A runner has to begin loop 4 by the 36 hour mark in order to continue. Neither Damian nor Sébastien will finish loop 3 in time to begin loop 4; however, if they complete loop 3 within 40 hours they will be credited with a Fun Run. #BM100

#BM100 Photo credit: Ashley Harris

At 3:26pm a runner was seen smiling after seeing a French flag at the fire tower. #BM100

The final runner has returned from loop 1. “This mud sucks. What’s it made of? Grease?” #BM100

I must have dozed off or something, but somehow I missed Max King dropping a couple hours ago, after making it to book 4 on loop 3. Two runners remain on loop 3; 1 remains on loop 1. #BM100

Current view at the fire tower. Photo credit: Ashley Harris #BM100

Mathieu Blanchard quit on loop 3 due to cold and is tapped out. #BM100

Correction: it was 2002 that the park was closed for budget reasons. #BM100

28 hours into the #BM100 1 runner is on loop 1 and loop 2; 4 runners are on loop 3.

In addition to the rain, fog is rolling in. Now the Barkley is just playing with the runners. #BM100

Barkley history: This the 40th running of the Barkley Marathons over 42 years. In 2000 the park was closed for budget reasons and in 2020 it was closed because of the pandemic. #BM100

Speed is not the solution to navigation problems - laz #BM100

Three of the five runners from loop 1 have returned to camp. There are still 2 runners on loop 1, 3 runners on loop 2, and 4 runners on loop 3. #BM100

One of the runners still on loop 1 has a 100 mile PR of just over 15 hours. We are 27 hours into the #BM100.

26:40 into the race the 3 runners still on loop 2 are over the time limit and will be tapped out when they return to camp. The 5 runners still on loop 1 are now also over the time limit for loop 2. The key to success at the Barkley is to go faster than one mile per hour. #BM100

26 hours into the #BM100 4 runners are on loop 3, 3 runners are on loop 2, and 5 runners are in loop 1. Runners currently on loop 2 must begin loop 3 by 26:40 in order to continue. #BM100

It was less than two hours ago that Damian Hall started loop 3 barefoot to prevent his shoes from getting soaked in the stream. Max King covered his feet in plastic bags. Barkley runners evolve. #BM100

Max King begins loop 3 wearing plastic bags around his feet in 25:42:12. #BM100

Max King finished loop 2 in 24:06:38. #BM100

Damian Hall began loop 3 barefoot at 22:54:26. Mathieu Blanchard and Sébastien Raichon began loop 3 shortly thereafter. #BM100

laz: How’s it going Damian? Damian Hall: Probably exactly how you want it to be going. #BM100

The first loop 2 finishers: Sébastien Raichon in 22:35:40; Mathieu Blanchard :42; Damian Hall :44. At the same time, another loop 2 runner has quit and is tapped out. #BM100

While we wait for the next runners to come in we’ve been discussing ways to make future Barkleys easier on the runners. Future years will yield mass finishes. #BM100

After watching all day the issue is simple: the runners have to go faster than one mile an hour. #BM100

One runner who dropped said he couldn’t understand why he was redlining the entire time because the course was easier than he expected. #BM100

Eight runners remain on loop 2. #BM100

A French runner has been tapped out. Nine runners remain on loop 2. #BM100

And then there were ten on loop 2. #BM100

We have had our first loop 2 runner drop out of the race. 11 runners remain on loop 2; 7 runners are still on loop 1 (well over the time limit). #BM100

All twelve 2nd loopers had passed the fire tower by 16:05 race time. #BM100

A group of eight have come in from loop 1 and face the bugler. The rain has settled in. #BM100

Let there be Taps to fill the air. In the last few minutes, eight runners have faced the bugler. #BM100

The 2026 Barkley Marathons began with one of the strongest fields ever. The starting field came from 15 Counties as well as 15 States, and included ten women. The course seemed not to care. Over 70% of the field is done. #BM100

We are 13:20 into the 2026 Barkley Marathon. 12 runners are on loop 2; the rest are out of the race. #BM100

12 runners are on loop 2. Anyone else who is going to continue has to start loop 2 by 7:20, less than ten minutes from now. #BM100

A runner booped the gate to begin loop 2. So far 12 in, 12 out. #BM100

Another runner has finished loop 1 while at the same time the first woman begins loop 2. 10 runners are on loop 2, 2 are in camp, 3 have quit. Runners have less than 30 minutes to complete loop 1 and be out on loop 2. #BM100

Two more runners, including the lead woman, have finished loop 1; at the same time, two other runners returned to camp from the wrong direction and are tapped out. #BM100

Happy Guy with Red Shirt changed his shirt for loop 2, so not quite sure who he is now. But in any event there are now eight runners on loop 2, with a ninth to follow soon. #BM100

The rain has begun, several hours early. #BM100

A Pale Guy and Happy Guy with Red Shirt finished loop 1 in 10:40:27 and :29. #BM100

Word is one of the runners was seen climbing Rat Jaw shirtless. #BM100

At ten and a half hours the bugler is called upon for the first time. #BM100

Water Ballon Guy has begun loop 2, followed quickly by another French guy. Seven runners are on loop 2. #BM100

So far, to be in this game you have to have some big skins on your wall. But the skins on Barkley’s wall go halfway down the park. - laz #BM100

Two French Guys have finished loop 1 in 10:07:46 and 10:08:10, one of whom stopped to put trash bags over his shoes prior to crossing the creek. 🤦‍♂️ #BM100

Knee Guy has begun loop 2. Five runners are on loop two; 35 runners are on loop 1. #BM100

Old French Guy does a 9:22 turnaround and is the first to begin loop 2, followed quickly by three more runners. #BM100

The first five runners have finished loop one in 9:47:08+ #BM100

It appears everyone made it through the fire tower, with the back-of-the-pack coming through around six hours into the race. #BM100