An Interview With Ihor Verys After His 2024 Barkley Marathons Win – iRunFar

At an occasion that tends to favor these with earlier course data, Barkley Marathons first-timer Ihor Verys of Ukraine however dwelling in Canada gained the 2024 version of the notorious occasion on March 22 in a time of 58 hours, 44 minutes, and 59 seconds.

Verys credit working along with veterans of the occasion for the early laps, working alongside a robust group together with John Kelly and Jasmin Paris at occasions, for his personal success and that of a record-breaking variety of runners this 12 months. The relative newcomer to the game placed on a masterclass on navigating the bodily, emotional, and psychological difficulties of the occasion.

On this interview, Verys talks about his method to the race as a first-timer, why he thinks there have been so many finishers this 12 months, his relative newness to ultrarunning, his enjoyment of his first Barkley expertise, and whether or not he intends to return sooner or later.

Be taught extra about this 12 months’s Barkley Marathons in our outcomes article.

[Editor’s Note: The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.]

iRunFar: Ihor, congratulations in your Barkley end. That’s unbelievable. How do you are feeling about that?

Ihor Verys: It’s nonetheless sinking in. It would take just a few months, possibly years. I nonetheless can’t consider it. I nonetheless generally really feel like I’d simply get up someplace in the course of Frozen Head State Park, and I simply fell asleep and it’s all only a dream. [laughs]

iRunFar: You’ve nonetheless received 37 hours and an entire lot of books to go.

Verys: Yeah, I’m misplaced on the best way to e book 5, and I simply dreamed about ending, however in reality, search and rescue has been on the lookout for me for days now. [laughs]

iRunFar: [laughs] Effectively, it means you’re sleeping properly. Congratulations on that.

Verys: Yeah, thanks.

iRunFar: Earlier than we get into the main points, it’s actually uncommon for an individual to complete Barkley, however to complete it on their first attempt. I’d love to listen to your perspective on that. What do you attribute to having the ability to end in your first time on the market?

Verys: They are saying that there are extra failers than finishers, however I all the time attempt to have a special mindset, wanting on the individuals who completed it and say, I do know most people fail at Barkley, however there are 17 finishers. So why can’t I be certainly one of them? Certainly one of my inspirations was Aurélien Sanchez from final 12 months. He was additionally a Barkley virgin, but he accomplished it the very first 12 months, and he completed being the primary one final 12 months. So I checked out earlier instances and situations, and plenty of different Barkley finishers did it on their first try, and I undoubtedly derived lots of inspiration from them.

In fact, I really feel prefer it will also be attributed to all of the coaching and preparation that comes with gearing up for Barkley. It’s not your typical race. You’ll be able to’t simply present up simply having just a few miles in your legs over earlier months. You must prepare your power. You must prepare your navigation abilities, and I spent many, many months and years doing so. And after they got here right down to Barkley, I used to be simply prepared.

iRunFar: Yeah. It’s removed from simple, however do you assume it’s barely simpler that we now have 20 finishers and all of the expertise of the years of people that didn’t end, such that lots of classes have been realized? As an example, did you study quite a bit from earlier Barkley entrants, whether or not they’re finishers or not?

Verys: Completely, you may undoubtedly study from them. I feel another excuse why we had 5 finishers this 12 months — it has nothing to do with the course being simple, in reality, the course was tougher, new sections had been added — is simply that we labored as a group for the primary 4 loops. So we labored towards Barkley, and by placing all of those minds collectively, we had been capable of accomplish such a feat as 5 finishers. It’s a historic end, and I’m actually proud to be part of it.

iRunFar: That was my first query in regards to the play-by-play. That first lap it did look like people had been working collectively. That was the case?

