The first female athlete to complete the toughest ultra trail race on the planet

American Jasmin Paris today, March 23, became the first female athlete to conquer the Barkley Marathon in the 38-year history of this tough ultra trail race.

Paris finished the race in 59 hours, 58 minutes and 21 seconds, just 99 seconds before the COT (Cut-off time).

Paris crossed the finish line at the Barkley Marathon to cheers from the crowd. Photo: Howie Stern

She is one of five people to record the finish line of the 2024 Barkley Marathon. The other four are: Ihor Verys (58:44:59), John Kelly (59:15:38), Jared Campbell (59:30:32) and Greig Hamilton (59:38:42).

The Barkley Marathon is considered the toughest ultra trail race on the planet, with a distance of 160 km, and a total elevation gain of 19,200 m, held in Frozen Head National Park in Tennessee. Before 2024, only 17 runners, all men, had completed the race in 37 years. This year, five runners finished, a record number, breaking the record of three runners who finished last year.

Jared Campbell is the first person to finish the race four times. Ihor Verys finished it on his first attempt. John Kelly is the second person to finish the Barkley Marathon three times after Campbell, and Greig Hamilton finished it for the first time in three attempts.

From left are Greig Hamilton, Jared Campbell, Ihor Verys, Jasmin Paris and John Kelly - the five athletes who completed the Barkley Marathon 2024. Photo: Howie Stern

To conquer the Barkley Marathon, runners must complete five 20-mile (32 km) laps through the forests of the Cumberland Mountains. Paris, 40, came to running quite late. She "Fun Run" the Barkley Marathon in 2022 - a year when no runner finished the race. To be certified as a "Fun Run," runners only need to complete three laps in 40 hours.

Last year, Paris thrilled ultra trail fans by becoming only the second woman to reach the fourth lap, after Sue Johnston. But she finished the lap 48 hours after the COT, and was disqualified. The mother of two ended 2023 with a knee injury that derailed her training plans.

Paris, however, was lucky to have recovered enough to return to Frozen Head this year. The veterinarian runner said she had coaches Damian Hall and Kelly to support her during the first four laps. At the Barkley Marathon, runners ran in opposite directions on the fifth lap, so she had to fend for herself.

The Barkley Marathon course is slightly modified each year, making it more and more difficult. There are no trails. Runners must find their way using a compass or map, and are not allowed to use phones or smartwatches. Allergies, scrapes, falls on steep slopes, heavy rain, or fog that obscures the path have become a specialty of the race. Not stopping there, the organizers have increased the difficulty of the race by placing 9-13 books scattered throughout the forest. Runners must find the books, tear out the pages corresponding to their bib numbers as proof of completing the lap, or they will be disqualified. After completing a lap, the runners will change their bib numbers and continue to search for books.

Paris takes a nap after completing the fourth of five laps of the 2024 Barkley Marathon. Photo: BM100

Each year, the tournament only accepts about 40 athletes. To be selected, runners must write an essay on the topic "Why should I join the tournament?" and send it to the organizing committee. Those with the most impressive essays will come to the race for a fee of just over a dollar. Someone once bribed $1,000 to participate, but Cantrell flatly refused.

Thuy Hanh

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