Barkley Marathons update (7am, Friday March 17th): Despite an heroic effort, Damian Hall tapped out of the 2023 Barkley Marathons on the fifth - and final - loop.With almost 53 hours on the clock, Damian returned to camp having been unable to find the first book on loop 5. More to follow on this soon.
There were, however, three finishers in this year's race - Aurelian Sanchez (58:23), John Kelly (58:42) and Karel Sabbe (59:53), the latter finishing seven minutes inside the 60-hour time limit!
For John, it was a second finish, following his first completion in 2017. Aurelian and Karel are new names to the Barkley Marathons roll of honour which now contains the names of 17 runners who have finished the world's most notorious ultra since it began in 1986.
Taking part in his first Barkley Marathons, INOV8 ambassador Damian ran strongly to complete four loops in a time of 47hrs 39mins. The fifth loop, however, proved his undoing. It was an incredible performance from the 2023 Spine Race winner.
Jasmin Paris, the last woman standing, was timed out on loop 4. Earlier, INOV8 ambassador Nicky Spinks was timed out on loop 2.
Damian Hall battling his way through tough terrain on loop 1 of the 2023 Barkley Marathons. Photo by David Miller.
Nicky Spinks was cheekily handed the number 1 bib for the 2023 Barkley Marathons. Race director Laz Lake gives this to a participant he deems least likely to finish loop 1. Nicky has already proven him wrong. Photo by David Miller.
INOV8 ambassadors Damian Hall & Nicky Spinks will race Barkley Marathons, the world's most notorious 100-mile ultramarathon.
Since its inception in 1986 only 15 runners - all men - have reached the finish line in Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, USA. The last was John Kelly in 2017.
Once again this year - on a date being kept secret to discourage spectators from attending - 40 chosen participants will attempt to self-navigate their way around a brutally-tough, unmarked lapped course, all set amid steep-sloped, thick mountain woodland.
And while the course can change year-to-year, it tends to be a total of five laps/loops (often run in a various combinations of alternating directions), each being approximately 20-26 miles in distance and including about 12,000ft of ascent.
Runners tear pages out of hidden books as they go and return them to enigmatic race creator & director Gary 'Lazarus Lake' Cantrell, otherwise known as 'Laz', at the end of each lap. He will be waiting at the yellow gate made iconic by the 2014 Netflix documentary Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young.
Last year saw four men and one woman - Jasmin Paris - complete three loops within the time limit and achieve what Laz calls a 'Fun Run'. No-one managed four - or five - loops.
Nicky with Laz at the end of her first loop of the Barkley Marathons 2019. Photo by Summit Fever Media.
Laz has his say on Barkley Marathons 2023
Asked by INOV8 if he'd like to reveal anything that's going to make the Barkley Marathons different this year, Laz said: “We've made it easier to try to assure a finisher!” It remains to be seen whether he was being serious or joking.
Two of this year's starters will be UK-based ultra runners Damian and Nicky. Both have won multiple ultramarathon races and broken many long-distance running records.
It will be Damian's first attempt at the Barkley Marathons, coming just months after he won the brutal 268-mile Spine Race. He will therefore be a Barkley Marathons 'Virgin'.
For Nicky it will be a second crack at the iconic event, her first coming in 2019 when she and Stephanie Case were the two Last Women Standing. The pair retired together on loop two amid appalling conditions. Nicky will start the 2023 race as a Barkley Marathons 'Veteran.'
When we asked Laz if he had any advice for Damian and Nicky, he said: “Make sure your affairs are in order!”
Usually staged late March / early April, we await to see what the 2023 Barkley Marathons will hold. In the meantime, read our new Q&As with both Damian and Nicky.
Damian at the end of the 268-mile Spine Race in January - an epic winter event he won in the second fastest ever time. Photo by Britta Sendlhofer.
Damian Hall - Barkley Marathons Q&A
How are you feeling about the challenge of Barkley Marathons?
Super-terrified and super-excited. It'll be like walking onto a film set.
What attracted you to enter and is it your first time racing in the US?
I have raced once in the US before and it went terribly, thanks for bringing that up! That was a hot and fast 100k race though. This is... something else altogether. I've wanted to do it for years, partly to put an end to the 'Yeah, but will you ever do the Barkley?' questions, and partly to annoy Spinksy (by revenge stealing her best snacks), but mostly because it's a unique, mysterious and prestigious event, the toughest in ultrarunning.