Verys: The primary loop was distinctive, based on the veterans. As a result of it was my first 12 months, I didn’t know what to anticipate. I didn’t know the way many individuals would be capable of be within the lead pack, and we ended up having virtually 20 folks shut collectively for many of the first loop. Once I chatted with John Kelly, I requested him, “Is it regular?” And he stated, “No. By now there needs to be 5 folks most. I’ve by no means seen such a giant prepare this far into the primary loop.” I requested him, “What do you assume, is it a tricky crowd, or do you assume individuals are simply working lower than their means?” And he’s like, “Effectively, I assume we’ll see later.” [laughs]

The group was getting smaller and smaller. And on the finish, we had this little group of seven folks, and 6 folks, after which simply 5 folks that might be within the lead. Then, there was one other little group with Jared Campbell and Greig Hamilton slightly bit behind us. They’d their very own group there. We had been making an attempt to stay collectively. I assume it was John, myself, Damian Corridor, and Jasmin Paris all the time round there. And for a while, Sébastien [Raichon] from France was there as properly. Sébastien may not essentially converse English, however we had been capable of converse one navigation language, which was superb. He helped us, we helped him, and it was teamwork. It was actually teamwork on the market, and I feel that’s why we had 5 finishers.

iRunFar: How lengthy had been you working with folks? I imply not essentially each minute, however for essentially the most half.

Verys: Within the second loop, 5 of us completed with Sébastien, however Sébastien needed to take an extended break after that. So, for the third loop, there have been 4 of us: John, Damian, myself, and Jasmin. The 4 of us lasted fairly some time, all the best way into the fourth loop. After which it was John, Damian, and myself on loop 4. The three of us labored collectively. Jasmin was simply behind us. Then, loop 5, we’re all on our personal. We now have to take [alternating] instructions. That is the place true Barkley begins, on loop 5, as a result of it’s simply you and the course, and for those who haven’t realized by now, Barkley will train you a lesson.

iRunFar: Was it excellent timing for many of loop 5 to be in daylight?

Verys: The primary three hours had been in darkness, after which the solar got here out, stunning climate. I used to be joking that Laz[arus Lake, the race director] did the beginning in order that it ends at 5:00 p.m. so he might go to mattress proper after. [laughs]

He was like, I don’t wish to take care of that in the course of the evening.

iRunFar: On that lap 4, I’m simply going again slightly bit. Did you end up working out in entrance alone at any level in a while loop 4?

Verys: All three of us had been collectively. I left slightly bit early on loop 4 as a result of there was slightly path, so I took it simple digesting meals that I took on the camp, and I loaded up lots of energy in order that John and Damian might catch up. As soon as they caught up with me, the three of us labored collectively. I didn’t wish to go by myself. I used to be pretty comfy going utterly by myself for loop 4, however I figured if we have now this chance of working collectively for another loop, why not take it?

iRunFar: So mainly, did you do the entire loop collectively?

Verys: Yeah. Loop 4 was the slowest as a result of it was the second evening. Everybody’s sleep-deprived and drained. We made a bunch of errors, however these weren’t essential errors. I feel our loop 4 was 14 hours, which could be very gradual. However hopefully we had been capable of repair these errors and prepare for loop 5.

iRunFar: So that you’re ending loop 4. Possibly there’s one path that most individuals really feel is less complicated, otherwise you personally really feel is less complicated. How did you determine who was going to get to decide on first and in what path for loop 5? Do you dash into the checkpoint to stand up first or did you really talk about it as a bunch?

Verys: The rule is that whoever is able to depart first will get to decide on the path. I didn’t wish to sleep. I simply wanted to vary socks and footwear, and I’m able to go. John needed to take a nap, as he was falling asleep a bit, and we misplaced Damian by the tip of the loop 4 within the darkness. I don’t know the place he went, however he may share that story in some unspecified time in the future. However anyway, as we had been ending up loop 4 with John, I requested him, “Is it okay? I feel I’m not going to take lots of time within the camp. I’m simply going to eat, change footwear, and I’m out of right here. And I’ll take clockwise.” He stated, yeah, he’s high quality with that as a result of he needed to take a break. And for me, clockwise. The explanation why I needed to take it’s as a result of I simply got here from counterclockwise, so it’s sort of recent in my mind. I used to be pondering throughout these first three evening hours, I ought to be capable of find these books. And hopefully, when the solar is out, there shall be aid.

iRunFar: You thought that’d be simpler than, despite the fact that you’d gone that final lap within the different path, it had been 14 hours plus your break that you just had gone?

