The Barkley Marathons: A Test of Endurance Like No Other
How Difficult is the Barkley Marathon?
Extreme Terrain and No Course Map
The Barkley Marathons is a grueling ultramarathon that takes place in the rugged hills of Tennessee near Knoxville. The race consists of five 20-mile loops, with over 54,000 feet of elevation gain. To make things even more challenging, there is no available course map and runners are not allowed to train on the course ahead of time.
The Barkley Marathons is known for its extremely low completion rate. In fact, only 15 people have ever finished the race in its 36-year history. The race is so difficult that it has been called "the hardest footrace in the world."
2024 Barkley Marathons
The 2024 Barkley Marathons began on Wednesday, March 20, at 5:17 p.m. A total of 40 runners started the race, but only 6 finished within the 60-hour time limit. The winner of the race was John Kelly, who finished in a time of 59 hours and 49 minutes.
Jasmin Paris was the first woman to finish the race this year, coming in 6th place with a time of 59 hours and 57 minutes. Her legs were oozing with scrapes and she was clearly exhausted, but she was still able to cross the finish line with a smile on her face.
Why Run the Barkley Marathons?
So why do people run the Barkley Marathons? For most runners, it is a test of their physical and mental limits. The race is so difficult that it requires runners to push themselves to the brink of their abilities. For many runners, the Barkley Marathons is a way to prove to themselves that they can overcome any challenge.
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