Barkley Marathons 2023

21st March - I had a great trip to the US with Emma Stuart. We were collected at the airport by Jon Barker and had a couple of days relaxing in Big Canoe, a couple of hours north of Atlanta. On Friday we collected the campervan and set off to Oak Ridge where we met up with Damian Hall. On Saturday Emma and I ran round the Barkley Challenge loop on a lovely sunny day. On Sunday Emma went for another run and I sorted the van and my kit out. We met up with John Kelly and his family on Sunday and John's dad Gary was a superstar rigging us up some interior lights as the van lights had failed (along with a lot of it's electrics!). Emma and I had a great sleep up at the camp on Sunday night and it was quite surreal to be there before all the hussle and bustle of the Barkley. On Monday morning we had a lovely breakfast down at the Kelly's house made by Kathy, John's mum. Jasmin and Konrad were there as well as John Fegyveresi (Barkley finisher in 2012) and Jodi Isenor (Fun run in 2014). Fegy was supporting John Kelly and Jodi was supporting Damian. They have both been at the Barkley a lot of years and have loads of experience and knowledge. They were also great company throughout the event even though they hardly slept!!

After breakfast we headed up to the camp. Registration opened about 1pm and I didn't rush up as the queue was long and slow moving. Damian had registered and mentioned that I was No 1 which is the Human Sacrifice. This was quite a shock to me and not very pleasant but loads of people (Jodi included) said Laz often gave it to someone who was a strong runner just to mess with their minds. Apparently Jodi had been given No 1 on his first attempt and also Nick Hollon! I went and registered and handed over the Hoppits wedding teeshirt as my Entry fee. I explained to Laz what the teeshirt was about and took my race pack. Marking up the map always takes ages however Jodi was a great help to me, Damian and Jasmin so we were all happy with the map and directions when we had finished. Emma and I had to walk down to the Visitor centre to complain about the van so we didn't get to bed until 9pm.

After a sleepless night where I designed the garden at Mark to keep my mind off the Barkley, we woke and got up about 8am. I was all ready at 8.54am when Laz blew the conch. So the start time was 9.54am and we had one CW loop, then two ACW loops and another CW loop. Talking to Billy we had decided to run together along with Eoin Keith. I just wanted a one loop completion to begin with and then would see how the night went as we've never been ACW before. The weather was cold by dry and so I was happy setting off with a full layer on plus a bag full of warm clothes as we were going to be finishing in the dark.

We had a great day trotting round the loop. Sometimes it felt too easy but we were concentrating on the navigation and finding the books, plus taking note of features so that we could find our way back again in the dark. Eoin was spot on with the nav and Billy and I chatted a lot about the book locations. It was great to combine memories and overall we didn't make any mistakes and kept being overtaken by the same runners who had gone off course. Tom Hollins joined us for all of the loop as well as Dale Holdaway who had been to the Barkley a few times and so also had great insight as to routes and books. Nearing the end of the loop we looked for runners coming towards us and saw Jasmin in a group with Pavel and Jared Campbell so we were pleased that she had a group to run with for a bit. We saw a couple more runners coming towards us on their ACW loop, as we descended in the dark, but it was hard to see who it was.

As we approached the finish we talked about how long we wanted to stop in camp and agreed about 15/20 minutes so using the watches that Laz had given us it was now 11.20 and so we would meet at the gate at 11.45. Laz was busy as there were runners coming in and runners going out. I had my pages ready and Laz counted them out. That's 13 he said and I was off. I dived into the camper and started giving Emma instructions while eating pizza and Expedition foods meal! I had sprained my ankle on the descent and so wanted it taping. I also wanted to put the gaiters on as the thorns were getting my shins through my tights. Everything else was good. Emma was a star and got everything ready while I packed my bag with more food. At 11.43 I dived out of the van and headed to the gate. I was first and so asked Emma to fetch my Expedition foods meal so I could eat that while waiting. Dale appeared and said he would set off walking. Billy appeared and then Eoin. I shouted for Tom and together we got new pages, 133,135,137 and 139 and set off.

