INOV8’s Post

The Barkley Marathons... the race which eats its young... the race where dreams go to die. Barkley Marathon is an ultramarathon trail race held each year in Tennessee. This marathon consists of five loops of the 20+ mile, off-trail course for a total of 100 miles (160 km). This year: My colleague from HUB International Canada, Ihor Verys finished first in the race. Registration: 1. By invitation only. 2. Potential entrants must complete an essay on "Why I Should be Allowed to Run in the Barkley," pay a $1.60 application fee, and complete other requirements. Course: With 54,200 feet (16,500 m) of accumulated vertical climb (and the same amount of descent), the 100-mile run is considered to be one of the most challenging ultramarathons held in the world. Runners are not able to use GPS, and must rely on maps. Finishers: In the 38 year history, as of the end of the 2024 event, the full, five-loop race has been completed by only 20 runners. How to follow: https://lnkd.in/g3B3M5dG #BarkleyMarathons #ihorverys

You probably don't need me to tell you that Jasmin Paris made history at the Barkley Marathons last week as the first ever female finisher. If you've yet to read the story, I highly recommend you have a look here: https://lnkd.in/eHpaQgPg What she achieved was incredible, but I can already hear the questions. "What does did she run in?" "Which poles did she use?" "Which intervals did she run?" "Which gels did she use?". It's natural to want to emulate your heroes, and I'm sure we can all learn something from her, but the details many athletes are most interested in (the stuff they can buy), aren't as important as her habits. What was her most important habit? She kept turning up. She started running seriously in 2010, so her performance last year was the culmination of 14 years of hard graft. Despite being a mum of two and working as a vet she kept turning up. Many of us say we need to find time for something, but really we need to make time. We're all busy people, but making training a routine, finding a way to make it fit around your schedule and prioritising your performance is the key to excelling. My first Ironman was a bit of a disaster by all accounts, because I didn't have the time to really train as I was working seven days a week at the time. But I knew I could complete the distance as I'd been turning up to training more or less nonstop for seven years. Even when the sessions got repetitive and I started going backwards at points, I keep turning up. We all want to get faster, and feel stronger but just turning up is the single biggest determiner of performance. Just keep turning up day after day, don't do anything stupid, and that will get you a long way in itself.

OK, so Simon Gladding actually read the whole barkley post yesterday, and declared I must bring this back to work! This is LinkedIn after all. So; The thing about the barkley, is that you can be as physically fit as you like, but you're *still* not going to finish. It's simply not enough, it's not even 10% of it. There's a magic something you need which is just undefinable. (the rest is simple stubborn bloody-mindedness) So, for a data engineer the fitness thing is akin to doing all the courses, knowing all the tech. Passing all the exams. It's not enough - there's so much more to the role than knowing the tech, and all the patterns. It's a great start though! Another thing in data engineering is the variety. You'll rarely see the same thing twice. (Anyway, if you do we automate it right...). And in the barkley it's the same, primarily due to the weather, but also because laz is pretty evil and steadily makes it harder every year! Tenuous much? well i tried!

Jasmin Paris Becomes First Woman to Complete Barkley Marathons. With only 20 finishers in its history, the Barkley Marathons stands as one of the world's most gruelling ultramarathons. The whole race event is super-crazy. SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE BARKLEY RACE 📍 The race is inspired by the 1977 prison escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr. 📍 The Barkley Marathons covers 100 miles with 18,000+ meters of climb and descent, roughly twice the height of Mount Everest. 📍 The race course changes every year, making the course unknown. 📍 Runners start the race anytime between midnight to noon, waiting for the sound of a conch shell horn to begin, exactly one hour later. 📍 The race kicks off with the race director lighting a cigarette, a unique tradition. 📍 Participants navigate without GPS or phones and must collect pages from hidden books along the course. Jasmin Paris's remarkable achievement in becoming the first woman to complete this daunting race is nothing short of inspirational. She had to sprint towards the finish line with a mere one minute and 39 seconds to spare of the 60-hour cut-off. She has not only set a new standard of excellence but also broken barriers for women worldwide. In her own words: "I'm glad that I kind of did it for women worldwide as well - not just runners - but any woman that wants to take on a challenge and maybe doesn't have the confidence." Crazy race and even crazier finishers. --- Did you find it interesting, repost it in your network. ♻️

