The Barkley Marathons will go unfinished in 2025. As of 11:37 p.m. ET Wednesday, the 36-hour mark passed without any runners completing Loop 3, eliminating the chance for a full race finish. Three runners remain on course and can still complete a “Fun Run” if they return to camp by 3:37 a.m. ET Thursday.
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Why it matters
After a historic high in 2024, this year’s race has become one of the least successful editions ever recorded, underscoring the Barkley’s reputation as one of the world’s most brutal and unforgiving endurance events. Not only will no one finish the full five loops, but fewer runners completed Loop 1 than in any year since 2000, and leaders recorded the slowest times ever for the first two loops.
What’s happening
- The race began at 11:37 a.m. ET Tuesday, with runners given 60 hours to complete five loops.
- The 36-hour mark passed Wednesday night with no Loop 3 completions, meaning no official finisher in 2025.
- Three runners remain on course, eligible to complete a Fun Run (3 loops in under 40 hours) by 3:37 a.m. ET Thursday:
- John Kelly (USA): Three-time Barkley finisher, last seen at the Fire Tower checkpoint earlier this evening, leading by ~30 minutes.
- Tomokazu Ihara (Japan): Trailing Kelly by about 30 minutes at last report, tracking steadily.
- Sébastien Raichon (France): No confirmed sighting recently; status unknown.
2025 Barkley Marathons Performance Summary
- Loop 1 Finishers: 10
- Loop 2 Finishers: 4
- Loop 3 Finishers (36-hour cut-off): 0
- Average Loop 1 Time (2025): 11 hours 16 minutes 50 seconds
- Average Loop 2 Time (2025): 25 hours 8 minutes
Historical context
- Fewest Loop 1 Finishers (since 2000): 2025 had the lowest number of Loop 1 completions on record in 25 years.
- Slowest Leader Splits Ever:
- The fastest Loop 1 time this year was over 9 hours 44 minutes, with Loop 2 completion by the leader exceeding 25 hours—both the slowest in Barkley history for leaders through two loops.
- Finishers in 2024: 5 (a race record)
- Finishers in 2025: 0
Why it’s happening
While weather and course changes are always variables in Barkley performance, the dramatic drop-off in finishing rates this year strongly suggests intentional course adjustments by race creator Lazarus Lake. Known for modifying the course to maintain its mythical difficulty, it is likely that following record-breaking success in 2024, Laz raised the bar for 2025.
The big picture
This year’s outcome reflects the true spirit of Barkley—a race designed to defeat even the most prepared ultrarunners. After 2024’s near-miraculous results, 2025 serves as a stark reminder that at Barkley, success is rare, suffering is guaranteed, and finishing remains one of the greatest feats in endurance sports.