What key advice have you been given by friends who've done Barkley Marathons before?
Pack for all weathers. There's A Lot of vert. It's tougher than you imagine. Don't trust most of what Laz says.
What will likely be the single biggest challenge you'll face?
Navigation, probably (I seem to have enough trouble on a marked course). I've had one-to-one lessons in dark woods and done orienteering races this winter, hopefully that's enough. But it sounds like the Barkley stumps the finest orienteers.
What will be your tactics and what is you aim?
Steal Spinksy's snacks and find a Barkley Veteran to annoy. Failing the latter, try not to get lost for more than eight hours at a time.
Damian battling tough conditions at the Spine race earlier this year. Photo by Steve Ashworth.
Do you feel recovered from The Spine and do you feel that experience can help you at Barkley?
The Spine gave me some confidence back, even if it's a very different race. But yes, while I maybe haven't got in the epic block of vert that some extol, recovery has been top banana.
How have you been training for the unique challenges posed by Barkley Marathons?
As well as working on nav, some decent outings on steepest possible terrain in the Lakes, Brecon Beacons and the Wiltshire Alps.
You're taking a first flight in four years to go to the race. How are you feeling now about this?
I'm really reluctant to fly, but I also don't feel I should sacrifice all my running dreams. I've turned down some amazing international races in the last few years and made all the personal footprint reductions I realistically can for now (I likely average 7 tonnes Co2e/year compared to the UK average of 12.9 tonnes). A while ago I made a small list of races and challenges I still considered worth flying to (most European races are reachable by train) and this one is top. I'm keen not to waste those emissions. I penned some fuller, tedious self-flagellation here.
Ultrarunning legend Nicky training ahead of 2023's big race challenges, starting with Barkley Marathons. Photo by Nicky.
Nicky Spinks - Barkley Marathons Q&A
How are you feeling about the challenge of Barkley Marathons?
I am excited to see what I can do after a four-year absence and not great training but more experience and a more chilled approach.
What attracted you to enter again and return to Barkley Marathons?
I entered for 2020 and got a place but the race was cancelled two weeks before. In 2021 it still wasn't possible to travel out, and in 2022 Covid was still about and I wasn't ready. I wanted to return to learn from my mistakes and it's a twice in a lifetime opportunity not to be missed!
What did you learn in 2019 that you think will help you most this year?
To watch the weather closely and take more warm clothes. Already the forecast shows it's hovering around freezing at 350m and so a lot colder at 1,000m on the highest top. I learnt a lot from Steph about marking up the map and finding the books. I hope to remember this!
How will your tactics differ to those in 2019 and what is you aim for the race?
To mark the map up more accurately and to use a thumb compass, which I have been using since 2019! To get round one loop at a time. Since no-one has finished all five loops for six years, I think the first loop will tell me a lot.
How have you been training for the unique challenges posed by Barkley Marathons?
I have been making the most of the Scottish mountains and getting some quality ascent training in. The tussocks and forests of Galloway are ideal for frustratingly slow progress and teaching you 'mind over speed!'
Nicky on the steep climb of Rat Jaw at Barkley Marathons 2019. Photo by Summit Fever Media.
What will likely be the single biggest challenge you'll face?
I feel like a Virgin again as it was four years ago that I was last there, and the course will have changed four times since then. That makes navigation and finding the books is my biggest concern.
How will you use the time spent with your support crew between loops?
Eating and changing clothes, but importantly making sure I know what the weather forecast is and leaving for the next loop with the right clothes for the 10/12 hours ahead of me. This was my biggest mistake last time.
Is this the year you think a woman could finish the Barkley Marathons?
Yes. Maybe not me but one of those women out there will finish the Barkley!
Damian & Nicky's kit for Barkley Marathons
The duo will have an arsenal of kit choices for Barkley Marathons. Given the steep and often muddy terrain they'll encounter, both will likely use MUDCLAW shoes with fierce 8mm long studs that given incredible grip.
Damian is a big fan of the RACE ULTRA PRO 5 VEST PACK and Nicky the RACE ULTRA PRO 2-IN-1 VEST PACK, while both will have the lightweight waterproof STORMSHELL jackets and the more protective VENTURELITE jackets.
