The 2016 Barkley Marathons started on April 2nd at 10:42 am, featuring a wide field of experienced runners including prior winner Jared Campbell. By the time it was all over, Jared would have another win while Canadian superstar Gary Robbins and local hero John Kelly settled for four epic laps.
Barker (Runner) Race Results
All times from Matt Mahoney’s running summary page and other sources. Numbers at left do not indicate place or bib numbers, just the count of runners:
| Victim | Loop 1 | Loop 2 | Loop 3 | Loop 4 | Loop 5 | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Jared Campbell | 8:01:18 | 19:02:32 | 31:27:16 | 46:40:06 | 59:32:30 | Report |
| 2. Gary Robbins | 8:01:19 | 19:02:33 | 31:27:20 | 46:39:04 | DNF | Report |
| 3. John Kelly | 8:58:16 | 20:13:43 | 32:38:08 | 47:46:58 | – | Report |
| 4. Dale Holdaway | 10:20:15 | 25:24:54 | – | – | – | Report |
| 5. Jason Poole | 10:02:12 | 25:47:25 | – | – | – | – |
| 6. Ty Draney | 10:10:18 | 25:47:26 | – | – | – | – |
| 7. Dominique Ecoiffier | 10:48:40 | 26:36:10 | – | – | – | – |
| 8. Jennilynn Eaton | 11:19:39 | 26:28:37 | – | – | – | Report |
| 9. Adam Lint | 8:01:23 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 10. Andrew Thompson | 8:14:44 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 11. John Fegyveresi | 9:15:16 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 12. Benoit Laval | 9:36:13 | – | – | – | – | Report Video |
| 13. Erik Storheim | 10:10:17 | – | – | – | – | Report |
| 14. Michiel Panhuysen | 10:20:07 | – | – | – | – | Report |
| 15. Georg Kunzfeld | 10:48:04 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 16. Ed Thomas | 10:49:05 | – | – | – | – | Report Video |
| 17. Nikolay Nachev | 10:55:20 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 18. Mikael Andersson | 11:14:59 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 19. Heather Anderson | 11:24:02 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 20. Conrado Bermudez | 11:33:37 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 21. Rebecca Wilcox | 11:33:38 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 22. Niki Rehn | 11:37:36 | – | – | – | – | Report |
| 23. Kirby Russell | 11:37:38 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 24. Hiram Rogers | 11:46:55 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 25. Remy Jegard | 11:46:56 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 26. Iso Yucra | 11:52:28 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 27. Hisayuki Tateno | 11:52:32 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 28. Brad Bishop | 12:56:51 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 29. Rhonda Avery * | DNF | – | – | – | – | Report Podcast Podcast |
| 30. Jim Ball | DNF | – | – | – | – | – |
| 31. Brad Compton | DNF | – | – | – | – | Report |
| 32. Patrick Doring | DNF | – | – | – | – | Report |
| 33. Kimberly Durst | DNF | – | – | – | – | Report |
| 34. Starchy Grant | DNF | – | – | – | – | Report Podcast |
| 35. Karen Jackson | DNF | – | – | – | – | – |
| 36. Sean Ranney | DNF | – | – | – | – | Report |
| 37+ | DNF | – | – | – | – | – |
| Starters | 40 (41) | 25 | 7 | 3 | 3 | NA |
| Finishers | 28 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | NA |
(*) Blind runner guided by Christian Griffith
Racer Notes
Race finisher and winner Jared Campbell had some poetic comments in his report, among them:
I had ample time as long as I didn’t collapse and pass out. The starry night was beautiful and the temperature near perfect. The distance to the stars didn’t seem too different from that of Chimney Top.
Gary Robbins gave it his all on his first Barkley attempt, coming up just short with many lessons learned and hunger earned:
After two and a half hours I finally located book three. I briefly told myself that maybe I could push past this, that if I found yet another reserve of energy somewhere that maybe I could make up for my mistakes. I dropped towards book four, at the prison, ended up in the wrong gully, came out north of my target and had bled yet more time. This wound was fatal.
John Kelly captured the exhaustion in his usual eloquent form:
I began putting one foot in front of the other, but I had no idea if I was actually doing it. Was I still asleep? Was this all a dream? Why was I here anyway? Is this Barkley? No, Barkley hasn’t happened yet. Has it? Surely I haven’t failed again. All of this was a dream. I’m going to finish 5 loops this year. My confused thoughts were what occupied me until I rejoined the trail and started back down Bird. Near the top, there was a lovely strip of shade cast over the trail by a tree trunk. I laid down in it. If this is real, someone will come across me here.
And while I’m not going to quote all the reports here, you should read them. There was some amazing athleticism and humanity in Frozen Head that weekend.
Race Recaps
This 2016 non-finish by Gary Robbins was covered in Where Dreams Go to Die by the Ginger Runner:
Laz got some much deserved airtime in the Most Grueling Footrace on Earth:
Leon Lutz wrote an excellent summary on Ultra Running. And finally, Barker mother and wife, and Barkley author, Cathy Henn offered her own race report:
There will be other years at the Barkley, and I intend to not miss any more. I hope to see you all out there next year. Come by and sit a spell with us before you take off running all day and night.
Input & More
If you see any other race reports buy runners or crew, or particularly good recaps, let me know. And as always, if you want to learn more about the Barkley, check out the following:
- Barkley Finish Stats
- People of the Barkley (Barkers)
- Terms & Quick Reference
- Top 10 Barkley Documentaries
Peace, and good luck Out There.
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