The Last Runner - My 2017 Barkley Fall Classic Experience

The sun was going down and I knew I was on the wrong side of Bird Mountain. I hadn't seen nor heard another soul in two hours. Time was quickly running out on getting my second BFC Marathon finish. At least I still had some water. Had I made a navigational error? Where were the course sweepers? If I was on the wrong trail they wouldn't find me! Would I be sleeping under leaves tonight? How had it come down to this?

Let me begin in the beginning. For the 2017 BFC I changed up my training. I wasn't so concerned about just logging flat road miles. I was more concerned about running hilly singletrack. I did a lot of runs at Freedom Park. I also made a trip out to Humpback Rocks on the Blue Ridge Parkway with Rob for a little mountain training. I also did a lot of lunges, squats, glute bridges, etc. to get ready for the expected steep climbs. We wouldn't know exactly what the course would be until packet pickup where the give you a map.

Steve Durbin made a post to the BFC Facebook page about the possibility of camping at the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Supposedly they were trying run water lines for showers. That seemed like a cool idea and a great way to save some money. Craig and I were both talking about camping there.

A few days before the race I decided I would drive to Oak Ridge, TN and stay in a hotel on Thursday night and then camp out Friday before the race and Saturday after the race.

The drive to Tennessee was uneventful. I remember being amused at the Dolly Parton music blasting at the TN welcome center on I-81.

Friday morning I left Oak Ridge and decided to go to the prison first to check on the camping situation. I drove around a curve and caught a glimpse of Rat Jaw in the distance. It gave me chills.

Meth Lab Hill viewed from Highway 116

I pulled up at the prison and saw two porta-johns, two tents and no sign of showers. I decided I wouldn't be camping there. I decided to go check out the park and then drive to packet pickup afterwards.

View from the main road

Here's your sign

I parked at the ranger station and who should I meet? It was John! We climbed Rat Jaw together two years previously.

With John at the famous yellow gate

We each bought some stuff and then decided to walk up to the yellow gate to take some pictures.

Stay On Trail!

Bird Mountain Sign

We eventually walked up to the start of North Bird Mountain Trail. We met someone who had already been to packet pickup. He showed us the course map. Instead of starting out on N. Bird Mountain Trail the course had been rearranged and we would be finishing up the race on N. Bird Mountain Trail.

Hanging out with Laz at packet pickup

I went to packet pickup and got a selfie with Laz. I asked him if he ever imagined that he would be famous. He said no, he and Raw Dog were just two hillbillies who put on a race.

I think Laz is really good at sizing up people. In 2015 he told me to make sure I had plenty of water, but I didn't listen and ran out. I mentioned something about the course change and coming back on N. Bird Mountain Trail. He told me it was going to be a lot more difficult than I imagined. He was right of course.

Keith M. Dunn - he live tweets the Big Barkley

I was happy I also got to meet Keith M. Dunn. I have followed him on twitter for years. He live tweets the Big Barkley. It's about the only way to find out what's going on.

I decided to camp out behind the American Legion Hall where packet pickup was located. It was a big mistake. It was so noisy I hardly got any sleep before the race. I remember being in my tent at 10:00 p.m. trying to fall asleep and thinking how weird it was hearing Laz chatting with someone about 20 ft away.

On race morning I got up and ate breakfast at the American Legion Hall and then drove over to the park. I saw Craig, John and others before the start. Then we were off.

We went on old Mac Trail first. It didn't take long for me to realize this would not be my day. I just didn't feel right. Somewhere along the way I tripped and gashed my knee on a rock. When I got to the first aid station a ranger asked if I was really going to attempt Rat Jaw with my knee cut. I said of course I would.

Coming down to the left turn onto Testicle Spectacle

This year I decided not to take any photos during the race. I knew from 2015 that photos just don't do it justice. It's hard to show how steep those mountains are in two dimensions.

Once we got to Testicle Spectacle I started feeling better. I enjoyed getting to the bottom and crossing the river before reaching the aid station at the church. I met Tasha and we climbed back up Testicle together. We split up somewhere going down Meth Lab Hill.

Somewhere on Testicle Spectacle

At the bottom of Meth Lab you get on a little pavement and run to the prison. I went through the prison, over the wall on a ladder and then took the tunnel under the prison. I have to say I was underwhelmed by the tunnel. One good thing though it was a chance to cool off before climbing Rat Jaw.

I climbed Rat Jaw with Tasha. It was pretty hot and there were bees all around us. Fortunately the bees didn't sting. At some point Tasha gave me some salt which really helped.

Two thirds up Rat Jaw

I think all of my squats and lunges paid off. Testicle and Rat Jaw seemed much easier this time.

After Rat Jaw I didn't see Tasha much more. I made a quick stop at Tubb Springs aid station and headed for the Garden Spot. I was with a guy who does a lot of rucking. We came to a spot where the trail went straight but also had a branch to the left going up. We should have gone left but we went straight because we could see lots of fresh tracks going that way. After about 15 minutes we met a group that said to go back. They had been lost back there for over an hour. So we retraced our steps and went up to the Garden Spot to get our bibs punched. We probably wasted a half hour going the wrong way.

Then we headed for the Bald Knob Aid Station. There were probably six or so of us running together. Somewhere along the way everyone started worrying we were on the wrong trail. It was almost like mass hysteria in the group. I think I was the only one who had run BFC before. I said no, we're on the right trail. I recognized that we had just crossed the Son of Bitch Ditch. They finally calmed down and seemed to believe me. We kind of split up after that. It seemed like it took forever to get to Bald Knob. I got something to eat and took off.

All of the sudden I was out there by myself. I remember hearing loud noises and realizing it was giant acorns hitting the ground.

It was here I started thinking the thoughts from my first paragraph. Eventually three course sweepers caught up to me. It was Hiram, who I had met last time, Dusty and another guy with trekking poles. I wasn't moving well at all. I was actually leaned over. They set me down and we had the ultra talk. Dusty started asking questions. "Have you been eating?" Yes. "Have you been drinking?" Yes. "If you don't mind a girl asking, have you been peeing?" Yes. I lied. I hadn't gone since before the prison. Dusty gave me salt and some trail mix to eat. Eventually I ran out of water and Hiram gave me his. They guy with the trekking poles gave them to me to use. He eventually took off for the finish. Hiram and Dusty were very nice to me and made sure I made down off the mountain.

I remember asking Hiram how much further it was. He said it was another six miles with a major climb involved. I think I groaned.

I had always wondered what it would be like to be on the trails of Frozen Head after dark. Well I got to find out. I was kind of embarrassed but Dusty and Hiram said it could happen to anyone. They even joked about Dusty causing Hiram to do his slowest ever Barkley loop.

We kept going and saw someone approaching. It was a ranger coming to find out why the sweepers hadn't radioed in. The FRS radios they have don't carry well in those mountains. I remember the ranger calling the other rangers saying the sweepers were bringing the last runner down from the mountain.

Finally we made it back. I think Hiram said it was 9:44. I was supposed to be finished by 8:20 so no BFC Marathon for me this time.

I think my main issue was not eating enough and not getting enough salt in relationship to all of the water I drank.

I really appreciate the sweepers and rangers making sure I got down off the mountain okay.

There you have it.

Goodbye Frozen Head. How many hearts have you broken?