This story is free to read.

Director of ‘The Barkley Marathons’ comes to Chattanooga

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 4/3/16. Dale Holdaway, originally from Michigan currently living in Brazil, crosses Judge Branch on his third loop during the 30th running of the Barkley Marathons at Frozen Head State Park in Warburg, Tenn., on April 3, 2016. This was Holdaway's fifth attempt and he missed the 40-hour "Fun Run" (3-lap) cutoff by a few hours upon completing his third lap. The Barkley Marathons is in its 30th year and consists of part orienteering and part ultra marathon where a select few attempt to complete five 20 mile loops within a 60-hour time limit where they search for hidden book caches deep in the woods throughout the park. Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 4/3/16. Dale Holdaway, originally from Michigan currently living in Brazil, crosses Judge Branch on his third loop during the 30th running of the Barkley Marathons at Frozen Head State Park in Warburg, Tenn., on April 3, 2016. This was Holdaway's fifth attempt and he missed the 40-hour "Fun Run" (3-lap) cutoff by a few hours upon completing his third lap. The Barkley Marathons is in its 30th year and consists of part orienteering and part ultra marathon where a select few attempt to complete five 20 mile loops within a 60-hour time limit where they search for hidden book caches deep in the woods throughout the park.

By David Cobb September 28, 2016 1 min read

The director of the world-famous Barkley Marathons is scheduled to be in Chattanooga on Thursday night.

Gary Cantrell is his real name, but most know him as Lazarus Lake, especially after the Netflix release of a documentary titled “The Barkley Marathons: The Race that Eats its Young.”

The film goes inside the annual event, a creation of Cantrell that sends runners on five brutal loops around Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park. Many consider the event to be the world’s toughest trail run.

Cantrell will participate in a question and answer session following an 8 p.m. screening of the film Thursday at Rock/Creek’s location in the 2 North Shore complex.

Earlier this year, Cantrell completed his mission to run across each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. He also directs or co-directs several other races in the state.

Concessions for the event start at 6:30 p.m. The event is free, but donations will be collected for the Cumberland Trail Conservancy and Friends of the Cumberland Trail Conservancy.