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Barkley Marathons, Outdoors, Running

2016 Barkley Marathons Results & Reports

Barkley Yellow gate

The Yellow Gate, Courtesy of Finally Found Something I love

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:

VictimLoop 1Loop 2Loop 3Loop 4Loop 5Other
1. Jared Campbell8:01:1819:02:3231:27:1646:40:0659:32:30Report
2. Gary Robbins8:01:1919:02:3331:27:2046:39:04DNFReport
3. John Kelly8:58:1620:13:4332:38:0847:46:58Report
4. Dale Holdaway10:20:1525:24:54Report
5. Jason Poole10:02:1225:47:25
6. Ty Draney10:10:1825:47:26
7. Dominique Ecoiffier10:48:4026:36:10
8. Jennilynn Eaton 11:19:3926:28:37Report 
9. Adam Lint8:01:23
10. Andrew Thompson8:14:44
11. John Fegyveresi9:15:16
12. Benoit Laval9:36:13Report
Video
13. Erik Storheim10:10:17Report
14. Michiel Panhuysen10:20:07Report
15. Georg Kunzfeld10:48:04
16. Ed Thomas10:49:05Report
Video
17. Nikolay Nachev10:55:20
18. Mikael Andersson11:14:59
19. Heather Anderson 11:24:02
20. Conrado Bermudez11:33:37
21. Rebecca Wilcox 11:33:38
22. Niki Rehn11:37:36Report
23. Kirby Russell11:37:38
24. Hiram Rogers11:46:55
25. Remy Jegard11:46:56
26. Iso Yucra11:52:28
27. Hisayuki Tateno11:52:32
28. Brad Bishop12:56:51
29. Rhonda Avery *DNFReport
Podcast Podcast
30. Jim BallDNF
31. Brad ComptonDNFReport
32. Patrick DoringDNFReport
33. Kimberly DurstDNFReport
34. Starchy GrantDNFReport
Podcast
35. Karen JacksonDNF
36. Sean RanneyDNFReport
37+DNF
Starters40 (41)25733NA
Finishers288331NA

(*) 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:

Peace, and good luck Out There.

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