BFC 2025: The Course We All Joked About Finally Happened
What if we had to go up Rat Jaw twice? That was a question I asked my friend Stephen after the 2023 Barkley Fall Classic. I withdrew early and volunteered at the start/finish line when I got to see him finish during the night. With the increased number of finishers at the Barkley Marathons and BFC, all of us runners, including myself, started to take Brushy Mountain and Frozen Head too lightly. Laz and company firmly reminded us how treacherous Frozen Head can be this year. The tone of this race felt different. The devastating results from Barkley Marathons this spring foreshadowed what the aspiring BFC hopefuls were going to endure on this September day. Starting at the prison? Let’s go! Straight up Rat Jaw? Sounds like fun! Old Mac Trail closed…. Now What!!? Laz warned us all this year was going to be different. No more easing into Barkley. No getting to test the waters around Frozen Head before taking a bite and claiming victims. 2025 had a very clear message. It was the y...