Barkley Marathon - Nicky Spinks and Jasmin Paris

[AuntieStella]

They are among the 5 England competitors, the third woman is Katie Wright and the men are Damian Hall are Tom Hollins

24 competitors this year.

Keith is doing a brilliant commentary on Twitter (@ KeithDunn) Seven runners didn't make the cut off for finishing loop 1 (at least one because she got lost)

For those who don't know, this is a brutal and idiosyncratic trail ultramarathon - extremely rough terrain, no GPS watches allowed, course is not marked and runners get instructions on the day and then have to find their way.

Anyone else following it this year?

I'm finding it oddly fascinating! It's the sort of running I wish I could do, but know I never will

Thank you so much @AuntieStella
I am not on twitter so am loving your updates.
Its a shame Nicky timed out but....go on Jasmin! You can do this!

Nicky's nn was The Corpse, as in:

"A corpse sprang to life joins 30 other runners on loop 2"

Jasmin is last woman standing, and looking good for the fun run. I wonder if she'll make a 4th loop

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't realise it had started. I was checking at the weekend and there did seem to be rumours floating around twitter.

Thanks for this. Go Jasmin!

Thanks so much for the updates..one last check on Twitter before lights out 😎

The Other Guy and TheGuy With The Mohawk have started loop 4 at 32:27:29 and 32:28:19 after only 20mins interloopal

Tweet I like: “ultrarunning's lack of diversity is somewhat illustrated with "tall bearded guy" referring to approximately half the field”

Weather conditions cold and dry. Good news, the water on the course at the Tower was reportedly ‘not completely frozen’

It looks like we should know whether anyone can do loop five by lunchtime tomorrow.

Weirdest tweet I’ve seen so far, from Keith earlier today:

”One runner, after finishing his loop and dropping, cooked an egg burrito while showering. Like, took a camp stove and skillet into the shower, cooked the eggs, etc., and ate the tortilla. In the shower”

Waiting keenly to hear of jasmine has started loop 4 🤞

Nicky is my hero, I'm gutted for her. But rooting for Jasmine, Damon (who's having a cracking year this year) and John who seems fab.
Thanks for the thread and twitter tips!

Upcoming cut-off times in GMT (according to a guy with a beard on twitter)

Loop 3 - 01:54 Thurs
(Fun Run 05:54)
Loop 4 - 13:54pm
Loop 5 - 01:54 Fri

I was so excited to see this thread. Now I’m annoyed… I had promised myself an early night but now I’m obsessively searching Twitter for news of JP.

Fabulous! So glad Jasmine was still going last we heard. What an absolute legend she is! Two kids and a full time vet I mean wtaf?? She gets up at 4am to train, she's just incredible and so modest too.

Such a shame about Nicky but Damian is on fire atm.

When you look at the pictures, I'm not sure there's anything less than 'dead steep' in gradient terms!

Yes me too! I really should go to bed but I'm obsessively refreshing the google doc linked upthread to see if she's back to camp from loop 3 yet

Jasmine has started loop 4 😀

Following!

Just woken to that news @RamblingFar

Only the second woman ever to do that!

PS: Nicky’s life story is pretty damned impressive too

There are a total of seven runners on loop 4 - if I read Keith’s text correctly, that’s the most ever.

Looking for other overnight news. Big Smiling Guy finished his third lap completely in the dark -impressive - as his head torch failed and he didn’t have a spare (not in time for loop 4, but did complete a fun run)

Those on loop 4:

Great thread thanks! Watched the film about it yesterday - it's on Amazon prime if anyone is interested. Can rent it for 99p. I'd secretly love to run an ultra, ran my first marathon last year. I don't think I could get over the sleep deprivation for something like this though (not to mention everything else 🤣) It's incredible.

Gripping stuff. First thing I checked when I woke up this morning. So impressed with Jasmin.

I do hope JK finishes. Reckon him and Damo will push each other to a good result.

Well. This is my day written off.

well done Jasmin!

Is there a way to follow other than looking on Twitter & the spreadsheet?

Nope

One of the many eccentricities of the event. Which also bans spectators (race goes through fragile natural areas, and foot print is deliberately kept small)

The nearest thing to an official commentary account is Keith's

There are some photographers there; some pix are tweeted out, and there are others on insta - the account I've found is howiesternphoto

As an aside, Keith's tweets are getting between about 700-1500 likes each, and sometimes a handful of comments. The one where he confirmed that Jasmin Paris had started loop 4 has nearly 4000 likes (number growing as UK wakes up) and over 150 comments,

So pleased for Jasmine, I don’t know much about Nicky so will read up on her - thanks for the thread @AuntieStella !

Good article about Nicky here

www.thebmc.co.uk/nicky-spinks-completes-double-paddy-buckley-round

She's truly amazing!

She's been last woman standing in the Barkley before, and has a host of other achievements. And set off on this year's one aged nearly 56!

I've really wanted to see her and Jasmin feature in SPOTY!