The Source Material: Episode 1 - Ground Zero at the 2025 Barkley Marathons

About this episode

This episode features raw audio captured during the 2025 Barkley Marathons, showcasing the event's unique atmosphere and moments.

This is the first bonus episode of The Source Material, the complete archive from The Barkley: A Love Story, a three-part audio documentary from Hiker Trash Radio. In March 2025, Doc was on the ground at Frozen Head State Park with a recorder for the duration of the Barkley Marathons. This episode is what he captured: the conch blow, Laz's pre-race speech to the 40 runners, Carl reading the names of those who have died, taps, the lighting of the cigarette, the race beginning, a lost runner sleeping at the old prison, and a finish in wind and rain at 3:27 in the morning. No other podcast has this audio. This is the sound of the Barkley beginning and ending, unfiltered, in real time, from the gate. If you haven't listened to The Barkley: A Love Story yet, start there. This episode will mean more.

People in this episode

Host: Doc

Topics covered

• Barkley Marathons
• audio documentary
• race experience
• wilderness
• real-time audio
• running

Keywords

• Barkley Marathons
• Frozen Head State Park
• audio documentary
• running
• wilderness
• real-time audio
• race

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hiker Trash Radio

Books & works: The Barkley: A Love Story

Places: Frozen Head State Park

More episodes of Hiker Trash Radio

• Trail Stories - The Burros Built it · June 13, 2026 · 23 min
• The Source Material: Episode 2 - Runners and Crew · June 12, 2026 · 1h 25m
• (Corrected) Trail Correspondent Austen Goehring - Follow Up · June 11, 2026 · 24 min
• Itchy Feet - Will "Last Strap" Roquemore (Part II) · June 10, 2026 · 42 min
• Itchy Feet - Will "Last Strap" Roquemore (Part I) · June 10, 2026 · 44 min
• Trail Stories - Will Roquemore · June 6, 2026 · 37 min