Schedule of Events
All times are Eastern Daylight Time
Thursday Sept 18
Coalfield Middle School football plays Wartburg Middle AT Wartburg Middle School, 146 Liberty Rd, Wartburg beginning at 7pm.
Friday Sept 19
Wartburg Civic Center at Solomon Park. 132 Carter Street, Wartburg TN.
Packet Pick up will begin at NOON and continue until 7pm.
Dinner will be served beginning 4pm. Dinner tickets are available at the door. FOOTBALL GAME: Coalfield High School is playing at home (1720 Coal Hill Rd, Coalfield TN) vs arch rival Harriman. Get your FREE tickets for runners and family/friends to the game at packet pick up
Saturday Sept 20
Flat Fork Field FHSP
05:00 - gates open for parking
05:30 - 06:30 Day of Race Packet pick up
07:00 - laz lights cigarette lights
20:20 - Race ends.
RULES
Things to consider before registering for BFC:
Competing in BFC will be one of the high points of your running career. No doubt you’ve heard of the challenges that will face you.
However, there are rules that must be followed to insure the safety of runners and the future of the race.
RULES: (Yes. They apply to you. Each year there are a few people who think they are above the rules. You won’t see those people at the next race.)
1. No GPS. Posting the course or the official race map on the internet could cause others to attempt to run off the marked park trails. Therefore, if you are the source of the course being posted on the internet, either intentionally or unintentionally, you will be disqualified, and banned.
2. No pacers or running as bandits. Friends and family are NOT allowed to run with you. Running on areas that are not marked park trails subjects you to possible arrest, and citations being given to you by Park Rangers.
3. You must follow the course. Going into the woods instead of following under the power lines is not considered following the course. Perhaps you're going into the woods to use the many rest rooms areas. If this is the case, you must return to the course at the same point you exited it.
4. No littering. Discard any trash either in the trash bags (not on the ground or tables) at the aid stations, or secure it in pockets or packs.
5. Trekking poles are not allowed. GU type packets are NOT allowed.
6. Drop bags are not allowed. Caching is not allowed.
7. The Decision Point is exactly that. You decide if you wish to continue on in pursuit of the Croix de Barque, or take the marathon finish. IF you decide to continue, it's all or nothing... you'll either finish in time for the Croix, or receive nothing but admiration that you went for it. NOTE: you must have a working light with you before laz will let you continue toward the Croix
8. Allow faster runners to pass.
9. You must report to the finish line if you drop. Not reporting will lead to search and rescue, and you'll be charged for these services.
10. You must report to the finishing line awards table to receive your award, which will be based on you having the correct punches on your bib. Missing punches will result in no award.
11. NEW AND REQUIRED: You will receive an additional bib at packet pickup. Wear this bib on your back and keep it fully visible. This should aide in keeping the race fair for all.
12. Your "crew" is NOT entitled to hang out at the aid stations or take food or drink from the stations. IF you have someone with you who has volunteered and been assigned to a station, then Thank you very much!!
These rules aren't intended to cover every scenario when someone is working overtime to "beat the system". No one has that much time.
Thank you for choosing Barkley Fall Classic XI
About the Barkley Fall Classic
The Barkley Fall Classic is designed to give the runner a taste of what the Barkley Marathons is all about.
It contains all the elements; beautiful trails thru the rugged Brushy Mountains, surprising new elements to the course every year, with the course map not revealed until the night before the race, numerous hard climbs and descents (including some of the signature hills that have made the Barkley a thing of legend), and a very personal challenge to face down the demons that wait for us at our very limits of endurance.
The BFC is a 50 kilometer race, with a ridiculous amount of climb and descent (with the attendant reward of numerous scenic vistas.) The course is designed to challenge the runner mentally, as well as physically. GPS is NOT ALLOWED, and those choosing to use it run the risk of lifetime ban. Course markings only exist at major turns, leaving the runner to rely on their confidence that they have not made a wrong turn, or missed a right one. Long sections of very runnable trail follow on the heels of strength-sapping sections of hills... requiring the successful BFC runner to run, when every fiber of their being cries out for taking things slow to recover. The most devastating climbs hit at the runner's weakest moments. Everything is arranged to play on the doubts and weaknesses that exist in all of us. The BFC'er must not only beat the course to finish, but they must conquer their own darkest fears....
As a final challenge, there is a cutoff at the split between the marathon and 50 km courses. Those who reach that point within the time limit are presented with a terrible choice. They can, with a word, choose to end the suffering and run an easy downhill grade of less than a mile, to record a marathon finish.... or, they can strike out into many more miles of brutal climbs and descents in an attempt to complete the 50k. Unlike other races with "drop-down" choices, those who choose to continue can no longer log a marathon. At the BFC it is all or nothing, if you go beyone the decision point you will either finish a 50km or DNF!.
