“Is the Barkley the world's toughest race? In a word, yes. But that's reductive and misses the point. It's fundamentally a celebration of the magnificence of the raw human spirit. To find that inner spirit of ours, we need a challenge that’s almost impossible.”
“And this year, there was also a new section that used to be used for hillside mining, it was all covered in brambles so our legs got slashed to pieces.” “
Remarkable all round and captured superbly by Howie Stern. Jasmin is the first woman ever to finish this insane race where everyone battles not each other, but the brutal clock.
As Jared Beasley noted.. it only takes everything. photo credit—Jacob Zocherman.
Another year, another year of the Barkley laying waste to all competitors…or…wait, all but 5!? A record number of finishers, the incomparable Jared Campbell getting his 4th finish, John Kelly with 3…but the internet rightly losing its cool to celebrate the astoundingly talented Jasmin Paris, who becomes the first woman to finish.
Back-to-back years that see the number of finishes soar…While Laz supposedly makes the race harder after each time someone finishes, where does he go from here?
The front runners are so strong, it’s almost as if the weather is the only thing that could possibly stand in the way of someone finishing, and Frozen Head just hasn’t cooperated. It makes you wonder how much further Laz can push the envelope while still keeping it possible and not having a single bad weather year destroy the field utterly. Regardless, bravo Barkley Marathons. Bravo.
Catching up on news at the end of #bm100. All the finishers make me happy. They each have individual stories, their Barkley journeys are unique, and their performances were legendary. This is particularly true for Jasmin Paris. Much will be said about her performance for years to come. I will say one thing: she could have chosen any direction on Loop 5 and today's outcome would be the same; Her finish was hard won and destined ❤️🔥 #smalleuropeanwoman
Jasmin Paris is someone who throughout her career, has redefined what it means to be a woman in sport.
In my lifetime I've seen endurance sportswomen smash barriers and really open people up to the possibilities of women's sport.
These wins like this mean something huge, they change the world for the rest of us in small, but irreversible ways. I'd love to thank her for this. 🙏 #BM100#smalleuropeanwoman
On the topic of completing 100 mile challenges today - this wee guy just finished two full weeks of biking 10 miles a day, to and from school, every day, in some atrocious weather.
Some days the weather was so bad we encouraged him to take a rain check, but each morning he was like "nope, I'm getting my 100 miles" ❤️
There is a small, legendary, sport event happening over in Tennessee, USA known as the Barkley Marathons #BM100. It happens every year and has been since 1986 and in all those years, only 17 runners have completed the course. We're not talking being a winner, just finishing the course (you have 60 hours to complete five rounds, making 100 miles, 160 km). No woman has ever completed the course.
Currently the legendary Jasmin Paris is on the final loop and about to make history! The internet is cheering her on.
Following the Tour de France 100 years ago is probably what it's like to follow #bm100 today
Bizarre how, for one of the most exciting sporting events of the year, there's no live spectator action and you don't even know who's competing until well after the event starts.
Infrequent, often vague and not first hand messages, posted by one of two people on site are what constitutes coverage - until the glorious write ups in the weeks that follow. Brilliant stuff.
For those who don't know what my last boost was about, it's Barkley Marathons time. The #bm100 is one of the world's toughest trail races, where the 40 competitors have 60 hours to complete 5 20+ mile loops of Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. It's been run annually since 1986, and only completed 21 times. There's a great documentary (The Race That Eats Its Young) about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkley_Marathons
The Barkley Marathons have started for 2024!! #bm100 (it was traditionally on April Fools, but these days it varies a bit to throw off would-be spectators).
Our first interloopal of #bm100 Historically finishing Loop 1 in less than 10 hours is a good indicator the runner will continue and complete Loop 2. The next hour is critical for the competitors.