UK Runner Makes History at Barkley Marathons
In a historic moment for the Barkley Marathons, Jasmin Paris, a 40-year-old runner from England, became the first woman to successfully complete the grueling race. Known for its sadistic and challenging nature, the Barkley Marathons pushes participants to their limits and tests their endurance. Paris finished the race with just under 100 seconds to spare before the 60-hour cut-off, making her accomplishment even more impressive.
The Barkley Marathons, held in Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, consists of five loops around the park, totaling anywhere between 100-130 miles. The course includes enough combined altitude to equal climbing up and down Mount Everest twice. The race is designed for failure, with participants tasked with finding hidden pieces of paper in the woods. Over the years, only 19 other runners have managed to complete the race since its inception in 1986.
The race director, Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell, created the Barkley Marathons as a way to cover more ground in the densely forested Cumberland Mountains than James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., was able to after his prison break in 1977. Cantrell’s eccentric race starts with a complex application process that he changes every year to make it more difficult. Applicants must email an essay to Cantrell on a specific day of the year, but if they don’t know when or where to send it, they’re out of luck. The race has no official website or entry lists.
Out of thousands of applicants, Cantrell sends condolence letters to about 40 successful ones, some of whom he handpicks as “human sacrifices” because he knows they will fail. Those who make the cut must send in a $1.60 fee, a license plate from their home state or country, and a specific item depending on their status. The race date is intentionally kept a mystery, and it could start anywhere from midnight to noon, depending on the director’s whim.
Once the race begins, participants face numerous challenges. The course map is provided on a single sheet of paper, which runners must study and memorize. There are no markers on the trail, which is run in both directions at all hours of the day and night, in various weather conditions. The contestants must find and rip out pages from hidden notebooks along the route to prove they had been there.
The Barkley Marathons has no aid stations on the course, except for water at two places. Phones and GPS equipment are not allowed. If a runner fails to finish a lap in less than 12 hours, they are disqualified. The race has seen no finishers on more than half the times it has been held.
For Jasmin Paris, completing the Barkley Marathons was a monumental achievement. This year marked her third attempt at finishing the race, and she became the first woman to finish four laps last year. The intense physical and mental challenges she faced made her victory even sweeter. Paris collapsed at the finish line due to exhaustion but expressed her joy at accomplishing such a feat.
Photographer David Miller captured the moment of Paris’ victory, describing it as the “greatest ultramarathon achievement of all time.” Four other racers also completed the race this year, marking an astonishing success rate for an event known for its difficulty.
Jasmin Paris’ triumph at the Barkley Marathons has gained widespread attention and admiration, solidifying her place in sports history. Her determination and resilience serve as an inspiration to athletes around the world, proving that with dedication and unwavering belief, anything is possible.
