A documentary about Gary Cantrell, known as Lazarus Lake, will premiere on Aug. 27 in Chamonix. The film, The Hillbilly Scientist, is co-directed by Paul Mellor and Luke Jarmey. It features Cantrell's life and his creation of challenging races.

The documentary was produced by Mellor&Smith, in association with Mount to Coast and Raidlight. It includes footage from the Barkley Marathons, Big’s Backyard Ultra, and Cantrell's home. The film also follows Cantrell's cross-country trek along U.S. Route 50. Read more trail coverage.

The film includes interviews with notable runners such as Jasmin Paris and Mathieu Blanchard. The documentary argues that Cantrell preserves a raw, unmarketed form of challenge in ultrarunning. The premiere is a red-carpet event during UTMB week, co-produced by Mount to Coast and Raidlight. Related: 2026 Sierre-Zinal Men’s Race Preview: Top Runners and Course Details.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.