Tennessee race is regarded as one of the most punishing runs in the worldParis, 40, completed the race just under the 60-hour cut-off amongst four othersThe Brit also broke the course record at England’s Montane Spine Race in 2019
British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris has made history in becoming the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons race in Tennessee.
The 40-year-old joined an elite group of five runners to complete this year’s challenge, comprising five punishing 20-mile loops across Frozen Head State Park.
Paris’s remarkable achievement was sealed with a finish time of 59 hours, 58 minutes, and 21 seconds, narrowly beating the 60-hour cut-off.
Her feat adds to a string of groundbreaking performances, including a 2019 victory at the Montane Spine Race in England, where she shattered the course record.
Ihor Verys clinched the fastest time of the event, crossing the finish line in 58 hours, 44 minutes, and 59 seconds.
Jasmin Paris was also the first-ever woman to win the Spine Race, obliterating both the mens and women’s course records by finishing the 268-mile course in 83 hours 12 minutes
The Barkley Marathon is known as one of the most gruelling runs, involving 20-mile loops across Frozen Head State Park
![The run is renowned for being one of the most challenging terrains [Credit: Howie Stern]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/23/09/82805379-13230469-image-m-34_1711186903323.jpg)
![The vet, 40, made history at the race in Tennessee [Credit: Howie Stern]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/23/09/82805381-13230469-image-a-35_1711186907776.jpg)
British ultrarunner Jasmin Paris has made history in becoming the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons race in Tennessee [Credit: Howie Stern]
Notable American runners John Kelly and Jared Campbell also completed the race for the third and fourth time respectively, joined by New Zealand’s Greig Hamilton in surpassing the challenging time limit.
In a display of sportsmanship, Campbell extended a gesture to Paris, offering her the choice to tackle the final loop in a potentially less arduous clockwise direction.
Paris, balancing her athletic pursuits with her roles as a veterinarian and research scientist in Edinburgh, showcased her resilience after previous attempts at Barkley Marathons.
Dubbed ‘the race that eats its young,’ Barkley Marathons stands as one of the world’s most formidable ultramarathons.
The race also features ever-changing woodland routes and an estimated 16,500 meters of vertical climb and descent.
Conceived by Gary ‘Lazarus Lake’ Cantrell in 1986, the race commences with Cantrell lighting a ceremonial cigarette.
Notably unconventional, the event features a bugler signaling runner withdrawals and maintains a minimal online presence, with updates disseminated solely through a designated individual’s social media account.