I was glad that we had a long trail to do so that the food could digest. We found the first book ok and descended into the valley. Eoin was the main navigator and it was tricky to find the right ridges to descend and climb in the dark. We hit all the books straight on except one later in the night where we were slightly too high (despite Andrea, a US woman that joined us, being convinced we were too low). Hanging around discussing possibilities was very cold and I was glad of extra layers. Eoin decided that we had to descend to the main track and took a bearing. We had only dropped a few metres through the trees when  Billy and I recognized the bench (old mining road) we were now on and swung right. And there it was! We still had a long way to go but Tom thought we might make it back in time so the pace increased as everyone pulled together to make it happen. I hadn't eaten or drunk enough as my water had frozen despite having powder in it and so I was struggling but determined not to be the one that slowed the pace. It was hard and to be honest I wasn't sure I wanted another ACW loop. It was just so hard as all the long CW descents were now awfully, long briar bashing ascents. Even RatJaw seemed hard although it was a cleared path. Anyway I decided that if we made it back then I'd be going out on Loop 3 so I'd better start getting some more energy down me. I was scoffing sweets and food as fast as I could and after the second water stop I realised that I was dehydrated too as I felt much better after a drink. Most of the night I was carrying around frozen energy juice which was extremely annoying as it was heavy and not drinkable! At last dawn broke and the sunrise was spectacular. We all cheered up but were soon deflated by the massive climbs towards the end of loop 2. It became obvious that we were going to be timed out so Eoin and Billy and I had a lovely couple of hours soaking up the sun and chatting away. Tom had taken off with Andrea to see if they could get in on time.

I was very pleased with having completed one CW loop in 11.22 and one ACW loop in about 16 hours so we were about an hour over the time limit. Tom and Andrea had been 20 minutes over the time limit. Standing there at the gate while the bugle tapped us out one by one Billy, Eoin and I were a happy but tired little group. It had been a great experience to spend many hours out on the Barkley with those two.

I went for some sleep and missed Damian coming in from the Fun Run and starting his 4th loop. Jasmin was out on Loop 3 and due in later on Wednesday night so we went for some food with Fagy, Jodie and some friends. Jasmin came in looking good and was soon organised and off again. This time CW on loop 4. She said "I might be some time" as she left meaning she thought she would be over time but wanted to complete the loop. Both Emma and I slept very well on Wednesday night and I set the alarm for 6am to catch John and Damian coming in. I woke and wondered why! But then leapt up and got dressed. Jodi was up and about. John came in looking strong but tired and there were reports that Aurelien was just behind him. John wanted to be first out so that he could choose CW for the fifth loop. (On the 5th loop the first person chooses the direction they want and everyone else takes it in turns to be opposite). Aurelien came in looking strong and it was very tense as John hurried to be ready. John left going CW first with Aurelien following 5 minutes later going ACW. We all hope that Damian would be next but Karel Sabbe came in first and after a short break went out on Loop 5 going CW. Damian then came in about 8am and was quite chatty. He was eating and looking strong. After he had set off we had food and decided to walk up to the Look out Tower to see them through. Waiting at the lookout tower a couple of hours later we got the news that Jasmin had finished Loop 4 (but over time) and Damian had returned to camp having not found the first book on the ACW loop. That was disappointing but a huge achievement to do 4 loops on his first attempt. John came through looking tired but focussed. We then descended back to camp to wait for the finish. Jasmin was asleep and Damian was chatty!

It was amazing to hear the cheers when Aurelien came in first from the ACW Loop 5 being the first person in 2023 to finish the Barkley in 58.23.12 hours. And then a little wait with John's family before he came running up the road and touched the gate to a huge cheer in a time of 58.42.23. Then there was a tense hour or so as Karel needed to finish within the 60 hours cutoff. We saw lights high up the mountain and then only 20 minutes later he came running up the road to touch the gate with only six minutes to spare in a time of 59.53.12 It was an amazing moment to witness the three finishers talking at the Yellow Gate that night. Everyone got off to various hotels and homes and the campsite was quiet by midnight.

The next day it was back to typical Frozen Head weather of heavy rain so we packed up and headed to John Kelly house to meet Keswick the puppy and see John, Fagy and Jodie along with John's family. After a couple of hours we headed back to Jon Barkers calling in at IHOP on route for a great meal! I was getting a bit jaded with the fast food but Emma was still in full swing! We had a lovely relaxing meal with Jon and Di then a night's sleep before heading to Atlanta to drop the van off and fly home.

On reflection I am very contented with how the 2023 Barkley Marathons went for me. I have not had the best training winter and have dentist visits ongoing. I just wanted to do my best while enjoying the full Barkley experience as I know it's probably the last time for me. The weather was perfect and I ran with Eoin and Billy the whole way round, being joined by Tom Hollins, who helped nav by running off in front. It really couldn't have been better. My legs are fine and I'm feeling positive about my next race - the UTS 100 in May. Thank you for all the well wishes that I received while out there.

Photos of the 2023 Barkley