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 yr’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 yr to yr, however the race is estimated to span roughly 120 miles (192 km) with important elevation achieve. Runners should end inside 60 hours. GPS gadgets are prohibited; members are issued an affordable watch set to “Barkley time” (the 60-hour restrict).
Rivals should additionally discover and gather 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 on the market at sure factors, there are not any conventional assist stations. Runners can obtain help from their crew solely on the most important 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 yr’s race had no finishers. John Kelly was the one competitor to realize a “enjoyable run” (three loops of the course in underneath 40 hours), with no different rivals 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 step by step found (there is no such thing as a official begin record), begin the race.
The occasion is masterminded by Gary Cantrell, higher often called Laz, who created the race in 1986. It was impressed by the notorious jail escape of James Earl Ray, who 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 delicate, partly sunny with a excessive anticipated Saturday of 13 C.
Not like most ultramarathons, the Barkley has no dwell monitoring. Updates come completely from Keith Dunn on X (previously Twitter) or by way of his BlueSky Social, the place he shares dwell info from the principle campsite as occasions unfold.
