The Hillbilly Scientist

The Hillbilly Scientist

The only authorised Lazarus Lake documentary

Rating

No ratings yet

Release Date

11/20/2026

Runtime

75 mins

Overview

While modern running has evolved toward sleek curation, optimisation, and commercialisation, Lazarus Lake has spent 50 years designing formats with an unapologetic, honest difficulty. The Hillbilly Scientist reveals that Laz’s cruellest courses are rooted in a deeply scientific understanding of human psychology and physical limits. This is the only official documentary dedicated to the creator of the Barkley Marathons and Big’s Backyard Ultra. Filmed over more than a year, it reveals the man behind the myth through never-before-seen footage, exclusive testimonials, and exceptional access to Laz’s world.

Status

Released

Original Language

English

Budget

-

Revenue

-

Homepage

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How It Feels

Read from this film's synopsis, keywords and credits, and used to work out what it sits beside.

A deep dive into the mind of a visionary who designs ultramarathons as philosophical experiments, revealing how cruelty and scientific precision combine in the pursuit of human potential. Intimate and cerebral, it celebrates an uncompromising creator who refuses to soften his vision for a commercialised world.

Mood

ContemplativeDefiantExhilarating

Themes

ObsessionArt and creationSurvival

Tone

Earnest

Pacing

Steady

Look

Documentary-like

Structure

Linear

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