What kind of person dreams up the hardest race on earth, and then follows it up with one of the weirdest? This week on The Trailhead, Zoë and Brendan dive deep into the mind of Lazarus Lake, the man behind both the Barkley Marathons and Big’s Backyard Ultra.

Our guest, author Jared Beasley, joins to talk about his new book on Laz, unpacking the mystery, mischief, and mythology that made one man’s backyard into a global endurance phenomenon. We explore what drives people to suffer on purpose, why Laz’s races capture our collective imagination, and what they say about the culture of ultrarunning itself.

🏃‍♀️ Featured Race:
Yankee Springs Winter Challenge — 50K, 25K, 10K, and 5K distances in Middleville, Michigan on January 3, 2026.
A beautiful, snowy loop through Yankee Springs State Recreation Area. Fast course, frosty singletrack, and plenty of aid.
👉 Register now on UltraSignup.

👟 Presented by: UltraSignup, check out all our podcasts!
💥 Sponsored by: Running Warehouse — your source for the best shoes, gear, and deals in trail and ultrarunning.

jared beasley

Episodes