Trail running enthusiasts around the world had their eyes glued to social media feeds on Tuesday morning as the Barkley Marathons got underway at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. The annual event, organized by Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell, is known as the quirkiest race in the world of trail running, with about 40 runners embarking on a grueling challenge that involves completing five 20- to 25-mile loops with about 12,000 feet of climbing. However, the race is much more than that. Runners must also navigate steep hills, brambles, and slippery terrain while battling often cold and wet conditions.
kunanyi Mountain Run returns for its second year with an exceptionally strong field of 800 plus runners, including some of Australia’s fastest trail runners. With automatic spots up for grabs for the Australian team at the 2023 World Trail and Mountain Championships and the 2024 Skyrunning World Champs, the Ultra 67km and Vertical Kilometre have quickly made the event a huge drawcard.
Gary Cantrell, better known by his pseudonym Lazarus Lake, is a legend in the ultra-marathon world as the founder and race director of the Barkley Marathons. This race is infamous for its sheer brutality, and only a handful of people have ever completed the five-lap, 100-mile course within the time limit of 60 hours. Lake's eccentricity and unforgiving style have made him a cult figure in the running community, and his quotes are often seen as sources of inspiration, if not outright terror.
When Abbey Caldwell became the second-fastest Australian woman over 800 metres in Sydney on 11 March, she renewed an age-old debate among those of who follow the middle distances. To wit: is it better to be coming down to the 800 from the 1500 metres end of the spectrum, or moving up from the 400 metres end.
Donavan Brazier, the American middle-distance running sensation, has expressed his eagerness to compete in 2023, following his second surgery in February. Brazier had a phenomenal season in 2019, setting an American record for the 800 meters and a world-best time for the 600 meters, and ending the year by winning the world title in the 800 meters in record-breaking fashion.
Molly Huddle, the three-time winner of the United Airlines NYC Half, is making a comeback to the race after a six-year hiatus. The 38-year-old athlete considers the event to be a significant turning point in her career, having triumphed in the race three times since her debut in 2014, defeating some of the world's top runners.
Brisbane, Australia; March 20, 2023 - The clock is ticking, the excitement is building and the adrenaline is flowing as the country’s top-tier talent approach the starting line of an historic edition of the Australian Track and Field Championships. In 10 days’ time, Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre will play host to the 100th edition of the national event.
Faith Kipyegon, a two-time world and Olympic 1500m champion hailing from Kenya, is getting ready for her first major competition of the year. She'll be heading back to the Wanda Diamond League meet in Doha on May 5th, where she's hoping to start her season on a strong note.
Hellen Obiri from Kenya and Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda secured wins in their debut at the United Airlines NYC Half, persevering through freezing temperatures and strong headwinds to claim their titles. Obiri set a new event and course record, clocking in at 1:07:21, which was 14 seconds faster than the previous record held by Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia from last year's race. The two athletes each earned $20,000 in prize money for their outstanding performances.
On Thursday, the Barkley Marathons in Morgan County saw three runners cross the finish line. Keith Dunn, who has provided live coverage for the event for many years, confirmed that Aurélien Sanchez, John Kelly, and Karel Sabbe completed the 2023 "world's toughest trail race" in less than 60 hours.
