In the wake of perhaps the most successful Barkley Marathons ever (the race had five finishers, including the first woman and the first Canadian), its creator, Gary Cantrell (a.k.a. Lazarus Lake), has embarked on another walk across America. Entitled “Lazcon 2024,” the trip is a reprise of his previous Lazcon, accomplished in 2018 (east to west, like the current trip, but travelling a different route).
It’s April Fool’s, but you can’t make this stuff up. Lazarus Lake, Mr. #bm100, at 69, has started his walk across America. Laz + Transcon= #Lazcon. He’s currently on the coast of Delaware, heading into Maryland. Will crew him for two weeks starting next Monday. Will be updating… pic.twitter.com/fa9rMdPMKY
— Jared Beasley (@DbJared) April 1, 2024
This time, Laz is again walking from east to west, starting in Delaware and heading toward San Francisco, which he hopes to reach around Aug. 26. The distance is around 3,000 miles, or 4,800 km. (Since 2018, he has completed numerous long training walks, as well as traversing the country from Michigan to Florida, albeit in three separate trips.)
The Barkley Marathons is far from the only race Laz organizes; he is also responsible for the Barkley Fall Classic, Big’s Backyard Ultra (and associated world championships), Last Annual Vol State, Heart of the South, Strolling Jim and A Race for the Ages.
At almost 70, Laz is a longtime smoker (the Barkley is famous for starting when Laz lights a cigarette, an hour after blowing the conch) and has back problems. As he posted on Wednesday, he’s in a race against time:
11 weeks ago i struggled with my back after an hour.
i have come a long way already.
it might have been nice to have a few more weeks before i took off.
but the snow in the sierras will come when it comes
and i have to get there first.
i could have postponed for another year.
but i cant forget barry barkley.
at 70 he could still do stuff.
at 71 he couldnt.
he never saw 72.”
Laz is referring to Barry Barkley, his friend, neighbour and running partner, whom the Barkley Marathons were named after, and who died in 2019.
Laz posts every day in the Lazcon 2024 private Facebook group, with philosophical musings about life, his surroundings and the particular challenges he is facing. Also on Wednesday, he posted the following:
i really ought to be sleeping now.
but there are just thoughts in my head that want to come out.
someone commented to me today that this is an “economically depressed area”
and i think about my slow trek across this place.
people smile and wave.
they talk to each other.
and they talk to total strangers.
they love their home and are proud of it.
.
i saw a lot of people doing hard work
and i am sure they work hard every day to get by.
.
but i was taught that hard work never hurt anybody.
and not all wealth can be kept in a bank.
this place is rich in all the things that count.
.
the other thing that bothered me was a comment;
“back when we had hope for a bright future”…
.
hope comes from inside.
today was a wonderful day
and i am going to bed thinking tomorrow will be even better.
life is too short to be wasted on feeling sorry for ourselves.
we are surrounded by things to give us joy
if we cant see them that is on us.
