![\"12698241_1091566050874473_785803915803659182_o\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/12698241_1091566050874473_785803915803659182_o.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMFH liked the race registration fee.\u00a0 What was it, $1.60 and a flannel shirt or some socks?\u00a0 Something like that.\u00a0 Oh!\u00a0 And a license plate from your home state\/country if this was your “virgin” year at Barkley.\u00a0 I thought that was hilarious…and bent.\u00a0 It appealed to me immediately…and besides, how many races have the “starting gun” be a guy lighting up a smoke?\u00a0 I loved everything about it!<\/p>\n
Seeing the runners congregate at the yellow gate?\u00a0 I knew I HAD to get to that gate.\u00a0 HAD TO!!!<\/p>\n The question was, how did a runner get to the yellow gate.\u00a0 That was the million dollar question and I’ve been trying to learn exactly how to do that.\u00a0 While I’ve been trying to learn the secret handshake, I’ve been working hard on my abilities as a runner.\u00a0 Pushing my limits.\u00a0 Increasing the distances.\u00a0 Working hard to prepare myself for my ultimate #BucketList race.<\/p>\n Since that initial viewing of the documentary, I’m very seriously embarrassed to admit to the exact number of times I’ve watched it.\u00a0 I’m mesmerized.<\/p>\n Any race that has places in it with names like: “Rat Jaw” and “Testicle Spectacle….” let alone the elevation gain of 12,000+ feet per loop?\u00a0 There are simply no words!<\/p>\n Now, this kid is no dumb bunny so I’ve been trying to figure out if the BIG\u00a0 Barkley, all five of those marathon plus length loops is anywhere near something I could ever hope to accomplish.\u00a0 I came to the realization that the “Fun Run,” successfully completing 3 loops would be a dream come true!\u00a0 I was also honest with myself and knew that doing ONE loop would be amazing!!!<\/p>\n Enter what I affectionately call the Baby Barkley or the Barkley Fall Classic (BFC).<\/p>\n A few of my friends announced they would be running the Barkley Fall Classic this year (Sept 2017) and I’ve been watching their training with keen interest.\u00a0 I watched them last weekend as they struggled and conquered those famous obstacles of the BIG Barkley.<\/p>\n To simplify explanation, the BFC is pretty much one loop of the Big Barkley. There’s a few differences but not a lot.\u00a0 I thought, I could get my feet wet at the BFC!\u00a0 See what this thing is all about and give it a shot.<\/p>\n Now, poor MFH, he gives me these talks…I tend to chase rabbits with my running goals but I really DO want to focus on ultra running and have been seriously working that way over that past few years.\u00a0 Knowing this, when I told him Friday evening I was setting the alarm for 10:45pm so I could try to register at 11:00pm for the BFC, he just gave a resigned *sigh.*\u00a0 When the alarm went off, I tiptoed out of the bedroom and booted up my laptop.<\/p>\n Right at 11:00, I was on UltraSignup trying to register.\u00a0 I think just about every other person on the planet was doing the same thing because the site wasn’t budging!\u00a0 It was locked down solid!!!\u00a0 I would fidget, pray for the site to open, fidget some more, open a new window and try again to get in!<\/p>\n Finally after about 40 minutes of trying, I managed to be able to click on the register button!\u00a0 I thought for sure it was sold out already but the register button said there were 22 slots left.<\/p>\n YAY and YIKES!!!\u00a0 YAY that it wasn’t sold out but YIKES because there were only 22 slots left!\u00a0 The way my laptop was doing a big fat nothing, I figured for sure I was doomed.<\/p>\n All of a sudden, I was asked what size shirt I wanted, had I run BFC before, if I could would I run the BIG Barkley (of course!) and then asked for my CC information.\u00a0 I gave all the info and hit SUBMIT!<\/p>\n The most beautiful sight in the world appeared before my eyes:<\/p>\n I Was In!!!<\/p>\n![\"laz2.inart\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/laz2.inart_.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"the-barkley-marathons-the-race-that-eats-its--L-0lVkEs\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/the-barkley-marathons-the-race-that-eats-its-L-0lVkEs.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"bar1\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/bar1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Processed](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/IMG_4341.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"21764884_1453327614787370_4205404555497126406_n\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/21764884_1453327614787370_4205404555497126406_n.jpg\")
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![\"DKYhReiU8AAv8Gk\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/DKYhReiU8AAv8Gk.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"21430617_1442082785911853_615362789609893065_n\"](\"http:\/\/w0ep.us\/TM\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/21430617_1442082785911853_615362789609893065_n.jpg\")
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