Jasmin Paris, a mother who expressed milk for her baby during a 268-mile brutal race along the Pennine Way breaking the course record by more than 12 hours in 2019, has now completed the notorious Barkley Marathons which is probably the "greatest ultramarathon achievement of all time" (David Miller, BBC).
Jasmin, 40 years old from Midlothian, Scotland, has two kids and works as a vet and research scientist in Edinburgh. In her third attempt this year, she has made history by becoming the first woman to finish one of the world's hardest ultramarathons.
She first competed in the Barkley Marathons in 2022, where she finished three loops. Then, in 2023, she completed a fourth loop but was outside the time limit.
This year, she completed the race with just 99 seconds to spare of the 60-hour cut off. So far, only 20 people have ever made it to the end of the race within the allotted 60 hours since it was extended from 55 to 100 miles in 1989.
This physically and mentally challenging race is part-ultra-run, part orienteering and part obstacle race, created by Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell and Karl Henn,
inspired by the escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., who ran about 12 miles in 54½ hours from a nearby prison in 1977.
The course, at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee, changes every year, covering 100 miles involving 60,000ft of climb and descent - about twice the height of the Mount Everest. The course is roughly five loops of 20 miles, unmarked and competitors must memorise the route beforehand and there are no aid stations on the course, except water at two places.
Only 35 participants allowed each year and 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.
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.
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.
While Jasmine made history by becoming the first woman to complete what is said to be one of the toughest ultra marathons in the world, this year's winner was Canada-based Ukrainian Ihor Varys (clocked 58:44:59).
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Jasmin grew up in the Peak District, exploring mountains from an early age.
She is 40 years old mum with 2 kids, a veterinary doctor and working for a PhD.
She says that she doesn't train as hard as many people think.
She is used to being flexible about what she does, which is partly why having a coach wouldn’t work for her and she doesn't have a set training plan. 📈
She run in the early morning. 😴
On weekdays, 60-90 minutes each day; sometimes she cycle to work; and swim a few times a week too. At weekends, a couple of longer runs (three to four hours), or mountain days with her husband, and do a weekly hill-rep session.
She says that she needs to do a bit more stretching. She had ITB problem in the past. She goes for a monthly sports massage.
Her best tip for a runner wanting to start preparation for a hilly ultra is to hike in the mountains.
On an easy, long run, she takes packable food – eg dried fruit/nuts, cereal bars, flapjack, salted nuts, a sandwich, and buttered hot cross buns. In short races, gels or sweets, but for longer runs she goes for something more substantial – baked beans, rice puddings, and snack-sized pots of fruit salad work well.
She always liked fruit and veg and cook from scratch most evenings. So she hasn't adjusted her diet for running. She likes her treats and the occasional glass of wine.
The landscape is a huge part of why she runs and surroundings make her happy, and she runs well if she is enjoying herself.
By the way, she has no television 📺.
(source: Runner's World 24/03/2024)