Verys: Effectively, the rationale it was 14 hours was as a result of it was evening. Evening loops are all the time slower. The counterclockwise path additionally begins with a path part. So, it’s really simpler at first at the very least. However then it relies upon, . Some folks say it’s simpler, some folks say it isn’t. I figured I’d take clockwise and take my likelihood on that.

iRunFar: How did that ultimate lap go? Did you’ve any large points or issues?

Verys: It’s humorous, I used to be telling my crew, Jodi Isenor, that the one loop the place I didn’t make errors was loop 5. Whereas I used to be very nervous as a result of I used to be on my own, I did memorize quite a bit over the primary 4 loops. And after they got here to the purpose the place I wasn’t positive if this was the spot, I simply trusted my compass. The compass won’t ever misinform you. I relied on the compass 100%, and it didn’t let me down. There was one spot with one e book that I overshot slightly bit, however I used to be capable of determine it out and retrace it again and discover it. However apart from that, I landed just about each single e book spot on. It did take me slightly bit longer than if I had been with another person, simply because I used to be all the time ensuring I used to be in the precise path, I used to be in the precise spot, confirming with a map, confirming with options, confirming with landmarks and my compass. And , for those who belief your compass, it’s going to steer you to the precise spot, and that’s what occurred to me.

iRunFar: You had left on loop 5 with sufficient time that you just had been higher to confirm that you just had been in the precise spot moving into the precise path to spend slightly bit of additional time doing that than guessing and simply trusting with out verifying.

Are there any highlights on that final loop? Something that was simply nice or stood out positively?

Verys: Should you discover the e book, or the place you might be, it’s simply this little child second. I’m like, Oh my gosh, I did it! Heck yeah! And it simply offers you that motivation and that power to maintain going. And you discover the second e book and also you’re like, oh my god, I’m so good at it! It’s simply these little moments and also you’re like slightly youngster there in the course of nowhere, discovering these little books, and each time I discovered it, it simply gave me further power for the subsequent push, despite the fact that I had fairly horrible points with my ft. However it will assist me to neglect about that ache, to shelf that ache, depart it for later, and simply transfer on to the subsequent one.

Each time I did it, I used to be simply so pleased with myself, pleased with every little thing that my crew, Jodi taught me, as a result of I knew that I used to be not doing it only for myself. I’m doing it for him. I’m doing it for Canada and Ukraine. There are such a lot of folks which are behind me, standing for me, cheering and supporting me, and I simply didn’t wish to allow them to down. Having this thought in my head, it helped me to get via that loop by myself.

iRunFar: It seemed like by the tip of the third loop your ft had been in fairly horrible form however what occurred? You had a really lengthy option to go on unhealthy ft.

Verys: I ended up creating trench foot. I don’t know for those who’re aware of that, however I had the identical situation on the Harm [100 Mile] a few months prior, however I simply needed to go along with them from one loop there, which is like 5 hours. Hereafter loop three, I already had them, and a loop takes 12, 13, 14 hours, so you may’t actually change your footwear and socks, usually sufficient. And my ft, I assume they’ve child pores and skin or no matter, and so they develop these trenches.

Each step was very painful. Once I completed loop 4, I referred to as my crew, and I feel Laz heard that too as a result of he talked about it in his write-up. He really noticed my horrible ft as I took off the socks, and even Laz didn’t consider that I’d be capable of end it. I simply instructed myself one step at a time, one e book at a time, and I shelved the ache. I forgot about it for some time and I simply took it off the shelf on the finish of the race.

iRunFar: Typically, the stories about you all through the race had been that you just had been calm, actually clear-headed, and apart from your ft, fairly able-bodied. Had been these stories proper or was there much more struggling happening, and also you simply had been capable of keep calm outwardly?

Verys: I feel these stories are pretty truthful. I didn’t have another points. I used to be very proud of the best way my physique responded. I had no points with diet. I had no points with sleep deprivation. Aside from my ft, my physique felt nice. I had zero cramping. My muscle tissues felt nice. I felt good climbing. My quads had been nice descending. Aside from these ft, which is nothing within the large scheme of issues. Navigation was working properly. So general, these items of the puzzle, as soon as I put them collectively and realized, what, there are such a lot of issues that might have gone unsuitable, however they’re going proper. It gave me the arrogance to look good, too. I assume folks noticed that in me after which they put it of their report.

iRunFar: Did you get pleasure from any of it?

