For the primary time in 38 years, a Canadian has completed the Barkley Marathons. Ihor Verys of Chilliwack, B.C., completed his remaining loop on Friday afternoon at Frozen Head State Park in Wartburg, Tenn. He accomplished 5 loops of the 20+ mile course in 58:44:59 and is the primary runner to complete.
Ihor Verys approaching the end of the #BM100. pic.twitter.com/vDiJdEgJcu
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 22, 2024
What Verys has achieved is nothing wanting exceptional. The Barkley Marathons course is extremely lengthy and gruelling, with 1000’s of metres of elevation achieve, equal to up and down Everest twice, after which some.
This was Verys’s first time on the Barkley Marathons in solely his fourth yr of competing professionally. Final yr, he was runner-up at Large’s Yard Extremely World Championships, which was gained by American Harvey Lewis, who ran a mind-boggling 724 km over 5 days; Verys set a Canadian file of 107 “yards,” smashing his earlier private greatest by 267 km. Verys additionally has wins at B.C.’s Fats Canine 120 and the Canadian Dying Race.
Lewis, who was additionally a part of this yr’s Barkley however dropped out of the race after the primary loop, was out on the course to cheer on Verys as he took on his remaining loop. Verys reportedly smiled and stated to Lewis “It’s solely 60 hours, not 107,” referencing the elapsed time restrict of the Barkley Marathons, in comparison with how lengthy he was on the course at Large’s Yard, which is a last-runner-standing occasion.
Ukrainian Ihor Verys is the primary on loop 4 to guide on the #BM100
Picture credit score: @howiesternphoto pic.twitter.com/orAckYJTCi
— Keith (@keithdunn) March 21, 2024
Verys, 29, was considered one of seven runners to tackle loop 5–a brand new file on the Barkley. Per Barkley guidelines, runners who head out on loop 5 concurrently might not journey collectively; they need to go in reverse instructions. Verys, being the primary runner to go out, determined to go clockwise (the popular path); John Kelly, the second runner, subsequently needed to go counterclockwise. Six runners stay on the course on the time of publication.
The race shall be over and any finishers decided by 5:17 p.m. ET Friday.
What’s the Barkley Marathons?
The Barkley Marathons is 5 loops of a 20+ mile course (distances fluctuate; the race is considered about 120 miles, or 192 km) that includes 1000’s of metres of elevation achieve, with a time restrict of 60 hours. GPS watches should not allowed; every runner is issued an inexpensive watch set to “Barkley time,” i.e., the 60-hour restrict. Runners should accumulate pages akin to their bib quantity from 13 books hidden on the course (they obtain a brand new bib for every loop); lacking pages imply disqualification. There’s water accessible on the course, however no assist stations. Runners might solely obtain assist from their crew between loops, in camp, the place they’re on the clock.
