"The final minutes were so intense; after all that effort, it came down to a sprint uphill, with every fiber of my body screaming at me to stop," said Jasmin Paris, just hours after collapsing at the iconic yellow gate that marks the finish line of the infamous Barkley Marathons.
At 40 years old, British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris had not only pushed her physical limits but also shattered a significant barrier in the world of endurance sports. Balancing her life as a veterinarian, research scientist, and mother of two, she achieved what many consider impossible: becoming the first woman to complete one of the world’s most grueling ultramarathons.
Her accomplishment is made even more remarkable by the narrow margin with which she finished. Paris completed the annual race in 59 hours, 58 minutes, and 21 seconds—leaving her just 99 seconds short of the 60-hour cutoff.
Paris was among five ultrarunners who managed to finish this year’s Barkley Marathons. The race spans approximately 160 kilometers with an astounding 60,000 feet of elevation gain and descent—equivalent to climbing Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest) twice. Participants navigate treacherous, often unmarked terrain, enduring the harsh conditions of day and night without any aid stations aside from two water points, relying solely on their resilience and self-sufficiency.
This was not Paris’s first attempt at the Barkley. In 2022 and 2023, she made history by becoming the first woman since 2001 to reach the fourth lap. Although she did not finish in those attempts, her perseverance paid off this year.
"Barkley Marathons is a truly unique challenge, and the idea of running it has been growing on me for the last few years," she reflected. "I feel a mixture of excitement and nerves. I know it’s going to be very hard, possibly impossible, but at the same time, that’s what makes me want to run it."
Founded in 1986 by Gary Cantrell and Karl Henn, the Barkley Marathons has a reputation for being one of the toughest endurance races globally. Inspired by the 1977 prison escape of James Earl Ray—the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr.—who only managed to cover 12 miles in 54 hours, the race challenges even the most seasoned ultrarunners. The course changes annually but generally consists of five loops of about 20 miles each. With only 35 participants selected each year through an enigmatic application process that includes a $1.60 entry fee and an essay titled "Why I should be allowed to run in the Barkley," the race is as exclusive as it is arduous.
Competitors must memorize the course beforehand, as it lacks any markings, and they often start at unexpected times—the blowing of a conch shell signals that the race will begin in one hour, any time between midnight and noon.
The first person to complete the Barkley within the time limit was Mark Williams in 1995. The course record stands at 52 hours, 3 minutes, and 8 seconds, set by Brett Maune in 2012. Paris’s achievement not only places her among this elite group but also breaks gender barriers in a race where physical and mental fortitude are pushed to the extreme.
Paris’s triumph resonates beyond the ultrarunning community, serving as an inspiration to many around the world. Her story underscores the limitless possibilities when determination meets opportunity, and it highlights the growing presence and success of women in extreme sports.