Verys: You understand what? I loved each single second of it. Possibly as soon as on loop 4 in the course of the evening, we ended up within the unsuitable spot — I didn’t double-check and nobody in our group double-checked. I used to be like, oh my goodness, I’ll by no means ever do it once more, silly. But it surely was very short-lived. Possibly a pair seconds after that I simply felt so privileged to have the ability to do it.

My mindset was, I don’t should do it; I get to do it. That’s what helped me get via it. Even the evening earlier than the conch was blown, I used to be there like slightly child sitting in my car. I’m like, oh my gosh, I’m within the Barkley camp, ready for the conch to be blown. This occasion has been on since 1986 and I get to be part of it. It doesn’t matter what the result’s going to be, I’m part of the Barkley household now. And that made me so comfortable and so appreciative of life and this chance.

iRunFar: I heard that you just possibly joked while you completed that the race needs to be six loops, not 5. Might you’ve finished a sixth loop for those who wanted to or had been you fairly finished at that time?

Verys: Possibly my ft weren’t proud of that joke, however once more, the remainder of my physique felt nice. It was a joke, in fact. I simply checked out my watch and noticed that it was nonetheless sub-59 [hours]. I’m like, whoa, we received one other hour right here to go. So, for those who throw in one other loop for 12 hours, we would be capable of try it. However once more, it’s all a joke. In fact each loop at Barkley is a grueling problem. You see that half of the sphere was gone after the primary loop, and Barkley is as arduous as everybody imagines it. It’s really worse than everybody imagines it. It’s actually arduous to elucidate as a result of no one’s allowed to be off-trail there. The one factor folks see is rat jaw. And rat jaw, in reality, is without doubt one of the best sections on the Barkley course, simply to provide the attitude of how horrible the off-trail sections are. [laughs] However I actually loved it. I anticipated that. I skilled on one thing like that, and once I confronted it, I used to be prepared.

iRunFar: How did you prepare for Barkley?

Verys: Effectively, dwelling in Chilliwack[, British Columbia], we’re blessed to have lots of loopy technical trails. Tremendous steep, tremendous rocky, tremendous rooty. You don’t essentially should go off-trail, you may simply keep on these trails. They’re fairly unhealthy, being really marked trails. So I spent lots of time in my yard climbing and descending these trails, constructing these climbing legs, constructing power, ensuring I might climb and descend for lengthy hours nonstop.

I’d spend lots of time finding out maps and doing navigational practices, which might be essentially the most missed a part of Barkley, as a result of many sturdy athletes can get via 4 loops, however the fifth loop while you’re by yourself and you must know the map. You must know the compass. You must know find out how to use it. And for those who don’t have that talent, Barkley will eat you. So, I needed to prepare in lots of navigational elements. I signed up with the native membership and did orienteering races. I even did the Western Canadian Orienteering Championships, the place I completed second to final. It’s all about expertise. You don’t should be an ideal orienteerer at Barkley, you simply should be a very good orienteerer at Barkley. After all of the months and years of coaching, this does put together you for Barkley.

Barkley is hard. The strongest and smartest on the earth, Barkley can nonetheless eat you, so you must respect the course. You’ll be able to’t simply come unprepared utterly. I’ve seen individuals who come who’ve by no means seen the map earlier than and who don’t use a compass, and I’m like, what? This course will destroy you. This course will eat its younger.

Folks wish to depend on others, in order that they present up and so they assume they will latch on to veterans, however a few of the veterans are exceptionally sturdy and quick athletes. You are taking John Kelly, he’s an extremely match athlete. And if you wish to cling on to him, you’ve received to be tremendous match. Regardless, even for those who can keep on with a veteran or Jared Campbell, as an example, you may keep on with him for 4 loops. Effectively, very cool, however what about loop quantity 5, proper?

That is the place the race begins. Right here, you’re by yourself, and that’s how Barkley destroys so many good athletes.

iRunFar: You’ve got simply had nice success at Barkley, 58 hours and alter. You had been on the market with Harvey Lewis throughout his actually lengthy Huge Canine’s Yard Extremely final 12 months. You had been the second furthest ever, however you’ve additionally run 15:44 at Badger Mountain 100 Mile, appropriate? That’s working fairly quick over 100 miles. Do you favor these many-day occasions? Or do you additionally just like the shorter, sooner stuff?