At the BFC, success is not guaranteed. It might even be considered unlikely. Fully a third of the aspiring entrants will come up with some reason to not be at the line when the starting cigarette is lit. (and who can blame them? at the BFC your very best is not good enough. It takes something a little more than that). More than half of those who have the guts to toe the line will not finish the 50k. The Barkley Fall Classic is not for everyone. If you are only looking to impress your friends, there are a lot of better 50k's to choose from. You should pick one where you are sure to finish, if you don't screw up. If you are looking for a chance to find that something extra inside yourself... that something that you do not know for certain is there... the BFC is for you.
Male and Female winners get guaranteed slots in the Big Barkley in the spring. (A lot of others may discover that they really do not even want to appy.)
90% REFUND BEFORE JUNE 1
Below is taken from the email laz sent out to everyone in 2023, and the same applies in for 2024 with a few ADDITIONS:
notice to all BFC runners:
as posted on the ultrasignup confirmation emails you received, the cutoff for refunds will be May 31...
.
if you wish to avail yourself of the refund here is what you need to do:
DO NOT GO TO ULTRASIGNUP AND WITHDRAW FROM THE RACE
this creates a mess, since you are now removed from the race,
and we can only tell if you were issued a refund by going thru the checkbook line by line.
those who are withdrawing themselves from the race and then expect a refund to magically appear
apparently have a reading comprehension disorder,
since the screen says:
NO REFUND WILL BE ISSUED
so, if you want to move yourself to the head of the class in this process
simply send an email to drystoneman@hotmail.com AND durb417@gmail.com saying:
"I would like to withdraw from the BFC"
oh, and one other thing to include:
"I would like to donate (0-100%) of my refund to the school!"
you are under no obligation to donate anything to the school,
0% is perfectly acceptable.
it will in no way count against you.
but a lot of BFC runners over the years have donated some portion of their refund to the school,
and every dollar counts.
I (or durb if I'm on my transcon) will go thru those emails,
(dated before june 1)
when i get to yours
either of us will issue a refund check
and remove you from the entrant list!
laz (and durb)
PLEASE NO DEFERRALS OR TRANSFERS
BFC gives back to Morgan County and FHSP
Something good comes out of something bad
Thanks to you, we have made some very significant contributions to the Morgan County community: Through 2023, over $290,000 has gone directly from your race fees, and generous donations, to Morgan County High School Athletics, various service organizations, and the FHSP.
All proceeds from the dinner go to the American Legion of Morgan County.
The Cattleman's Association uses the proceeds from the Steak Sandwiches served at the finish area for their Agriculture Scholarship Fund. Morgan County thanks you, and so do we.
Lodging/Camping/Bed&Breakfasts
Hotels in Wartburg: Scenic River Inn 915 Main St. 423-346-5733. Very few rooms.
Frozen Head State Park Camping:
Big Cove – located at the Yellow Gate. Reserve on-line or through the FHSP office. Fills quickly; but oftentimes campers will share if they have space.
Flat Fork Group Camping: just up the road from the turn off to Big Cove; there are 8 sites that hold up to 15 people each. This area is first-come, first-served.
Other Camping:
Wartburg area: Solomon Park (site of packet pick up and dinner) allows you to camp at the park.
Flat Forks Road: Very near Frozen Head State Park. Mr. Brian Young has RESIDENTIAL property located on a side road off from Flat Forks Road. For info and reservations, his # is 423-223-7844. He has room for approx. 15 tent sites. His charge is a donation to the Wartburg Fire Dept. for each camp site.
Bed & Breakfasts or Cabins:
Two Rivers B&B: 885 Genesis Rd, Lancing TN. 423-965-4464 – 15 minutes from Wartburg.
Clear View Retreat out past the Between Two Rivers bnb. Four family-style cabins. Web address is https://www.clearviewretreat.org/cabins/. The four cabins can be rented individually or all together with our Lodge. Kim Nestle 443-570-4380
www.betweentworiversbedandbreakfast.com
Cabins in Sunbright: 618 Coon Hollow Rd, Sunbright, TN. 423-628-6293
www.harmonyhollowcabins.com
The Alexander-Perrigo House: two rooms available. www.spiritofredhill.com
Grey Gables Bed/Breakfast: http://www.rugbytn.com/
Grey Gables has 10 bedrooms available – 8 with private baths rates range from $95 to $145
Rugby area: 20 minutes north of Wartburg: www.historicrugby.org
1880 Newbury House
Pioneer Cottage
Percy Cottage
Event's current local time: 11:18 PM ET
