Amid rumours of trail runners in the area and campsite bookings selling out at Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tenn., the conch was officially blown at 10:37 a.m. on Tuesday, March 18, signalling the start of the 2025 Barkley Marathons at 11:37 a.m. ET.
After multiple failed attempts, the conch was blown at 10:37. The 2025 Barkley Marathons begins in one hour. #BM100. pic.twitter.com/oFAdsCgSir
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 18, 2025
The list of participants for the Barkley Marathons is kept under tight wraps—at least until after the race has begun—and even then, details remain elusive. Each year, there is a maximum of 40 runners, and from what we know three-time finisher (2017, 2023, and 2024) John Kelly, who grew up near Frozen Head, appears to be among them and back for his eighth attempt at the race. However, Ukrainian-Canadian Ihor Verys, the first runner to complete all five loops last year, will not return in 2025 as he is still recovering from an injury. Tackling 60 hours of gruelling terrain is understandably not ideal for recovery.
Last year marked a historic moment for the event with its first female finisher, British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris, successfully completing all five loops. Could this year bring the event’s second female finisher?
The event is masterminded by Gary Cantrell, better known as Laz Lake, who created the race in 1986. It was inspired by the infamous prison escape of James Earl Ray, convicted of assassinating American civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1967. Ray’s attempted escape from Brushy Mountain Penitentiary—now abandoned—forms part of the legend and the race’s challenging course.
The rules
The Barkley Marathons consist of five loops around a course of over 20 miles each. The exact distance varies, but the race is estimated to span roughly 120 miles (192 km) with significant elevation gain. Runners have a 60-hour limit to finish. GPS devices are prohibited; participants are issued an inexpensive watch set to “Barkley time” (the 60-hour limit). Competitors must find and collect pages from 13 books hidden along the course, corresponding to their bib number, with a new bib issued for each loop. Missing pages result in disqualification. While water is available at certain points, there are no traditional aid stations. Runners can receive assistance from their crew only at the main camp between loops, but the clock never stops.
Unlike most ultramarathons, the Barkley has no live tracking. Updates come exclusively from Keith Dunn on X (formerly Twitter), who shares live information from the main campsite as he observes events unfold.
