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 year Barkley strikes back!

 

There were 456 people that toed the line according to the BFC list. Very fitting, because this day felt like Squid Games. Led by the overzealous and overconfident individuals, such as myself, we charged up the briar filled Grade 3 Mountain Climb to the water tower. I’ve worn the battle scars littered across my body as a badge of honor. We headed across the park towards North Bird Mountain where the next game takes place. Traversing the downhill ridge felt like running on marbles. Every step must be made carefully, boldly, and confidently as it challenges even the most seasoned veteran. I had severely rolled my good ankle the prior weekend. I wore ankle braces and taped them up to protect myself as much as I could.

 

The real challenge began climbing up the backside of Bird Mountain heading back towards the infamous Yellow Gate. I regained my strength as others were struggling to maintain. Running through frozen head was energizing. Seeing Stacy at the visitor center right before heading up Chimney Tops was all the motivation I needed. I refocused and charged up the switchbacks. My mantra was, “Don’t Stop! Keep Moving! Barkley waits for nobody!” That was quickly challenged reaching the pinnacle of Chimney Top, but I persevered.  

 

Making it back to the water tower, was a welcomed sight. The warmup was now over, and the real battle began. One wrong move and she will live up to her name by chewing you up and spitting you out. Big rat hadn’t been cleared out by the initial climb in the morning, so navigating was treacherous. The briars continued to tear up skin and flesh. The descent is so daunting, it makes breaking into Brushy Mountain Prison a welcomed sight!

 

Making it back to the start/finish line brings a giant sigh of relief. This felt like halftime in football. Time to regroup and continue making progress in the 2^nd half. I passed my girlfriend Stacy who volunteered at the aid station and continue with a smile and a kiss. I charged out of the prison and up Meth Lab. I’m fully exposed in the sun now and it’s beating upon us. Don’t feel bad for us, we willingly volunteered to do this! The recent drought makes the rocky face difficult to climb in sections, creating a slick dustbowl, forcing you to traverse upwards by bear crawling.

 

Once you think you reach the top, you realize there’s a false front. You’re only hallway there, and the toughest part is right in front of you. The final climb up Meth Lab is torturous. Every fiber in your muscle is sore as you cling and pry to every inch you advance. Just to make this process even more difficult, there’s Jenny at the top taking candid pictures of your suffering and an amazing artist painting the landscape you escaped from.

 

Looking down into the valley of Spectacle, you can see the worst parade ever taking place. It looks like drones of ants are slowly moving across this small path along the power lines. This nearly feels like a break compared to what we just endured. The young Coalfield boys even provide us with some ice-cold Coke, which briefly distracts us from the battlefield we must return to. The climb up Spectacle is deflating, it felt so easy going downhill.

 

After swinging around the gate and looking down Meth Lab, this trek is going to be difficult. There are many other hopefuls trying to survive that I must navigate. It’s too steep to do so on foot with so many people heading the opposite way, so I decided to do the “Booty Scootin’ Boogie” back down Meth Lab to avoid my fellow runners and head back to prison. 

 

The decision point has been placed in the most sadistical spot it can be put. This is payback for having it too easy the past couple of years. You must tell the game maker, Laz, if you want to give up, knowing your car and a fresh change of clothes is only 100ft away or face your fear and ascend Big Rat and Rat Jaw once more before coming back down, followed by Meth Lab and Spectacle before finishing.

 

I remain fearless and charge up Big Rat. I spent most of that climb on all 4 fours scratching and clawing my way up the mountain. Making this even more difficult is the climb must be done while runners are coming down. There is no momentum being maintained. It’s Red Light, Green Light up the mountain. The briars remain in your face, cutting your legs and arms. There are multiple false fronts, tricking you into believing the end is near. The sun is sitting high above you, laughing at your pain and misery. Finally in the distance, you can see this tower that shines bright in the glistening sun. It seems like a mirage until you finally escape the clutches of Rat Jaw.

 

It’s time for a deep sigh of relief and a quick respite down the backside of the mountain alongside Rat Jaw before the final act begins. I get to see my beautiful and loving Stacy one more time. I charged into the finale with all the effort and energy I can muster. Approaching Meth Lab, I can feel my body weaken. My arms and legs tighten up and aren’t as reliable as they once were. A couple of my fellow warriors fly past me as I struggle to ascend Meth Lab one final time. I stop every couple of minutes and take a deep breath. The sun has started to hide behind the mountains, and it’s cooling off quickly as the breeze rolls in. My chest burns more with each passing minute.

 

I reach the top and preserve my energy down Spectacle. I collect everything I have to make my final push to the finish. I am crawling on my hands and knees up Spectacle. Something I thought was relatively easy the 1^st time, now I can barely make any progress on it. There’s another runner 20 feet ahead of me, but I can’t catch him at first. He stays a step ahead of me. Unrelenting to give up a position. We go back and forth for several minutes trying to reach the top of Spectacle. On the final climb, I go into a brushy area and put forth all my effort to reach the gate and summit the top to pass.

 

I have no energy left and head straight down sliding on my butt once more. There were fewer runners on course, but they were far less forgiving in letting me get past them as they fiercely continue their battle to finish. Locked in and laser focused, my only goal is to finish before dark. I aggressively and assertively circumvent Meth Lab and my fellow runners. I finally reach the bottom and let out a giant sigh. I hadn’t seen a clock or looked at a watch all day, so I ran back to the finish. I never felt so happy to return to Prison.

 

I ran into the parking lot, make the final turn and finish in just over 12 hours. I get my Croix from the Durbin’s and exit stage right surrounded by friends, East Coast teammates, and most importantly my love Stacy. You make everything so much more meaningful. I tried to collect myself but was so exhausted my legs gave out and had to sit down.

 

BFC finishers receive a Croix. It’s based off the Croix de Guerre, which is a French medal awarded during WWI and WWI for acts of bravery and valor during wartime. All 456 of us went to war, we fought different battles and have unique stories we took away from this day. I was one of the 20 fortunate souls who survived the day when Barkley Bit the Amateurs Back. During battle, we came together for a greater cause. I’m grateful for those I encountered at Barkley on this day. We supported one another, encouraging everyone to continue and persevere. Don’t forget about the 18 additional badasses that decided to go for it all, wouldn’t relent, gave their all to earn the precious Croix, and fell just short. Another 198 combatants that conquered the park one time around, and countless others that toed the line in the hope of finishing.

 

From the bottom of my heart, I thank Laz, the Durbin’s, Mike Melton, MCM Timing, Bad Mike, Carl, Keith Dunn, Coalfield Football and their families. The incredible support from Frozen Head State Park, Brushy Mountain Penitentiary, The Cattlemen Association makes this race one of a kind. I am truly grateful to everyone who volunteered or supported this race. I look forward to next year. Please make it harder Laz, this year was a little too easy. LOL JK.