Participants only know that they will begin between 300 and 350 miles from “the Rock,” a cliff in northern Georgia that serves as the race’s finish point. With HOTS, Cantrell maintained his themes of secrecy, harsh environments, and eccentric details while creating a race different from anything he had designed before. Now, anyone who wants to test themselves can sign up for this popular event. In 2020, Cantrell created the Last Annual Heart of the South (HOTS) after a technical glitch allowed too many people to register for one of his races, and he needed to accommodate the overflow. With a secret application process and starting date, mountainous terrain in early spring, and a requirement to remove pages from books strewn along the course to prove progress, it is the epitome of a Lazarus race.Īnd runners can’t get enough of his challenges. To win a Laz race, you must triumph over yourself.Ĭantrell is most famous for creating the Barkley Marathons, where runners must traverse five 20-mile laps (100 miles) in Eastern Tennessee’s Frozen Head State Park in under 60 hours. This, he believes, entices runners to confront their most imposing opponents: their own egos, hopes, and limits. Cantrell likes to include elements of secrecy, harsh environments, and eccentric details in each challenge. “The key to finishing when the weather is like this is to survive the first two or three days - and the word is ‘survive,'” world-renowned ultramarathon designer Gary Cantrell cautioned the 80 runners hoping to conquer his latest endurance creation.Ĭantrell’s races are arguably the most unique in the ultramarathon world, each a testament to his genius for innovation and showmanship.

Experience the grueling ordeal of the Last Annual Heart of the South.

Gary Cantrell, the infamous Lazarus ‘Laz’ Lake - creator of the dastardly Barkley Marathons - has another ultra-endurance creation. Home » Endurance » Running » Chased by the Reaper: Why Laz Lake’s Dastardly Road Race Strikes Fear in Runners

Another word for running a race