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Original poster

Barkley Marathon - Nicky Spinks and Jasmin Paris

170 replies

AuntieStella · 15/03/2023 08:13

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

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derelicte · 16/03/2023 18:15

AnnPerkins · 16/03/2023 16:28

Aurelien spotted on Rat Jaw.

"Aurelien is going CCW so that's about 1/3 of the loop in 4h, putting him on pace for a 12h loop"

So if a loop is about 20-25 miles, that's about 7-8 miles in 4 hours! Crazy!

Maybe I'm in with a chance 😂

megletthesecond · 16/03/2023 18:38

Jasmine is back in camp.

Wondering if anyone will come in around midnight our time.

megletthesecond · 16/03/2023 18:42

Damian is out too. We'll have to wait another year for a potential British finisher.

Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 18:43

I saw a tweet which says that when John Kelly runs a normal non-trail marathon his PB is 2hr31, so that's each mile in 5m46.

Now, if someone that fit is running a loop of roughly 20 miles (though probably further because of the elevation) in about 8 hours (first loop) and 12 hours (later loops) that's a pace of 24 - 36 minutes per mile.

What does that say about the terrain!!

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Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 18:49

megletthesecond · 16/03/2023 18:42

Damian is out too. We'll have to wait another year for a potential British finisher.

Keith says Damien got lost on a feature called Chimney Top and had collected no book pages on loop 5.

Jasmin had collected 9 pages on her loop 4, so must have covered most of the route, even if she was out of time. So I'm pretty sure that will mean she's gone the furthest of any woman in a Barkley (I'll look out on nerd pages and see if anyone can confirm)

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derelicte · 16/03/2023 18:55

AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 18:43

I saw a tweet which says that when John Kelly runs a normal non-trail marathon his PB is 2hr31, so that's each mile in 5m46.

Now, if someone that fit is running a loop of roughly 20 miles (though probably further because of the elevation) in about 8 hours (first loop) and 12 hours (later loops) that's a pace of 24 - 36 minutes per mile.

What does that say about the terrain!!

I know! It's quite unfathomable! I sometimes do "mountain marathons" in the Highlands (run/walking and orienteering over very rough, steep, pathless ground, and I usually average 2 miles an hour. Jasmin is probably at least twice as fast as me in these events. I genuinely can't imagine how rough it is for her not to be going at her usual speed! I have seen the BM movie, but i don't think the hellishness could be sufficiently captured on camera! 🤯

Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 19:50

I've just seen a (non-Keith) tweet with a video link of her running (yes running) her finish to loop 4. It looks like she did cover the ground, but over the cut-off time.

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Enthrallingstoryofstillnessandlight · 16/03/2023 20:03

AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 19:50

I've just seen a (non-Keith) tweet with a video link of her running (yes running) her finish to loop 4. It looks like she did cover the ground, but over the cut-off time.

It all looks so laid-back with her just sauntering up to Laz

AnnPerkins · 16/03/2023 20:23

And she only collected 9 pages, not the full amount. Not that it mattered if she timed out.

Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 20:38

I don't know how many books were out on the course this year, but she had collected 9 pages before time was up (you can hear it in the video clip that's circulating on twitter) Aren't there usually 10?

Was loop 4 clockwise or anticlockwise?

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derelicte · 16/03/2023 21:36

Can anyone post a link to the video?

megletthesecond · 16/03/2023 21:45

UltraRunLive have posted a clip of John running down from the fire tower. It's proper steep. Makes you realise the sheer size of the park.

Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 21:55

Karel Sabbe is at the water Tower in 55h39

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Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 21:55

4 hours to go?

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MoneyInTheBananaStand · 16/03/2023 21:58

Might we have multiple finishers?

Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 21:59

Hope this link works - it’s to a tweet containing the vid of Jasmin’s finish

twitter.com/dbjared/status/1636436822963175445?s=21

Also, here’s the latest tracker

Barkley Marathon - Nicky Spinks and Jasmin Paris
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Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 22:04

MoneyInTheBananaStand · 16/03/2023 21:58

Might we have multiple finishers?

Looking possible

There has only ever once been three finishers before, in 2012

Two in 2001, 2004 & 2013

One in 1995, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016 & 2017

18 in all

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MirandaWest · 16/03/2023 22:09

I’ve been following this since it started - I could never manage anything remotely like this but find it so fascinating and inspiring. Make my little runs look very insignificant!

Can't work out when there might be a finisher - I really need to go to bed but at the same time want to stay up to watch!

MoneyInTheBananaStand · 16/03/2023 22:10

I think shortly before 2am is the final cut off for 5 loops.

Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 22:16

twitter.com/mountainroche/status/1636465630345039872?s=21

Asking an important question about John Kelly…..
Grin

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megletthesecond · 16/03/2023 22:18

My estimate is a possible 1-2am finish our time. It'll be the first thing I check when I get up.

Cyclingforcake · 16/03/2023 22:21

Monkeytapper · 16/03/2023 17:37

Anyone know how far Tom Hollins got in the race please?

I think Tom was running with Eoin Keith and they timed out on Lap 3.

Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 22:29

From what I saw yesterday the GMT 60 hour cut off time is 01.54

I can't work out what time the runners might come in. All were looking good.

Their last loop splits were between 13 and 14.5 hours (and I seriously doubt they'd have speeded up!)and I think they were all out there by about noon. So I agree with a rough estimate of any time from about 01.00 onwards. Might be a bit tight for Karel Sabbe, but he's running clockwise which is meant to be the "easier" way round

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Original poster
AuntieStella · 16/03/2023 22:32

megletthesecond · 16/03/2023 21:45

UltraRunLive have posted a clip of John running down from the fire tower. It's proper steep. Makes you realise the sheer size of the park.

This tweet?

twitter.com/traillive/status/1636479850834804738?s=21

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RunningFromInsanity · 16/03/2023 22:37

They’ve estimated its 2hours longer to run the harder anti-clockwise loop!