At 5 a.m. on Valentine’s Day at Frozen Head State Park in Wartburg, Tenn., race director Laz blew the conch, signalling an hour till the official begin of the 2026 Barkley Marathons. This 12 months’s race would be the earliest calendar begin in its 40-year historical past.
The conch was blown at 5:00am. The 2026 Barkley Marathons begins in a single hour. #BM100
— Keith (@keithdunn) February 14, 2026
The Barkley Marathons consist of 5 loops round a course of over 20 miles per loop. The gap varies from 12 months to 12 months, however the race is estimated to span roughly 120 miles (192 km) with vital elevation achieve. Runners should end inside 60 hours. GPS gadgets are prohibited; members are issued a reasonable watch set to “Barkley time” (the 60-hour restrict).
Rivals should additionally discover and accumulate pages from 13 books hidden alongside the course; they take the web page similar to their bib quantity, with a brand new bib issued for every loop. Lacking pages lead to disqualification. Whereas water is out there at sure factors, there are not any conventional assist stations. Runners can obtain help from their crew solely on the foremost camp between loops, however the clock by no means stops.
Runners lining up behind the gate. #BM100 pic.twitter.com/RtJXE6PkFd
— Keith (@keithdunn) February 14, 2026
Final 12 months’s race had no finishers. John Kelly was the one competitor to realize a “enjoyable run” (three loops of the course in below 40 hours), with no different opponents able to complete. Kelly is a three-time finisher (2017, 2023, and 2024) who grew up within the space and has returned for his ninth try on the race. Annually, a most of 40 runners, whose identities are progressively found (there is no such thing as a official begin checklist), begin the race.
The occasion is masterminded by Gary Cantrellhigher often known as Lazwho created the race in 1986. It was impressed by the notorious jail escape of James Earl Raywho was convicted of assassinating American civil rights chief Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1967. Ray’s tried escape from Brushy Mountain penitentiary—now deserted—varieties a part of the legend, in addition to the race’s difficult course.
Climate situations at Frozen Head are gentle, partly sunny with a excessive anticipated Saturday of 13 C.
In contrast to most ultramarathons, the Barkley has no reside monitoring. Updates come solely from Keith Dunn on X (previously Twitter) or by way of his BlueSky Social, the place he shares reside data from the principle campsite as occasions unfold.
