Just like many of the runners out there, I have written off the hardships and am ready to try it again. And now, less than a week later, I want more. After 10 hours and 17 minutes of blood, sweat and tearsВ sweat in my eyes, I failed. I still got my dog tags for completing the marathon but it wasnвЂ™t the race I had set out to finish. For the first time ever in a race, I had to take the bailout option due to being twenty minutes past cut-off. I can normally squelch the negative thoughts that pop up when running but halfway through this race I got deep into the philosophy of pain and suffering вЂ“ вЂњDo I even like running?вЂќ вЂњHow could it be THIS hard?вЂќ вЂњWHYYYY?вЂќД«ut that is the point of the race after all, to challenge us to reach within ourselves and if need be, to embrace failure. It is supposed to make runners fail and has done a pretty good job at that, with less than a 2% finish rate in over 30 years.Д«ut even though the BFC is easy compared to the real Barkley, it still crushed my soul.

The Barkley, on the other hand, is known as вЂњthe race that eats its youngвЂќ. attainable for anyone, but easy for no oneвЂќ. To quote Laz, the goal for the Barkley Fall Classic is to provide a вЂњfinish. The Fall Classic is also вЂњonlyвЂќ a 50k, although that is contestable, with the option of a bailout marathon for anyone not meeting the time requirements and/or for those who decide theyвЂ™ve had enough. Unlike the original Barkley, anyone can register for this one and you can get along just fine without a compass. Let him warn them, ( H) so that they will not also come to this place of torment.вЂ™Дў9В вЂњAbraham replied, вЂThey have Moses ( I) and the Prophets ( J) let them listen to them.вЂ™ДЈ0В вЂњвЂNo, father Abraham,вЂ™ ( K) he said, вЂbut if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.вЂ™ДЈ1В вЂњHe said to him, вЂIf they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.The Barkley Fall Classic exists to give runners a taste of the real Barkley, a 100 mile race that is known for being the most difficult and secretive trail race in the world. ( G) 26В And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.вЂ™Дў7В вЂњHe answered, вЂThen I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28В for I have five brothers.

24В So he called to him, вЂFather Abraham, ( D) have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.вЂ™ ( E)Дў5В вЂњBut Abraham replied, вЂSon, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, ( F) but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 23В In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ( C) Even the dogs came and licked his sores.Дў2В вЂњThe time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to AbrahamвЂ™s side.

( A) 20В At his gate was laid a beggar ( B) named Lazarus, covered with sores 21В and longing to eat what fell from the rich manвЂ™s table.

19В вЂњThere was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.

Lazarus lake