Story Behind The Song

This song was written about the Barkley Ultra Marathon in East Tennessee & ultra runner Jim Nelson who was the 6th person to finish the Barkley and went back 3 times to try to finish it twice. Sadly he passed away running 14k peaks in Colorado 10 years after his Barkley finish. The song was written 6 years before his passing and it took on a whole new meaning because his life was taken tragically and too soon. There are many quirks about the Barkley and many of them are incorporated into the song, especially the title. Most people don't finish the first lap of the race which is why they say it "eats its young". There are no aid stations on the trail for this race, they are out in the wilderness of the Brushy Mountain State Park with a map and a compass and have to navigate the trail and race by themselves. The Barkley was inspired by the prison break of James Earl Ray who killed Martin Luther King Jr.. The terrain surrounding the prison is so difficult that he didn't get far.

Song Description

This song is about an ultra runner who is pushing themselves to finish a 3 day race that most people drop out of in the first 10 hours. The song talks about being lost in the fog, hallucinations, running in their sleep, injuries, saw briars (wild thorny vines on the trail), etc... but above all of this they have the inner will to finish the race and it's the mental fortitude that makes finishers. "Though I am worn I am not done with this race that eats its young" The song is dedicated to Jim Nelson, ultra runner, father, husband, brother and friend. May he Rest In Peace.

Lyrics

The Race That Eats Its Young
By Annelise LeCheminant

I've been lost for hours in the fog
On the top of this mountain
I've been running for days
And the haze is mounting
It's a race against time
And the climb is so unrelenting
And the briars, the briers
They claw at my every intending

'Cuz I'm powerful I have it in me
I have the will I need to succeed
Though I am worn I am not done
With this race that eats its young

When the bugle sounds through the night
I'll still be running
With heavy eyes reprieve deprived
My legs still spinning
I'm seeing things wait now they're gone
What's my bearing?
It's a brawl my body aches
But my mind is winning

'Cuz I'm powerful I have it in me
I have the will I need to succeed
Though I am worn I am not done
With this race that eats its young

Climbing, crawling, fighting, clawing
Climbing, crawling, fighting, clawing
Though I am worn I am not done.....

'Cuz I'm powerful I have it in me
I have the will I need to succeed
Though I am worn I am not done
Though I am worn I am not done
Though I am worn I am not done
With this race that eats its young
With this race that eats its young
With this race that eats its young