Update (Saturday, March 23, 8pm UK time):
It was another case of ‘so near and yet so far’ for Damian Hall at Barkley Marathons, as for a second successive year his brave race sadly ended during a fifth - and final - loop.
The INOV8 ambassador and The Green Runners co-founder ran a storming first four loops of the world’s most notorious ‘100-mile’ ultramarathon.
He was then the third of seven runners to begin a fifth loop, but was unfortunately one of two not to complete it.
Like last year, he came unstuck when struggling to locate one of the books, which are hidden at checkpoints on the course.
The five to finish were Ivor Verys, John Kelly, Jared Campbell, Greig Hamilton and Jasmin Paris - the latter becoming the first woman to do so in the event’s 38-year history.
Damian told us: “I was too slow to locate one of the books in the dark. I wasn’t lost, I knew roughly where I was, but I misjudged a compass bearing and couldn’t locate the book. I knew after I found it that I didn’t have enough time to find the remaining books. I’m frustrated I made that one big mistake. It had been going pretty well up until then. I decided to collect a few more pages after that, have a snooze, and recce some bits of the course to improve my knowledge of it, before returning to camp."
“It was still an amazing experience, and incredible to see Jasmin finish and make history. That wiped away most of my personal disappointment. It was the greatest sporting achievement I’ve seen in the flesh.”
Recover strong Damian, we know you’ll bounce back stronger for the experience.
Update (Friday, March 22, 9:15pm UK time):
Jasmin Paris has become the first-ever woman to complete the Barkley Marathons. She completed her fifth - and final - loop in a total race time of 59hrs 58mins to beat the 60-hour time limit. Incredible!
While she may not be an INOV8 ambassador these days, we are all ecstatic for Jasmin. She is a true history-maker, breaking new ground and achieving something that has not happened since the race started in 1986.
Jasmin moved away from holding any brand partnerships after her Barkley Marathons debut in 2022, choosing instead to run free of sponsorships. She remains a friend - and inspiration - to us.
Update (Friday, March 22, 9pm UK time):
Unfortunately Damian Hall was unable to complete all 5 loops of the 2024 Barkley Marathons. The INOV8 ambassador completed 4 loops well within the four-loop cut-off time and set off on loop 5 with hopes high. We await to find out what went wrong for Damian on loop 5, but we do know that he returned to camp from the wrong direction with 59 hours on the clock. The race time-limit is 60 hours. Thus far four runners have completed the full five loops this year - Ihor Verys, John Kelly, Jared Campbell and Greig Hamilton.
Update (Friday, March 22, 10am UK time):
INOV8 ambassador Damian Hall is one of seven runners to have started the fifth – and final – loop of the Barkley Marathons 2024.
The race is regarded as the world’s most notorious ‘100-mile’ ultramarathon. Since its inception in 1986 only 17 runners – all men – have completed the full five loops of the brutal course and reached the finish line in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, USA, within the 60-hour time limit.
The seven runners out on loop 5 are Ihor Verys, John Kelly, Damian Hall, Greig Hamilton, Jasmin Paris, Jared Campbell and Sebastien Raichon. All set off on loop 5 before the 48-hour cut-off.
Ihor was first, setting off in a clockwise direction, followed by John (anti-clockwise), Damian (clockwise), Greig (anti-clockwise) and Jasmin (clockwise).
Damian is hoping to go one better than last year when he started a fifth loop but dropped out shortly afterwards. That 2023 edition of the race saw three finishers – Aurelian Sanchez (58:23), John Kelly (58:42) and Karel Sabbe (59:53).
Friend of the brand Jasmin Paris is the first woman in history to start loop 5. This is her third Barkley Marathons and everyone is hoping she can make even more history by becoming the first woman to complete the full race.
Once again this year, around 40 chosen participants started the event, self-navigate their way around the cruelly-tough, unmarked lapped course, all set amid steep-sloped, thick mountain woodland. Each loop is approximately 20-26 miles in distance and including about 13,000ft of ascent.
Runners tear pages out of hidden books as they go and return them to enigmatic race creator and director Gary ‘Lazarus Lake’ Cantrell, otherwise known as ‘Laz’, at the end of each loop. He waits at the yellow gate made iconic by the 2014 Netflix documentary Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young.
Once again this year, the race has been kept largely secretive to avoid big crowds descending on this sensitive area. Now, however, the world of ultra running is talking about it. The best way to follow the action is on X (formerly Twitter) via the posts of Keith Dunn @keithdunn
What follows is a pre-race Q&A with Damian. We held back from publishing this until today (Friday) to maintain the 2024 race secrecy and Damian’s involvement.
