Known starters for the 2019 Barkley Marathons
We're just hours away from the start of the Barkley Marathons
The Barkley Marathons are rumored to begin sometime in the next 24 hours. There is no start list for the Barkley, with runners deciding for themselves if they’d like to announce their entry. Last year there were no finishers, thanks to the race’s notorious difficulty and to terrible weather. Spring weather can be unpredictable anywhere, and last year Frozen Head got walloped with a massive rainstorm, dense fog and cold temperatures on race weekend. Running five 20-mile loops in 60 hours with no course markings and no organized aid stations is hard enough–add bad weather to the mix, and any hopes of finishing were dashed for most people after a loop or two.
Lots of work has been going on around the park, including some pretty visible changes. pic.twitter.com/YmGsQEy8d5
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 28, 2019
RELATED:Â Barkley Marathons and Frozen Head: just a jog in the park?
With only hours between now and the blowing of the conch, which signals that the race will start in one hour, here’s who we know is running:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvlx-YUnEq1/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=13iavrg4ism3y
Known runners
(in no particular order)
Benoit Laval–France
Rémy Jegard–France
Nicky Spinks–British ultrarunner who has completed both a double Bob Graham Round and a double Ramsay Round. Being touted as a strong possibility for first female finisher in Barkley history.
Maggie Guterl–American ultrarunner back for her second attempt this year.
Stephanie Case–Canadian based in Afghanistan who completed two loops in 2018, but not before the time cutoff. Has finished Tor des Géants three times, never worse than 6th place.
How to follow
The place to follow the action at Barkley is through the Twitter hashtag #BM100. Keith Dunn (who goes by the Twitter handle The Real Keith) offers the most reliable information.
This year’s course map. #BM100 pic.twitter.com/fO7cbQd3DY
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 29, 2019