The Barkley Fall Classic

The Barkley Fall Classic - September 19, 2026

Register Saturday, Sep 19, 2026 @ 7:00 AM

The Barkley Fall Classic
964 Flat Fork Rd
Frozen Head State Park, TN

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Registration closes: Fri, Sep 18 @ 11:59 PM ET

Schedule of Events

All times are Eastern Daylight Time

Friday Sept 18

TBD Packet Pick up will begin at TBD and continue until 7pm. Dinner will be served beginning 4pm. If you haven't prepaid for a dinner ticket, a limited number will be available at the door.
FOOTBALL GAME: The Coalfield Yellow Jackets play at home on Friday Sept 18 at 7pm. Those who purchase Dinner and Game tickets will be asked to meet on the field to be honored at half-time
SPECIAL DINNER GUEST SPEAKER will be laz... King of the Morons. Should be informative and clever.

Saturday Sept 19

TBD 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

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.

• No GPS.
• No pacers or running as bandits.
• You must follow the course.
• No littering.
• Trekking poles are not allowed. GU type packets are NOT allowed.
• Drop bags are not allowed. Caching is not allowed.
• 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.
• Allow faster runners to pass.
• If you decide to drop, you MUST TELL a staff or Ranger AND you must report your decision to drop to the staff at the Finish Line Timing Tent.
• 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.
• You will receive an additional bib at packet pickup. Wear this bib on your back and keep it fully visible.
• Your "crew" is NOT entitled to hang out at the aid stations or take food or drink from the stations.

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.)

80% REFUND BEFORE JUNE 1

Below is taken from the email laz sent out to everyone in 2023, and the same applies in for 2026 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 [email protected] AND [email protected] 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 2025, over $350,000 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 goes to local organizations. 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 NOTE: Camping will be determined based on progress made in their new construction: 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. Brushy Mountain Prison has a very nice RV Park. https://tourbrushy.com/rv-park

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