Because the Barkley Marathons clock ticks right down to the loop 4 cutoff of 36 hours, a record-setting 10 runners have completed three loops within the allotted time and began on loop 4—probably the most within the race’s 38 yr historical past.
Jasmin Paris, who’s on her third try on the Barkley, now holds the fastest-ever time for a girl finishing three loops of the course (32:15:53). Paris was one among solely three girls who began the race on Wednesday morning. Final yr, she dropped out throughout loop 4, and this yr she’s on observe to turning into the primary lady to finish the Barkley Marathons.
Maxime Gauduin started loop 4 at 35:59:26. Ten runners are on loop 4. #BM100
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 21, 2024
Ihor Verys of Chilliwack, B.C., was the primary runner to complete three loops, in 31:31:47. The 29-year-old had reportedly been operating in a lead pack that included multi-time finisher John Kelly, Damian Corridor of the UK, France’s Sebastien Raichon and Paris (additionally of the UK). Corridor and Kelly have been the second and third runners to complete loop three, arriving 5 minutes after Verys. All have headed out for a fourth loop.
If Verys completes a fourth loop, he may have an opportunity to make historical past and observe within the footsteps of his good friend and mentor, Gary Robbins, to change into solely the second Canadian to aim 5 loops. No Canadian runner has ever accomplished the Barkley, though Robbins got here shut in 2016 and 2017.
Ukrainian Ihor Verys is the primary on loop 4 to steer on the #BM100
Picture credit score: @howiesternphoto pic.twitter.com/orAckYJTCi
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 21, 2024
Verys, who has made a reputation for himself as runner-up at Huge’s Yard Extremely World Championships and received the Canadian Dying Race final yr, has some strong competitors on this yr’s race—that is Kelly’s seventh time (together with two finishes) trying the race; final yr he was one among three finishers, together with Karel Sabbe of Belgium and French athlete Aurélien Sanchez. Sanchez additionally lined up this yr and completed two loops throughout the cutoff, however dropped out shortly after beginning the third.
What’s the Barkley Marathons?
The Barkley Marathons is 5 loops of a 20+ mile course (distances range; the race is considered about 120 miles, or 192 km) that includes 1000’s of metres of elevation achieve, with a time restrict of 60 hours. GPS watches should not allowed; every runner is issued an affordable watch set to “Barkley time,” i.e., the 60-hour restrict. Runners should accumulate pages akin to their bib quantity from 13 books hidden on the course (they obtain a brand new bib for every loop); lacking pages imply disqualification. There may be water accessible on the course, however no help stations. Runners could solely obtain help from their crew between loops, in camp, the place they’re on the clock.
The easiest way to observe dwell updates of the Barkley Marathons is on Twitter by way of @keithdunn.
