JASMIN PARIS COMPLETES BARKLEY MARATHONS 'FUN RUN'

Jasmin Paris has described her first-ever Barkley Marathons experience as “Type 2 Fun!”

The INOV8 ambassador became the first woman in nine years to complete 3 loops of the world’s toughest ultramarathon inside 40 hours and achieve what enigmatic race creator Laz Lake calls a ‘Fun Run’.

Once again, no runner completed the full 5 x 20-mile loops – something last achieved by John Kelly in 2017.

Jasmin was this year’s last woman standing, returning to the iconic yellow gate of the Barkley Marathons for a third time with 39hrs 49mins 56secs on the clock – just over 10 minutes inside the cut-off for a Fun Run.

She was, however, outside the 36-hour cut-off time for runners permitted to start a fourth loop. As is tradition when a runner drops or is timed-out, a buglar played ‘Taps’.

Jasmin said: “A good few hours of the first loop were genuinely enjoyable with the sun shining and a lovely Barkleys veteran for company. The rest was largely Type 2 Fun!

“The biggest challenges were the navigation and the weather. I made some significant navigational errors, so much so it felt like I ran the full 100 miles given all the detours I took!

“The torrential rain and fog, plus the dark, made loop 2 really difficult. I had to take my headtorch off and hold it in my hand because I couldn’t see past the beam. Not easy when you’re also carrying a map, compass and poles over steep ground and cliffs. I needed 10 hands, not two!

“I also got very cold, and it was difficult working out the route given the conditions. I was pleased join up with Thomas (Dunkerbeck) in the thick forest about halfway round loop 2. He was pleased to see me too! It’s an intimidating place to be on your own, especially in such conditions, so we worked together to finish loop 2.

“After doing the first 2 loops in the same direction, I had to go the other way round on loop 3. I was on my own and made some more significant navigation errors. I realised I wasn’t going to make it back in time to start a fourth loop so I focused on trying to get a Fun Run. I was really pleased to be able to achieve this. My goal was to give it absolutely everything I had, and I feel I did that, so I’m happy.”

Three runners – Karel Sabbe, Greig Hamilton and John Kelly – completed three loops in under 36 hours. Karel and Greig both went out on a fourth loop, while John chose not to continue and settle for a Fun Run.

Neither Karel nor Greig completed loop 4 within the time required. Karel was given a ride back to camp by the Morgan County Sheriff after seeking help mid-loop. Thomas Dunkerbeck, who ran with Jasmin for a time on loop 2, also completed a Fun Run, in 39:27:46.

It meant that, once again, there were no finishers at the Barkley Marathons.

This was Jasmin’s first attempt at the Barkley Marathons, an event steeped in ultra running history and made famous by the 2014 Netflix documentary Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young.

Since its inception in 1986, only 15 runners - all men - have completed all five loops, totalling about 100 miles, inside the 60-hour limit. The last was John Kelly in 2017.

The last woman to achieve a Fun Run was Bev Abbs in 2013 and this year's event started on International Women's Day.

*Check out our range of ultramarathon shoes, running clothes and running packs. For Barkley Marathons, many runners wear shoes with aggressive outsoles – like the MUDCLAW G 260 V2 – that grip tight over off-trail terrain.