Barkley Marathons

The Barkley Marathons is an ultramarathon trail race held each year in Frozen Head State Park in Morgan County, Tennessee, United States. Described as "The Race That Eats Its Young", it is known for its extreme difficulty, purposefully difficult application process, and many strange traditions, having been completed only 26 times by 20 runners since 1995. The course, which varies from year to year, consists of five loops of 20 miles (32 km) of off-trail course for a total of 100 miles (160 km) of harsh terrain. The race is limited to a 60-hour period from the start of the first loop, and takes place usually between mid-March and early April each year, though the actual start date and time is a closely held secret until the race begins. A "fun run" ultramarathon, which consists of three of the loops for a total of 60 miles, can be run within the larger race.

Infobox

Date

Varies; usually near April Fools' Day

Location

Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, U . 36°07′34″N 84°30′04″W / 36 °N 84 °W / 36 ; -84

Event type

Trail racing

Distance

100 miles (160 km) (5 laps of 20 miles (32 km))

Established

1986

Organizer

Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell

Course records

Men: 52:03:08, Brett Maune (2012) Women: 59:58:21, Jasmin Paris (2024)

Participants

Tables

Official finishers of the Barkley Marathons · Finishers

Mark Williams

Year

1995

Name

Mark Williams

Time

59:28:48

Notes

First finisher

David Horton

Year

2001

Name

David Horton

Time

58:21:00

Notes

New record

58:21:01

Year

Blake Wood

Name

58:21:01

Teddy Keizer

Year

2003

Name

Teddy Keizer

Time

56:57:52

Notes

New record

Mike Tilden

Year

2004

Name

Mike Tilden

Time

57:25:18

57:28:25

Year

Jim Nelson

Name

57:28:25

Brian Robinson

Year

2008

Name

Brian Robinson

Time

55:42:27

Notes

New record

Andrew Thompson

Year

2009

Name

Andrew Thompson

Time

57:37:19

Jonathan Basham

Year

2010

Name

Jonathan Basham

Time

59:18:44

Brett Maune (1)

Year

2011

Name

Brett Maune (1)

Time

57:13:33

Brett Maune (2)

Year

2012

Name

Brett Maune (2)

Time

52:03:08

Notes

Current record

56:00:16

Year

Jared Campbell (1)

Name

56:00:16

59:41:21

Year

John Fegyveresi

Name

59:41:21

Nick Hollon

Year

2013

Name

Nick Hollon

Time

57:39:24

58:41:45

Year

Travis Wildeboer

Name

58:41:45

Jared Campbell (2)

Year

2014

Name

Jared Campbell (2)

Time

57:53:20

Jared Campbell (3)

Year

2016

Name

Jared Campbell (3)

Time

59:32:30

John Kelly (1)

Year

2017

Name

John Kelly (1)

Time

59:30:53

Aurélien Sanchez

Year

2023

Name

Aurélien Sanchez

Time

58:23:12

58:42:23

Year

John Kelly (2)

Name

58:42:23

59:53:33

Year

Karel Sabbe

Name

59:53:33

Ihor Verys

Year

2024

Name

Ihor Verys

Time

58:44:59

59:15:38

Year

John Kelly (3)

Name

59:15:38

59:30:32

Year

Jared Campbell (4)

Name

59:30:32

59:38:42

Year

Greig Hamilton

Name

59:38:42

59:58:21

Year

Jasmin Paris

Name

59:58:21

Time

First female finisher

Year	Name	Time	Notes
1995	Mark Williams	59:28:48	First finisher
2001	David Horton	58:21:00	New record
2001	Blake Wood	58:21:01
2003	Teddy Keizer	56:57:52	New record
2004	Mike Tilden	57:25:18
2004	Jim Nelson	57:28:25
2008	Brian Robinson	55:42:27	New record
2009	Andrew Thompson	57:37:19
2010	Jonathan Basham	59:18:44
2011	Brett Maune (1)	57:13:33
2012	Brett Maune (2)	52:03:08	Current record
	Jared Campbell (1)	56:00:16
	John Fegyveresi	59:41:21
2013	Nick Hollon	57:39:24
2013	Travis Wildeboer	58:41:45
2014	Jared Campbell (2)	57:53:20
2016	Jared Campbell (3)	59:32:30
2017	John Kelly (1)	59:30:53
2023	Aurélien Sanchez	58:23:12
	John Kelly (2)	58:42:23
	Karel Sabbe	59:53:33
2024	Ihor Verys	58:44:59
	John Kelly (3)	59:15:38
	Jared Campbell (4)	59:30:32
	Greig Hamilton	59:38:42
	Jasmin Paris	59:58:21	First female finisher