A Race For The Ages
Have you heard of The Race For The Ages?
Commonly referred to as ARFTA, this is a race like no other. Started by the now world famous race director of the Barkley Marathons, Lazarus Lake, ARFTA has all the quirky charm you'd expect. The concept of the race is simple, you have just as many hours to complete the race as years you've been alive. Giving older contestants a unique advantage over the younger contestants.
"All runners 41 and over will be allotted a number of hours equal to those hard-earned years of age in which to accumulate as many miles as possible. All the kids, 40 years, and below, will compete over the final 40 hours of the race. The winner will be the runner with the most miles accumulated by the finish. In contrast to most ultras, where the old guys must settle for a place at the rear, if they can make the time limit at all, the ARFTA is dominated by the super veterans of the sport. In 2019, 34 participants 70 years old and over completed over 100 miles and 1 participant ,74 years old completed 230 miles! This is one race where the older guys are right in the running up until the very end. The footspeed may have diminished with the passing of the years, but the fires of competition still burn bright."-ARFTA RunSignup
This years race proved the age advantage true for ultra veteran Bob Becker (74yrs). After 73:45:13 he managed to accumulate 230 miles, winning the race and setting an impressive new course record. “At my age, this was the only chance in my life to make it on a podium,” “Maybe I could win it. Maybe even break the record. I thought I could be close.”-Bob Becker.
Bob's strategy was to run 1 minute and walk 1 minute, this strategy plus his consistency and experience helped to bring him to the victory.
In addition to the unique rules of this race, the course itself provides its own challenges. A one mile loop, the 'Deadman Mile', circling Fred Deadman Park in Manchester, Tennessee. With temperatures reaching into the 90s on the hot shadeless path.
Lodging is available close by the park for runners wanting to sleep in a hotel. For runners who don't want to venture off the path, space was provided to bring their own tent, or cot to nap in during the multi-day event.
While the competition was fierce, and plenty of 100 mile belt buckles were given. ARFTA has also been described as the perfect social event. Due to the close quarters of the park, circling a one mile loop for multiple days, there was plenty of opportunity to make new friends and hear epic stories of races from the past. While some runners were out to set PRs, other runners were celebrating their love of running and racing with their fellow runner, young and old.
"Of course it is not the competition which has made this event an instant classic. It is the stories. In the perfect setting of a one mile loop through the park, today’s ultrarunners have the opportunity to spend time with the legends and heroes of the long ago past of the sport. And the old guys and gals have the opportunity to rekindle old friendships (and rivalries) and to rehash the old days. The stories they have to tell are not tales immortalized on the internet, instead they exist only in the memories of those who were there. For all the hundreds of miles that are logged, and the fierce battles sometimes waged for position, it is the celebration of life atmosphere that has made the ARFTA a must-do event. Fathers and mothers sharing miles with daughters and sons as well as grandparents sharing miles with grandsons and granddaughters; these are moments too special to miss."-ARFTA RunSignup
Special shout out to Middletown runners Brad Bowles and Barney Riesbeck, for braving ARFTA and putting up some big miles! Great job guys!
-See you on the road!