Verys: The ultrarunning scene, on the whole, begins from 50 kilometers on, however I discover my power in these longer occasions the place we take 100 miles and longer, particularly the programs that require power, so there shall be technical, steep, gradual programs. I’m not essentially a really quick particular person. Should you put me on the marathon distance, I’ll suck. However on the subject of one thing that’s going to final lengthy and I can keep a sure tempo over hours, days, and nights, I feel that’s very interesting to me.

I do actually like that feeling when every little thing in your physique tells you to cease, however your thoughts overrides it, and you retain pushing and discovering new boundaries of your physique and thoughts. I actually prefer to be in that house. That’s once I get a runner’s excessive. Typically I can surf that wave for hours. That’s what I actually get pleasure from.

iRunFar: Operating-wise, what’s subsequent for you? Something you’re wanting ahead to?

Verys: My subsequent few races are going to be native right here in Canada. I’d actually like to journey throughout Canada or go to totally different provinces, run races, in these provinces, and take part in these smaller occasions, and help these native race administrators and our native races. I feel they want lots of consideration and we will collectively each develop and develop our sport in Canada. I maintain repeating that Canada’s fairly often within the shadows of ultrarunning. Our ultrarunners are exceptionally gifted. We now have so lots of them, however they’re usually forgotten, and I feel bringing some highlight to Canadian races and areas is one thing I’d actually like to work on within the subsequent few months.

Then, exterior of Canada, I’m going to Colorado in September to do the Run Rabbit Run 100 Mile. That’s on the schedule. Aside from that, we will see. My schedule just isn’t set but utterly. So, I’m open to strategies.

iRunFar: Do you see your self ever making an attempt to return to finish Barkley once more, or are you one and happy and finished?

Verys: I’ll by no means reply that query since you’re not presupposed to share that information. However, , on loop 4 once more, when issues had been fairly low in some unspecified time in the future, I instructed myself that, oh my goodness, I’ll by no means ever do it once more. Why would I put myself via these rings of hell? Nonetheless, once I touched the gate the fifth time, once I was capable of chat with the older legends of Barkley, once I received to expertise not solely the course however all the historical past and all of the folks concerned in Barkley, all of the tradition. Barkley tradition is so distinctive. It’s so historic. I instructed myself, it will be actually cool simply to stay part of this household. We’ll see. Life will present if I’ll find yourself at Frozen Head State Park once more, however you’ve received to determine find out how to get in first. [laughs]

iRunFar: So going away from Barkley particularly, I’d like to know slightly bit extra about you, your private background, typically and, then, possibly speak slightly bit extra about working. So the place are you from?

Verys: I stay in Canada. Initially, I’m from Ukraine, however I moved to Canada virtually 9 years in the past now.

iRunFar: How previous had been you then?

Verys: I used to be 21 years previous. I moved to Canada as a pupil making an attempt to expertise a brand new tradition, a brand new language, a brand new nation. I actually liked the folks and the way they stay right here. I all the time needed to remain right here, and by no means went again. I received into working most likely a 12 months after I moved to Canada. I’ve by no means run earlier than wherever. I don’t have observe expertise.

iRunFar: Had been you an athlete rising up?

Verys: Soccer, I assume. We had been all enjoying soccer in Ukraine. It’s our sport. However that’s about it. I wasn’t an athlete. I really hated working. We had these 3k races at school and I didn’t get pleasure from them in any respect. However then once I moved right here, this was a very good alternative for me to search out that psychological well being software that may assist me to take care of the stress and challenges of dwelling in a brand new nation. Operating is a extremely low cost sport and also you want just a few runners, and also you’re all set. So, I began working, only for enjoyable making an attempt to clear my thoughts. Ultimately, I began doing half marathons, marathons, and after COVID-19, I transitioned to trails.

iRunFar: How did you discover the paths? How did you come into that?

Verys: COVID-19 occurred and we weren’t allowed to be exterior, proper? You had been presupposed to self-isolate, and for those who had been working on pavement, everybody’s going to see you and everybody’s going to guage you. Like, hey, you’re presupposed to be inside. You can’t be exterior. So, I found trails. They had been again in Manitoba, the province the place I used to stay. We had trails simply exterior of the town. So, I can escape to the paths. Nobody’s going to see me there and nobody’s going to guage me, and that’s how I received into path working.

