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Participants in the Barkley Marathon have to survive wind and weather
Photo: The Washington Post / Getty Images
British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris became the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathon in the required time of a maximum of 60 hours. Paris needed 59 hours, 58 minutes and 21 seconds for the almost 161 kilometers and 18,000 meters of altitude difference, only 99 seconds under the deadline. The race is considered the most demanding ultramarathon in the world; since 1989, only 20 people have reached the finish line on time.
Paris completed the 60-mile version of the race (“Fun Run”) in 2022. Last year, she attempted the Barkley Marathon but was unable to finish the race on time. The 40-year-old works as a veterinarian in Edinburgh and is the mother of two children.
Gary Cantrell and Karl Henn invented the ultramarathon in 1986. They were inspired by the escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King. He escaped from prison in 1977 and ran around 12 miles (about 19 kilometers) in just under 55 hours.
In 1989 the race was lengthened from 55 (approx. 88.5 kilometers) to 100 miles (approx. 161 kilometers). The course currently consists of five laps around the park. The athletes have to provide for themselves along the route; there are only two places with water.
Five runners within the time this year
The race takes place annually in the US Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, and in more than half of the races no participant made it within the time. In 1995, Mark Williams became the first runner to finish the race within the 60-hour time limit. The record for the fastest finish is held by American Brett Maune with a time of 52:03:08 in 2012.
This year, in addition to Paris, four other runners completed the race within the 60 hours. This year's winner, the Ukrainian Ihor Varys, who lives in Canada, needed 58:44:59 minutes. Third-placed Jared Campbell successfully completed the race for the fourth time.
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