Ding, ding. Round two. What made you want a second serving of Barkley Marathons fun?
Firstly, I just love books and travelling the world visiting different libraries (some are more confusing than others). Secondly, I left my favourite black-and-red wrag (head wrap) out there in the woods somewhere and want to go find it. Thirdly, I was equally proud and humbled by my Barkley debut, which made the elusive five loops seem compellingly possible. It's the biggest puzzle in ultrarunning.
Now a ‘Veteran’, what did you learn on debut last year as a ‘Virgin’ that will hopefully help you do even better this year?
First time is the worst time, right? The crux of it for me is learning the course, which is easier said than done as it all looks the bloody same. But I have four loops more knowledge than last time. I'm also aware how much quicker you fatigue mentally and hopefully have some tactics for that (mainly strong tea).
How have you tailored your preparations versus last year given you now have experience at the event?
Almost as soon as I got home I signed up for Mountain Leader training (which I've since completed), joined North Wiltshire Orienteers and have been doing local orienteering races and courses, often at night.
Last year was as much a sleep deprivation meltdown/wild hogs hiding a book from me, but I wanted to be sure I'm competent with a compass. I've also spent many hours on the Power Mill (stair climber) and on steeper, calf-howling vert in Bannau Brycheiniog.
There's been more online research and I have another Spine Race and Tor des Geants in the bag – both great sleep deprivation practise.
Four loops last year and the start of fifth. The goal this year obviously must be the full five loops. Are you feeling confident of achieving that?
Hahahaaaaa. I'm not sure that's the word I'd use. I think I have the fitness, strength, skills, experience and desire. But that isn't necessarily enough at the Barkley. She can be a cruel mistress. The weather can be critical. But it is possible. I'm hopeful.
Given that three runners completed the full five loops last year, what do you think Laz has in store this time round?
There are several levers Laz could pull and I'm not wasting energy second-guessing him. But I do hope he's charitable. Some Barkers believe the course between 2017 and 2023 (when there were no finishers) may have been impossible.
How difficult has it been to keep quiet your return to this secretive race and how do you answer the ‘are you doing Barkleys’ question?
I won't lie, that's been a struggle, because I won't lie (though I may not have told the whole truth to some people, sorry!). To be honest, the date is the biggest thing Laz wants to keep secret and that's with an eye on keeping the race going in the future. Frozen Head has ecologically sensitive areas which need to be protected.
If you can, briefly explain what it’s really like to be at Barkley Marathons and to take part.
Imagine going up and down 35-40% gradient slopes, in woods, in the dark, for 60 hours, while trying to recognise very specific trees, though they all look the same. And however hard you work, you're permanently close to the cut-offs, all the while you’re getting more and more sleepy... and confused... And wasn't there something about a book? And you're part way there.
The Barkley is this enormous challenge, there's only a slim chance of completing. Which is really compelling. You feel very lucky to be there and it feels different to any other event. It doesn't feel like a race. There's a welcoming community and people really help each other. It’s really special.
And what is Laz like? How would you describe him?
Much cleverer than he looks. More compassionate than his reputation. More inspiring than he realises. He told me he likes tea.
What will the key instructions to your crew be?
It's all about the tea-making and I'll be bringing Yorkshire Gold.
How’s your recovery been since the Spine Race and anything learnt from that race that might help at Barkleys?
Sleep deprivation – and fuelling for that matter – are ongoing experiments, but I think I'm getting better at both. It probably took three-four weeks to feel good again post-Spine (even if I still can't feel some of my toes). But in the last few weeks I've felt proper ace.
You’re taking a second flight in five years to get there. How are you feeling about this?
Conflicted. But I've made all the lifestyle changes I reasonably can to significantly reduce my individual footprint. People who might fly once a year aren't the problem here, as individual actions alone, while important, won't save us. We need systemic change and collective action, which is where The Green Runners (and general elections) come in. Please come and join us, all welcome. You don't have to be a tofu-muncher. Or even a tea-drinker, as John Kelly showed, by recently joining.
What INOV8 kit will be key for you at this year’s Barkley Marathons?
The MUDTALON and MUDTALON SPEED will both be getting quite the workout and I'll use the RACEPAC 20. My tights form last year have quite a few holes in them caused by the sharp briars on the course, but they are still perfectly useable.
* All photos by David Miller.
