Enlarge image
Marina Weber-Kollassa during the 2022 Barkley Marathon
Photo:
Marina Weber-Kollassa
SPIEGEL:
On Friday, Brit Jasmin Paris became the first woman to successfully complete the infamous Barkley Marathon. Ms. Weber-Kollassa, you also took part in the race in 2022, even together with Jasmin Paris. How far did you make it back then?
Weber-Kollassa:
I finished one lap, 20 miles
(32.19 kilometers; editor's note)
, but not fast enough. I was on the road for almost 15 hours. It would have taken less than twelve hours to still have the chance to complete the race. With 13 hours and 20 minutes, they qualified for the “Fun Run,” which is three laps long.
SPIEGEL:
Were you satisfied with that?
Weber-Kollassa:
Totally. I had starting number one. She gets the so-called “human sacrifice”. This is the person the organizer believes least belongs there. This completely broke me. I had prepared extremely well for the race and then it was said: We don't believe in you. I didn't run really fast, at least not compared to the runners who made it to the finish. They were incredibly fast and precise.
SPIEGEL:
To what extent precise?
Weber-Kollassa:
You are not allowed to take a GPS device or cell phone with you during the race. To navigate you only have a map and a compass. You can get a cheap digital clock, but it only shows the time and some people break it. Then you completely lose track of time. But the most challenging thing is not having a path ahead of you. You don't run on official trails, but through no man's land, everything looks the same. I constantly asked myself whether I was in the right place. This uncertainty takes a toll on you mentally. Especially because we know: 99 percent of the participants don't make it to the finish line.
SPIEGEL:
Have you ever gotten lost?
Weber-Kollassa:
In one situation I followed a veteran who had already taken part. She ran purposefully in one direction - and I followed, even though it seemed wrong to me. When it comes to the Barkley Marathon, the following applies: trust only yourself.
SPIEGEL:
So the head is more challenged than the body?
Weber-Kollassa:
Physically it's extreme. You walk through a forest with lots of thorn bushes. However, you can hardly see the thorns, actually only when it is too late. Added to this are the many meters in altitude. There are very steep climbs over roots and stones. Then things go steeply downhill in other places. One section of the trail is called “Lennart's Butt Ass Trail” because you can actually only slide down it on your butt. The changeable weather in the park makes it even more difficult.
SPIEGEL:
How do you ensure that no one takes shortcuts?
Weber-Kollassa:
Books are distributed along the route. You have to tear out the page that corresponds to your starting number. To find the books, you get pages of cryptic descriptions. An example: »You are standing in a place where there are ten trees. You'll find the book under the tree pointing to the right." When you stand there, you think: Ah yes, I understand it now.
SPIEGEL:
What kind of books were they?
Weber-Kollassa:
The first was one of my favorite books, “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. The other books had titles like "How Not to Die" and "Surely You Won't Die." Everything matched the absurdity of this race.
SPIEGEL:
Which brings us to inventor and organizer Gary Cantrell, also known as Lazarus Lake. How should you imagine this man?
Weber-Kollassa:
He's kind of an old, white man. Very American, very patriotic, but also very nice. At the same time, he simply enjoys torturing people. He is proud of his race and finds it incredibly inspiring when someone makes it to the finish. He is a runner through and through, there is nothing else for him. For example last year: I met him again at a race in Germany. That was after my maternity leave. So to get back in, I only ran part of the race. Then he asked me whether my daughter was worth this break from running. For me this is an absurd question. But it shows that running is his whole life. And for me it's just part of it. Nevertheless, it had been my goal for a long time to take part in the Barkley Marathon.
SPIEGEL:
Cantrell once told the NY Times: "All other big races are designed for you to be successful. The Barkley is designed for you to fail." That spoke to you?
Weber-Kollassa:
It's about having the courage to lose. We often do things that we know we can do. Because we're good at it. But doing something that you don't know, that you'll probably fail at, that's true courage. This challenge is what makes it so appealing. The unpredictability is part of the race.
SPIEGEL:
And it starts right from the start.
Weber-Kollassa:
You don't know exactly when it will be beforehand. The day is certain at some point, but not the time. It can happen between twelve o'clock in the evening and twelve o'clock at noon. Then Cantrell blows into a shell. When it sounds, you know: it's starting in an hour. For me it was still quite humane, around eight in the morning, 20 minutes after I got up. At the start, Cantrell lights a cigarette - that's basically the starting signal.
SPIEGEL:
The entry fee is only $1.60. However, the Barkley Marathon does not have a website. How does registration work?
Weber-Kollassa:
Anyone who wants to go there can find out.
SPIEGEL:
Sounds mysterious.
Weber-Kollassa:
But you have to put in a bit of work and get some information.
SPIEGEL:
A little Googling isn't enough?
Weber-Kollassa:
No. But Google is a start.
SPIEGEL:
Do you have to know someone who knows someone?
Weber-Kollassa:
Yes. I actually interviewed people, but a lot of it was other research. As I said, you can find out if you really want to.
SPIEGEL:
But you don't want to reveal how?
Weber-Kollassa:
No, finding out is part of the game.
SPIEGEL:
Is it true that you have to write an essay?
Weber-Kollassa:
Exactly. “Why I should be allowed to run the Barkley” is the topic. I also printed out the essay and framed it. Just like the promise. It came via email and is an expression of condolence.
SPIEGEL:
What significance does the Barkley Marathon have in the ultrarunning scene?
Weber-Kollassa:
The scene is divided: one half thinks it's really cool because it's so challenging. The other half is of the opinion: This no longer has anything to do with running. It's also a lot about navigation. And some climbs are very steep, so you can only walk up them, not run.
SPIEGEL:
Nevertheless, the Barkley Marathon is addictive, a participant once said. Will you try it again?
Weber-Kollassa:
Shortly after the 2022 race, I would definitely have said no. But it actually excites me. The atmosphere there was an experience in itself. You lived in a camp with the other participants and celebrated together after the race. You are a member of a select group. That connects. And I still remember it very fondly.