#200: Lazarus Lake Walking Across America, After Legend Led Historic Barkley Marathons

Run The Race

On this episode #200, we have a special repeat guest: famous race director Lazarus Lake (real name: Gary Cantrell), as he walks across America! He talks about the ins and outs of that walk 3,000 miles across America...the most grueling footrace in the world, the historic Barkley Marathons event that just happened and that he's led for nearly 4 decades, where they just had their first ever female finisher...and virtual racing that's still around, like an event he helped create that allows anyone in the world to join him on this transcon. After a quick flashback to May 2020 when I asked Laz about a woman potentially finishing The Barkley, (7:00) we move ahead to the new chat with this ultrarunning icon. We get updates from him on "Lazcon 2024," as he's in West Virginia and facing physical challenges. Why do it? He says it's either do something or wait to die. And Laz is excited about what's around the corner, meeting some great people throughout the USA. He likes to be active but wants there to be a point to exercise. Telling his story online is a big part of this, (14:11) as a read a quick portion of one of his entertaining blog entries on Facebook. He's approaching the transcon one day at a time, unplugging from tech & the world. (21:08) Lazarus Lake gives his take on the latest edition of The Barkley Marathons (since 1986), with a record 5 finishers a month ago. He calls what Jasmin Paris did one of the greatest athletic achievements! She finished with 99 seconds to spare, with 60 hour time limit. Will he increase the challenge, if possible, on the course at Frozen Head State Park in TN? This race is also built around uncertainty. What does it take? How does he fill about seeing people finish this grueling event? What's his future with the race? (30:33) Virtual racing is still popular, like a new version about to kick off of GVRAT that Laz helped create in 2020, now the Great Virtual Race Across the States where you can join this man's journey, with miles from home: https://gvrat.racing/. (38:34) Check out a bonus listen to part of "Run The Race" episode #26, my first chat with Laz from Spring of 2020 about how he started running, including the pain of the mile...how Lazarus got his nickname...the mental and spiritual side of running...wisdom on pushing to goals...his completed transcon journey from 2018...how the Barkley Marathons got started, historic inspiration for the route, more inside details...and more personal stuff about this famous race director. (58:24) I close it out in prayer, like all/most of the previous 199 episodes. Thanks for listening to the #RunTheRace podcast, which I hope you'll subscribe to! Share it with your friends. Also, write a quick review about it, on Apple podcasts. For more info and listen to any previous episodes, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.