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Jasmin Paris first woman to complete gruelling Barkley Marathons race (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 8 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/world@lemmy.world

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She was so exhausted she slumped to the ground after finishing the race which is inspired by a famous prison escape.

The course, at Frozen Head State Park, changes every year but covers 100 miles involving 60,000ft of climb and descent - about twice the height of the Mount Everest.

Only 20 people have ever made it to the end of the race within the allotted 60 hours since it was extended to 100 miles in 1989.

The idea for the race came when they heard about the 1977 escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr, from nearby Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.

Prospective runners must write a "Why I should be allowed to run in the Barkley" essay along with a $1.60 (£1.27) entrance fee and if successful get a letter of condolence.

Competitors must find between nine and 14 books along the course (the exact number varies each year) before removing the page corresponding to their race number from each book as proof of completion.

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[-] mkwt@lemmy.world 47 points 8 months ago

For fun reference purposes: it's one race called "The Barkley Marathons" with an s, because it covers multiple marathons.

[-] GBU_28@lemm.ee 37 points 8 months ago

What an achievement, that race is as tough as it gets

[-] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 36 points 8 months ago

For anyone who's interested, there's a really good documentary on the Barkley Marathons that was made several years ago. The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young.

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 28 points 8 months ago

Boy marathons look like a good time.

[-] Hawk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 8 months ago

Yeah, this is not a marathon. Marathons are a walk in the park compared to this.

[-] diffcalculus@lemmy.world 10 points 8 months ago

As opposed to girl marathons?

[-] autotldr@lemmings.world 8 points 8 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

The course, at Frozen Head State Park, changes every year but covers 100 miles involving 60,000ft of climb and descent - about twice the height of the Mount Everest.

Pictures show her legs scratched from pushing through sharp bushes and scrub in dense forest on steep slopes.

David Miller, a professional photographer at the race, told BBC Scotland he had witnessed the "greatest ultramarathon achievement of all time".

"There was a lot of anticipation at the finish line and three minutes before the 60 hour cut off we heard shouting and a roar and it was people cheering Jasmin on.

The idea for the race came when they heard about the 1977 escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr, from nearby Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.

Racers are also required to bring an additional "fee", which in the past has included things such as a white shirt, socks, or a car registration plate, as a donation for being a non-finisher.

The original article contains 870 words, the summary contains 164 words. Saved 81%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[-] insaneinthemembrane@lemmy.world 5 points 8 months ago

In January 2019 mother-of-two Jasmin expressed milk for her baby during a 268-mile race along the Pennine Way to break the course record by more than 12 hours

Wow wow

[-] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 5 points 8 months ago

Thumbnail makes it look like a warzone

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this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2024

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