[bomelia]

Wow! Come back in here and all heck has broken loose!

Anyways, as some of you know, I have a passion for incredibly difficult running events that is no way matched to my ability. On Saturday, April 4, I will be present for the annual running of the Barkley Marathon in the Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee. This race was started after James Earl Ray (MLK assassin) escaped from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary back in the 70's. It took Ray 56 hours to make it little more than 8 miles from the prison. When they found him, he was grateful. Someone thought that was odd, how hard could it be? The Barkley Marathon was born. To learn more, Google "Barkley Marathon" and "why we compete" for a Wahington Post article on this race. I have tried for three years to get in. Unfortunately this year, I succeeded.

The race is 5 loops on a "twenty" mile course. There is a fun run too. Its three of the five loops. No one takes the twenty mile thing seriously. Many swear it is more like 25-35 miles. Each loop does have 11,000 feet of elevation gain and loss (unless you get lost). Three loops is like climbing Mt Everest (if you were counting.) There are no course markings and no trails for that matter. Each runner must find his/her way to about 11 "way points" where there are books. Each runner must tear out a page of the book (prescribed) to prove they were there (and bring it back). The fun run must be completed in 40 hours. 5 loops, 60 hours.

In the 25 year history of the race, only 7 "god like runners" have ever completed it. None were women.

You can get up to date reports on twitter.com by "following" keithdunn. Should be an excellent source of laughs for you all this weekend. Really. I have put all tool purchases on hold till Monday. Not buying green bananas either.

Mike O'Melia

Edit: Upon learning of our friend Warren T Meyer's passing, I would like to dedicate my effort to his memory. I promise to try extra hard, and when thoughts of giving up enter my mind (as they most assuredly will), I will try harder. That is all I can do. God speed Warren.