"True success is not the absence of failure - it is the refusal to surrender." The quote was spoken by the Barkley Marathons Race Director, Lazarus Lake. Laz designs races that push the horizon of human performance. The Barkley Marathons, and his Backyard Marathon concept, are not challenges against the environment - although the environment plays a part - they are challenges against oneself. The secretive Barkley Marathons consist of five loops of +26 miles each, with total elevation changes more than two Mt Everest summits and descents, that must be completed within 60 hours. In history, only 20 runners have completed the full race out of more than 1,000 starters. The Backyard Marathons (https://lnkd.in/g27v6xBP) are a purification of mental challenge - a 6km trail loop that must be completed within one hour, before the loop timer starts again. Runners can DNF any time they want, or if they fail to make the cut-off - and there can only be one Finisher: the runner who outlasts all others. Both of these human endurance and mental stamina events teach us that we will always fail. Everyone fails - very few succeed to the top rung. The lesson in this is that it's important not to give up, and to keep trying - to not surrender. To fail, try again, and fail better. That lesson applies throughout life - at work, in relationships, in pursuing goals, in raising a family. I like to watch documentaries while indoor rowing, and YouTube's algorithm helpfully pushed 'The 2023 Barkley Marathons Documentary' (https://lnkd.in/gWJPqkpq) to my recommended viewing. Today, I planned to do a half marathon row with a targeted personal best. I failed to finish, and gave up halfway through knowing my heartrate was too high and it was going to be a disappointing and painful second half. I failed - but I'll try again, maybe I'll fail better. #endurance #leadership #running

I know I’m going to see Jasmin Paris a lot over the coming days on here relating her achievement to the strife of business but as someone who’s devoured media on the subject, I wanted to give some more context. The Barkley Marathons are not just simply five marathons in a row, I’m afraid it’s much more sadistic than that and an even greater achievement than you might realise. Jasmin is now one of 20 finishers of the Marathon since it’s inception, and the first woman to do so. To start with, the marathon begins at an undefined time within a 24 hour period, only marked by the blowing on a conch shell warning runners that it’ll begin in an hour from that time. This could be at 1am or 3pm, meaning you cannot rest evenly before starting your race. You are not allowed any modern technology whilst in the race and must rely on a handmade map for guidance that you can only copy by redrawing yourself. Each lap of the course is run in the opposite direction from the last and you must find 8 separate books hidden on the trail and rip out the page corresponding to you bib number for each lap. These books can be in streams, hidden in walls and hanging from trees—even if you complete a lap fully, without the pages on any section you are disqualified. Whilst racing, you do not have the time to sleep and most racers spend less than 30 minutes back in camp before setting off for their next full marathon lap in the Tennessee countryside. You are basically completing a marathon, treasure hunt, hunger strike and sleep deprivation five times over, through the day and night. This isn’t merely an achievement of endurance or speed, it is something that very few people truly have, proper grit. So I hope I don’t see this achievement linked to anything “business” related, because no desk job or hustle will ever be even a microcosm of the difficulty of this race. Photo credit: BBC / JACOB ZOCHERMAN