Then, on trails, I bumped into different ultrarunners or path runners, and from them, I realized that individuals can really run greater than a marathon distance. I used to be like, oh, actually? Let me look into it. So, I began exploring it. I used to be like, okay, it appears like I can go additional than marathon distance.

Afterward, I tried a quickest recognized time (FKT). It was 125 kilometers, and I felt nice. It was on a well-known path in Manitoba referred to as Mantario Path, and it’s a preferred FKT path. I felt actually good, particularly the second half, and I used to be like, wow, I feel I’m hooked on going lengthy distances now. After that, I moved to British Columbia, within the mountains the place I stay now, and I signed up for my first 100k mountain race, and I ended up successful it. It was my first extremely, and the remainder is historical past. I’ve been doing these long-distance races ever since, and I’ve been having fun with it.

iRunFar: It’s simply arduous to think about you discovered path working solely 4 years earlier than ending Barkley. That’s unbelievable.

Verys: Yeah, I assume it’s a bit lower than 4 years. I by no means consider it that approach. However I assume you’re proper.

iRunFar: Folks assume you may want a long time of path and extremely expertise to complete Barkley. Nope, 4 years. And even lower than that for ultrarunning expertise. What was your first ultra-length run? Was it that FKT, or what was your first extremely?

Verys: It was in September 2021. There was a 100k race simply on the island right here, the Finlayson Arm 100k.

iRunFar: So mainly two and a half years since your first extremely in September 2021.

Verys: Yeah.

iRunFar: Okay, that’s sort of humbling for the remainder of the world.

Verys: [laughs]

iRunFar: If I had been you, I’d should be dreaming. Alright, “So what is feasible? I can do that in two and a half years…”

Verys: I really feel unhealthy now. [laughs]

iRunFar: No, you shouldn’t. You’re much more superhuman than you thought you had been.

Verys: I assume I simply by no means consider it. I all the time assume ahead, and once I end Barkley, I’m like, okay, what’s subsequent? The place do I have to work to enhance? I nonetheless contemplate myself a pupil of the sport. I’m nonetheless studying some issues. Simply because it’s been only some years, and I’m nonetheless studying, okay, what meals will work? What diet, what garments? Ought to I sleep? Ought to I do that? How briskly? How ought to I prepare? I don’t have a coach. So, I’m looking for what works for me one of the best, and I like to be a pupil of the sport. I like to do all these difficult occasions as a result of they all the time reveal your weak spots, particularly in occasions like Barkley. It is going to undoubtedly present your weak spots, however then you may work on them, enhance your self, and make your self even higher for future adventures.

iRunFar: You got here to Canada to check. What had been you finding out?

Verys: Worldwide enterprise. I simply did a two-year faculty program. I had my diploma in Ukraine. I’ve a bachelor’s diploma in worldwide relations. However due to the state of affairs, due to the revolution we had there, I didn’t wish to work for the federal government that was in cost at that time. It was an anti-people authorities. For me, as a possible for future diplomatic envoy, as a result of that’s what the worldwide relations college is educating you, I didn’t wish to characterize that authorities, and due to this fact I made that alternative to return to Canada and take a look at a special path in my life. At that time, I used to be solely 21, in order that’s fairly younger. This chance got here up.

iRunFar: What does work seem like as of late for you? What subject are you working in?

Verys: I work in insurance coverage, which is so bizarre. I’d by no means assume I’d find yourself on this subject, however I’m doing business insurance coverage as an account supervisor. I work for a giant, worldwide firm referred to as HUB Worldwide. I spend lots of time within the workplace. Operating helps me, as soon as I’m on the market, to ease the stress. I actually benefit from the outside, and while you spend that a lot time within the workplace, you undoubtedly want the outing.

iRunFar: Yeah, properly, you bought 58 hours and alter of outing this previous week, so excellent. Ihor, thanks a lot in your time, and congratulations in your Barkley end.

Verys: Thanks, Bryon. It’s an honor and pleasure. I actually admire your curiosity in my journey.