40-year-old British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris made history Friday when she became the first woman to complete the infamous Barkley Marathons, making it to the finish just 99 seconds before the 60-hour cutoff.
The Barkley Marathons, considered by many to be the world's hardest race, covers 100 miles and 60,000 feet of rise and descent.
What an incredible achievement #JasminParis pic.twitter.com/LVFDDUee2d
— Tom Brunt 🏊🏼♂️🏃🚴🏼♂️👨🏽💻👕 (@tom_brunt) March 23, 2024
Only 20 people have ever finished the race within the required 60 hours since it was expanded to 100 miles in 1989. No one finished at all between 2017 and 2023.
The unmarked course, which runners must memorize, changes every year but always consists of five loops of roughly 20 miles each, concluding at a now-famous yellow gate. Paris, a mother of two and a veterinarian, had previously completed the three-loop "Fun Run." Sue Johnston is the only other woman to have started the fourth loop.
The 2024 Barkley Marathons finishers. I love this photo, highlighting what a phenomenal achievement it is for Jasmin Paris - the first woman to complete since the race began in 1986. LEGEND! 🔥 #bm100 #smalleuropeanwoman pic.twitter.com/G3eQbTmF9z
— Anna Fleming (@annamfleming) March 23, 2024
The race, founded by Gary Cantrell and Karl Henn, is known for its eccentricities. It originated when the two were discussing the escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in 1977.
Ray covered around 12 miles after running in the woods for over 50 miles. The story goes that Cantrell mocked Ray, saying "I could do at least 100 miles," and so the race was born.
Only 35 runners are accepted each year; applicants must write essays titled "Why I should be allowed to run in the Barkley," and pay a fee of $1.60 (€1.47). If accepted they receive a letter of condolence.
The race can start at any point between midnight and noon on the race day; an hour until the start is signalled by a conch being blown. The race officially starts when Cantrell lights a cigarette.
Runners are also required to find a number of books (the number varies year to year) along the course, collecting the page corresponding to their entry number as proof. The first and third loops are run clockwise and the second and fourth counterclockwise; the first finisher of the fourth loop can decide which way to run the fifth loop.
The BBC quotes David Miller, a professional photographer present at Paris's finish, calling it the "greatest ultramarathon achievement of all time."
"She was sprinting and giving it her all as there was no room for error because otherwise she would not have made the cut off."
"She touched the gate and collapsed in exhaustion. It was the best thing I have ever seen, it was unbelievable."
"Obviously I was very focussed on trying to capture Jasmin and a moment in history but at the same time I could feel a tear behind the lens because it was such an emotional moment."
Jasmin Paris. Finisher number 20 at the Barkley Marathons. She’s broken the cycle. #bm100 #barkleymarathons #barkley #legend
📸 https://t.co/i5M6SEQtyD pic.twitter.com/RBFXRvXicN— David Miller (@dav1dmiller) March 22, 2024
In 2019 Paris won the 268-mile Spine race along the Pennine way, taking 12 hours off the record — while stopping at aid stations along the way to express breastmilk for her baby.
