147: Gary Cantrell (Lazarus Lake) – Before the Barkley

Gary Cantrell (a.k.a. Lazarus Lake), of Tennessee, was recently inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. Most people recognize him for creating the legendary Barkley Marathons, arguably the toughest trail race in the world. But few understand that he once was a talented runner during the 1970s and early 1980s. His running exploits when he was in his 20s and 30s groomed his experience into the most famous extreme sports race director in the world, and into an encyclopedia of ultrarunning wisdom. To understand complexities of the man, Gary Cantrell before he became Lazarus Lake, one must learn about his background and experiences that led up to the birth of the Barkley.