The 2025 Barkley Marathons concluded without a single finisher, with only one participant, U.S. runner John Kelly, completing the Fun Run. This result contrasts sharply with the previous year, where the event celebrated a record five finishers, including the U.K.’s historic first female finisher, Jasmin Paris. Following the successful outcome of 2024, the 2025 iteration was anticipated to be exceptionally challenging, a sentiment that was ultimately validated.
Taking place in the rugged terrain of Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, the Barkley Marathons is a grueling ultramarathon comprising five loops that stretch over 20 miles each. Competitors often find that each loop can exceed 26 miles due to the unmarked nature of the course. Participants are prohibited from using GPS devices and instead are required to navigate using only a map and compass to locate hidden checkpoints where they collect pages from books. Each year, the race organizers modify the route, adding to its notorious difficulty.
Course Challenges and Race Dynamics
To secure an official finish, participants must complete all five loops in under 60 hours. Those who are unable to finish within the prescribed time frame still have the option to complete a Fun Run by finishing three loops in under 40 hours. For 2025, achieving even this level of success was a significant hurdle for most runners. The race had no fixed start time, instead commencing within a 12-hour window, marked by a conch shell call and, for the first time, began on March 18 at 11:37 a.m. EDT.
Women’s Representation at the 2025 Barkley Marathons
This year’s women’s field was sparse but included notable contenders such as Kelly Halpin, Christiana Rugloski, Claire Bannwarth, Dena Carr, and Isobel Ross. Despite expectations, no female runners managed to progress beyond the first loop, with Halpin coming closest, missing the cutoff by just two minutes after completing the loop in 13 hours, 22 minutes—an indicative example of the stark increase in course difficulty for 2025. Halpin stated, “It was really fun. Hands down, the hardest course I think in history.”
Men’s Race: Record Dropouts
The attrition rate for men was notably steep in this edition of the Barkley Marathons, as only about 10 out of 35 entrants completed the first lap. Reports indicated that competitors were significantly slower than in previous years, reflecting the extreme challenges they faced. John Kelly was among the first to return after completing loop one, followed closely by French trail runner Maxime Gauduin and Japan’s Tomokazu Ihara, with many participants expressing their disorientation and navigational difficulties as they encountered various obstacles.
Final Results and Analysis
As the race progressed into its later stages, it became evident that no one would complete the necessary loops. After an anxious wait, John Kelly succeeded in completing the three loops of the Fun Run just 10 minutes shy of the 40-hour cutoff. In a heartbreaking turn, many runners missed their chances; while Sébastien Raichon returned in time for a potential Fun Run completion, he also failed to finish the entire loop. Ultimately, both Tomokazu Ihara and he were caught before securing any official finishes, leading to the race’s official declaration of no finishers for 2025.
The Legacy of the Barkley Marathons
The 2025 Barkley Marathons have once again emphasized the exhilarating yet excruciating nature of ultrarunning, particularly within the context of this unique race. While it remains an experience that lures numerous talented athletes, including those who have completed it in years past, the course continues to assert its uncompromising character. With no female finishers and only one Fun Run completed, the 2025 edition serves as a reminder of the formidable challenges presented by one of the world’s most grueling ultramarathons.
