] (Workout total: 5.25 km, 23:50, 4:32/km pace)
Wed. (Lunch): 6 km, 30:05, 5:00/km pace
Thu. (Lunch): 7 min warmup, 2x5 min + 1x2 min tempo, w/ 2 min recovery (9.2 mph, 4:03/km), 7 min cooldown [treadmill] (Workout total: 6.34 km, 30:00, 4:44/km pace)
Fri: Off
Sat. (Morning): 2.97 km, 25:01, 8:25/km pace
Sun. (Afternoon): 14.6 km, 1:15:39, 5:10/km pace
Total: 60.2 km
When I last wrote, I mentioned that my next week of training, March 12-18, would be scaled back a little due to a bowling tournament that weekend. I did manage to get in 4 runs in the early part of that week, and I got some good variety. I did an outdoor speed session with a friend Monday evening, and we were paced by David Freake, who is coaching her. It was nice to get some speed work done on the pavement, but having someone like Dave pace me showed me how far I have to go to get where I want to be this year! Thankfully I've signed up for a Tely Training program with him for the next few months, so that should definitely help. :)
I finished out that week with a nice outdoor recovery run on Tuesday, a tempo on the treadmill Wednesday, and an easy 5k on the treadmill Thursday. I then proceeded to bowl all weekend, while having late nights Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Needless to say, that impacted my training more the week AFTER than it did the week before. haha
This past week, March 19-25, was tough. I was supposed to do 7x400m on Tuesday, and I had to cut it short to 5 intervals. On Thursday, I planned to do 3x5 minute tempos at goal Tely pace, and again I had to cut the last one short. Thankfully, Saturday morning was a reprieve both mentally and physically, as I got to help lead our Learn to Run group with the Paradise Running Club. It was great to meet a group of people who are just learning to love the sport of running [although a little reluctantly for some. :)], and it was also nice to head out for a run with no real goal in mind personally.
Then came today, and I had a long run on the schedule. I was planning to go with a friend in the morning, but she had to skip due to family commitments, and I was honestly grateful. The wind sounded dreadful, and I had no desire to go out and run in it. But then, I spent the whole day reading updates on Twitter about Gary Robbins and The Barkley Marathons. And I couldn't help but feel a bit ridiculous skipping out on a 75 minute run in some cold and wind, while he was in the midst of 60 hours in the middle of the woods in rain, fog, sleet, and got knows what else. So I used that as inspiration and got myself out on the road. I couldn't feel my right hand by the time I returned, but in the end I'm glad I got out there. Let that be a lesson: take your inspiration wherever you can find it, as long as it gets you out the door!
I think that's more than enough from me for this week. As always, thanks for reading. Cheers!
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