For the primary time since 2022, a Canadian runner is taking up the Barkley Marathons. Ihor Verys of Chilliwack, B.C., has accomplished loop certainly one of 5 at Frozen Head State Park in Wartburg, Tenn., in eight hours and 32 minutes.
Verys, 29, was certainly one of 20 runners to complete the primary loop on the 20+ mile course earlier than the 13-hour cutoff. He got here by way of the camp alongside two different unidentified runners, and is at the moment out on his second loop.
Off they go!! #bm100 https://t.co/S37bDRUlhZ pic.twitter.com/4Unk4NmD2R
— Jared Beasley (@DbJared) March 20, 2024
The Barkley Marathons is 5 loops of a 20+ mile course (distances fluctuate; the race is considered about 120 miles, or 192 km) that includes 1000’s of metres of elevation acquire, with a time restrict of 60 hours. GPS watches aren’t allowed; every runner is issued an affordable watch set to “Barkley time,” i.e., the 60-hour restrict. Runners should gather pages comparable 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 out there on the course, however no help stations. Runners might solely obtain help from their crew between loops, in camp, the place they’re on the clock.
Meet the Ukrainian-Canadian ultrarunner who’s profitable all the pieces
That is Verys first time on the Barkley Marathons and solely his fourth 12 months of competing professionally. Final 12 months, he was runner-up at Huge’s Yard Extremely World Championships, which was gained by American Harvey Lewis, who ran a mind-boggling 724 km over 5 days; Verys set a Canadian report of 107 “yards,” smashing his earlier private finest by 267 km. Verys additionally has wins at B.C.’s Fats Canine 120 and the Canadian Loss of life Race.
Final 12 months, the Barkley Marathon noticed three finishers, for the primary time in 11 years: Aurélien Sanchez of France, Karel Sabbe of Belgium and American John Kelly. (Within the race’s 37-year historical past, solely 17 folks have completed the race; all are males.)
The primary three runners have accomplished loop one in 8:30:59 & and many others., adopted intently behind by three extra runners. #BM100
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 20, 2024
Two-time finisher (2017, 2023) Kelly, is again for his seventh look on the Barkley, together with now-veterans like Lewis of Ohio (that is his third try) and Tomokazu Ihara of Japan, who’s right here for the fifth time. Damian Corridor and Jasmin Paris, each from the U.Ok., even have returned, and so has three-time finisher Jared Campbell and FKT king Joe McConaughy.
One of the simplest ways to observe dwell updates of the Barkley Marathons is on Twitter by way of @keithdunn.
