The White Whale of Tennessee
For three years I obsessively chased my white whale through the very Tennessee mountains where I grew up. In 2015 I failed after 3 loops, a harsh introduction to Barkley where I had been doomed by a poor nutrition strategy. In 2016 I failed just after starting the 5th loop, done in by navigational errors that led to sleep deprivation. Those taught me valuables lessons, though, and I came into this year’s race more prepared, with a better mindset, and with the same incredible support from my wife, family, and friends, as well as some outstanding companies.
The Barkley quickly made a mockery of my preparation with a dense fog that threw the race into chaos from the very start. I teamed up with Gary Robbins and we clawed back from those early errors to put ourselves in position to finish. The 5th and final loop brought severe sleep deprivation, rain, cold, and the return of the fog before I returned to camp to touch the yellow gate and complete the race in 59 hours and 30 minutes. The white whale was dead. Three years of work that encompassed over six total days on course for the accomplishment of a lifetime.
The experience of this race is one that I’ll never forget and I tried to capture that as well as I could in my full race report. It’s a bit lengthy, but I hope that you’ll enjoy it and take something meaningful away from it. So curl up with your electronic reading device and beverage of choice and head on over to iRunFar to read my full 2017 Barkley Marathons Race Report. Thank you to so many friends for capturing great pictures of the race, including Howie Stern Photography and Josh Patton Designs.
Hi John,
I don’t know that you will remember me…I was in school with Patrick until you guys went to Oak Ridge and we went to church together at Union. I’ve followed your progress every year. I’m embarrassed that I had never even heard of the Barkley until you entered for the first time! I have so enjoyed reading your posts about the entire experience. I just wanted to congratulate you on such an amazing accomplishment, and I know so many people back home in our tiny little Joyner community are so proud of you!
Thank you very much, that means a lot! We had the fortune of growing up in an amazing area, and the community and the mountains are both things to be incredibly proud of as well
I have never heard of the term “toboggan”, what we would call a “toque” up here in Canada. I loved reading all those little details from the Barkley.
Loved reading how you and Gary worked together those 1st 4 loops, Gary navigating by the book, and yourself having some familiarity with this area of navigating by your instinct. And I have so much respect how you kept the group on track early on in the race.
I am in awe of your decision making such as “picking the most miserable spot you could find” so you could wake up from that power nap. And to keep running right to the gate for fear of falling asleep if you were to walk that final 100 yards.
It would be such a deeply personal thing to complete this in these mountains of Tennessee you call home. And very touched by your words in “Voyage Home”. John, you are an extremely humble fellow human being. I am sure there will be multitudes more, but you can count me as one of those “10 people seeking a better version of myself”.
God’s blessings upon you and your precious family.
Sincerely,
Carl Wright
Thank you very much for your kind words! It was definitely the experience and achievement of a lifetime for me, and I’m glad that you were able to take a good deal away from it as well.
Thank you John!
Freaking amazing John! I first heard of you only recently via the Hammer Nutrition sponsored athlete Facebook Group (they sponsor me as well) and it’s been SO cool reading about your prep and now your race report. Way to get it done. And with three kids too! You have a new fan. 🙂
Thank you very much! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the reading and I hope to see you out at a Hammer event one day!
Why does Laz smoke? Doesn’t he know that’s bad for him and a big no no around running groups?
Well, you should probably ask laz. My guess is that he enjoys it, and has carefully weighed the enjoyment / risk tradeoff that exists with many decisions we make, and has concluded he will keep doing it. He doesn’t do it where anyone else has to inhale it, and really any runner who takes themselves so seriously as to get offended by someone else doing something that doesn’t affect them isn’t going to do well at Barkley.
Hi John,
I’ve just finished reading your race reports. I throroughly enjoyed them. It was fascinating to get a taste of the brutal and insane experience that is Barkley. I’ve been reading the reports the last few days as I lay with my two year old to help settle him. I’m very much sleep deprived but after reading your wonderful accounts, I’ll never complain again!!
Thank you for sharing, I have really enjoyed the reads and I wish you well with whatever adventures await you.
Áine
Thank you so much. It’s always great to know that things on here are still worthwhile years later. Justifies having a blog! And I know what you mean with the two year old… best of luck!