Because the Barkley Marathons clock ticks all the way 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 12 months 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 in every of solely three ladies who began the race on Wednesday morning. Final 12 months, she dropped out throughout loop 4, and this 12 months she’s on observe to changing into the primary girl 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 comply with within the footsteps of his pal and mentor, Gary Robbins, to turn into solely the second Canadian to try 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
Photograph credit score: @howiesternphoto pic.twitter.com/orAckYJTCi
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 21, 2024
Verys, who has made a reputation for himself as runner-up at Massive’s Yard Extremely World Championships and gained the Canadian Loss of life Race final 12 months, has some stable competitors on this 12 months’s race—that is Kelly’s seventh time (together with two finishes) trying the race; final 12 months he was one in every of three finishers, together with Karel Sabbe of Belgium and French athlete Aurélien Sanchez. Sanchez additionally lined up this 12 months and completed two loops inside 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 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 inexpensive watch set to “Barkley time,” i.e., the 60-hour restrict. Runners should acquire pages similar 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 obtainable 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.
One of the simplest ways to comply with reside updates of the Barkley Marathons is on Twitter through @keithdunn.
