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.

woah! Thank you for the alerts and link on the old thread!

Have decided I don’t like the sadistic element of it. Bringing it forward and the direction change seem too much, especially when no one finished last year as it was.

Suppose though that the difficulty was always the intent.

Still compelled to follow!

I feel like that is Laz' intention. I don't think he wants finishers!

Laz doesn't want finishers no...

Although he's not RD anymore is he? Carl is now I think

Damian has finished loop 2.

Yes, I'm sure Carl is doing most of the organisation now.

Good news, Damian making progress.

So enjoying following!

Damien Hall began loop 3 barefoot. 🦶🏻

commenting for updates! Watched the documentary a few years before Jasmine’s epic performance!

😱oh my word, is that something he does?

The second loop took so much longer, presumably because it was in the other direction and in the dark.

Is Emma Stuart on loop 2 or dropped out?

Barefoot in those conditions? Are we sure the man is actually human?

Discussed making it easier! Yeah, right.

On X someone said there’s a lake at the start, so he’s probably only barefoot for that bit?

Yes, that's just what you want at the start of a course like this - to have to wade/jump through a fast-moving stream/river! Wet feet for the whole loop or lose a minute by wading through barefoot and then putting on your socks and shoes? Surely in those conditions they're going to get wet feet before too long anyway?

(As if I'm qualified to comment here, btw! Walking briskly round parkrun leaves me wiped out. And yet I'm sitting here on my sofa, warm, dry and comfortable with a good breakfast inside me, pontificating about ultra runners in Tennessee tackling mountains and mudslides and 60 hours without sleep.)

This year (for the first time ever I believe) the 1st loop was also counterclockwise i.e. this year the first 2 loops were in the same direction.

At 11.10 a.m. GMT Keith posted this:

Max King finished loop 2 in 24:06:38.

There's a reply guessing that this is Knee Guy, because of this post about last year's BM100. They are a breed apart.

Loop 2 cut off is 1340 GMT. Three runners are still on Loop 2. Four on Loop 3.

Eoin Keith's blog is an excellent source of information and insight (e.g. regarding the 'Damien Hall barefoot' thing): eoinkeith.wordpress.com/2026/02/15/the-barkley-marathon-2026-lap-2/

Fun run only this year? Apparently still just about possible someone could qualify to go on to Loop 4.

I think John Kelly is knee guy and Damo Path Finder guy

Gosh. Fog as well as rain and mud to contend with now.

Max has dropped. 2 runners left on loop 3. Is it John and Damo?

I believe it’s Sebastian and Damian. Loving the fact that wisdom and bloody mindedness is holding out here over youth and speed! Laz said earlier “speed is not the solution to navigation problems.” As an older athlete myself, I do tend to agree.

This sounds so intense. Not heard of it before, intrigued by whether they sleep much, will google.