Barkley Marathon 2026

[modernfairies]

Appears to have just started https://runningmagazine.ca/trail-running/the-2026-barkley-marathons-has-begun-on-valentines-day/

It is about a month earlier than usual, and has been made more difficult - now 2 anti-clockwise routes then 2 clockwise routes then a choice.

Hopefully John Kelly is recovered from the Spine.

Yikes, earlier, brutal changing route direction - is he gunning for no finishers? Thanks for the thread, not on X so it could have passed me by quite easily as not expecting it now!

Thanks for the heads up! That's the next few days written off ...

Signed back into blue sky just to get the updates!

I was thrilled when my friend messaged me to let me know.

Barkley Marathons 2026: When Laz decided to overtake hell - Territorio Trail Media

Video of the start here. https://x.com/TerritorioTrail/status/2022723251063918717?s=20

https://bsky.app/profile/taka-does-stuff.bsky.social/post/3metkdnms2s2y

Taka is awake and the spreadsheet has a 2026 tab! 🙌

Just when I thought the world couldn’t get any weirder. BM in Feb…

I love following this, can’t believe John Kelly and Sebastian Raichon are taking part so soon after the spine!
Spreadsheet is here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS7bFn8RH5Na4vVxNijCsFCiHeYqRksDi5D9ddC9Fz4yK7nOQhEg8HwG78lz-PFVB2EkFn4QlJKEXMV/pubhtml#spreadsheet

Oh how exciting, there seems to be an Irish woman Emma Stuart there, which is has now got me hooked into following along for the next few days.

https://barkley.ferrett.io/?fbclid=IwdGRleAP9ftJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeU8Bdp_Lk_mv_6tYIA5cC_KZ0FFQqpeUc3Hhoc1chi4U9IRMQ_bcGqNPgvkg_aem_5JWkqGiTOr29dCv0MRZhvg

Damian's back?!

That explains why he only did challenger north at the Spine. I thought he'd given up on Barkley tbh though I can see why he really wants to finish.

Interesting!

Emma Stuart is a beast so fingers crossed for her.

Checking in! I am totally inspired by this and now have at least one ultra on my list within the next 5y....

I can't believe Damian came back. Will be rooting for him.

Loop 2 under way.

Water Ballon Guy has begun loop 2, followed quickly by another French guy. Seven runners are on loop 2. #BM100

Bit shocked that nondescript guy and guy with mohawk aren't in the first group 😬

Glad the spreadsheet is up. I saw Keith say that 5 French runners were through the tower and wondered if Sebastian Raichon was giving it a go. It’s only about 3 weeks from the Spine though so utterly bonkers.

All I know is that there are a lot of French guys - one of them is old 😂

There’s still just over 2 hours till the cut off for the first loop. I wonder how many will make it.

Thanks for the tag on a previous thread. I immediately dived back onto Bluesky. Well done last year me for creating an account and actually remembering to save the password 🤣

Timings good so far - leading groups can do loop 2 whilst I sleep. Only one tapped out so far though, I wonder how many more will complete loop 1 in time..

Only 40 mins to go, but there are two more back in from loop 1 including the 'lead' woman, according the to latest from Keith (literally a minute ago).

This is just the motivation I need to get out for my 16km long run in the morning.

Raining there.

Two buglers kept busy!

Oh wow this is early! Thanks for the heads up.

Eleven runners remain on Loop 2. Poor buggers.

I was only thinking about this on Friday so looked up last year. Thought, oh I’m a month early and moved on with my day 😂

Makes the indoor athletics today look very tame.

Excited to see a Scotsman started. (Iain Bethune). Hope he’s still out there.