Race Week Checklist - Round the Rock Sponsored by MasonBreese 📋  . Hey Runners! 🏃♂️🏃♀️ With race day fast approaching, here’s your essential checklist to ensure you’re fully prepared for the Round the Rock Ultra Marathon. Let’s make sure nothing is forgotten, so you can focus on enjoying the run and crossing that finish line strong! 💪 . 1. Finalize Your Travel Plans 📅 Confirm your travel arrangements and accommodation. 🚗 Plan your route to the start line, and check for any road closures or public transport updates. 2. Review Race Information 📍 Know the start times and locations: Ultra Marathon: 7 AM at the Steam Clock, St. Helier. Marathon: 9 AM at Les Fontaines. Half Marathon: 11 AM at The Watersplash, St. Ouen. 3. Packet Pickup 🗓️ Ensure you know the packet pickup times and locations. 📦 Confirm you have all necessary race materials (bib, etc.). 4. Gear Check 🏃♂️ Ensure all mandatory kit items are packed and ready. (Applies to all distances) 📑 Familiarize yourself with the race rules and cut-off times. 5. Course Familiarization 📲 Download the GPX files for your race distance. 🔍 Review the course map and aid station locations. 🌊 Plan your strategy for potential beach routes at St. Ouen’s and St. Brelaides. 6. Health and Safety 🩹 Address any medical conditions and write them on the back of your race number with an ICE contact. ⚠️ Know what to do in case of an emergency – locate the nearest checkpoints and emergency protocols. 7. Final Rest and Recovery 😴 Get plenty of rest and sleep in the days leading up to the race. 🧘♂️ Consider light stretching or yoga to stay limber. 💦 Stay Hyrdated 8. Check Weather Forecast 🌤️ Keep an eye on the weather forecast and prepare accordingly. Let’s make this year’s Round the Rock Ultra Marathon an unforgettable experience! If you have any questions or need last-minute advice, more race info is available on the website www.roundtherock.co.uk Good luck to all participants, and see you at the start line! #RoundTheRock2024 #RaceWeekChecklist #TrailRunning #UltraMarathon #Marathon #HalfMarathon #RacePrep #RunningCommunity #TrailMonkeyRunningJersey

What will surely be one of the great athletic achievements of 2024 happened this past weekend - Jasmin Paris became the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons. What hasn't been as widely reported is the incredible sporting gesture that helped make it happen. First some background for the uninitiated. The Barkley Marathons is one of the quirkiest and most challenging ultra-endurance races on the yearly calendar. Runners have 60 hours to complete five loops of 20 miles through the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, for a total of ~100 miles. And oh yeah: the course is so difficult (equivalent of climbing Mt Everest from sea level - twice) that only 17 people had ever finished the race in nearly 40 years. An important note: runners take the first & third loop clockwise, and the second & fourth loop counter-clockwise. The first runner to start the fifth loop gets to decide which direction to take, and subsequent runners start in alternate directions. Clockwise is considered a bit easier, but only the leading runner can guarantee going in that direction. Fast forward to 2024. Jared Campbell finishes his fourth loop 10 minutes ahead of Jasmin. The way things are going, after each takes a quick break, Jared is slated to start clockwise, and Jasmin on the more difficult counter-clockwise course. Cold, tired, sore, and looking to finish for a record 4th time, Jared approached Jasmin and offered to let her leave camp ahead of him, thereby swapping positions and directions. As a result of that decision, both racers ended up finishing the race, with Jasmin becoming the first woman to cross the finish line - and only 99 seconds to spare. An unbelievable accomplishment matched by a tremendous display of sportsmanship. This is what sports & endurance running are all about: people from all walks of life conquering the race - and the pain - together. #ultramarathon #barkleymarathons #sportsmanship #endurance

Last week, I found a new hero. 🌟 Jasmin Paris just became the first woman to ever complete the Barkley Marathons. With less than 2 minutes until cutoff time, Jasmin made history in the race’s 38th year. 🏔️ If you've never heard of Barkley Marathons, this feat is nothing to scoff at. This 100 mile race with an elevation gain equal to climbing Mount Everest *twice* has only been completed by 20 people since it began. But even more impressive: Jasmin’s perseverance. Yeah, she ran 100 miles within the 60 hour cutoff time. That in itself takes an inner strength most of us can’t begin to comprehend. ☝ But this wasn’t Jasmin’s first time competing in Barkley. This wasn’t even her second. Jasmin returned to this race THREE times before she overcame her limits at Barkley. Think about that - she attempted to run a 100 mile race three times. Jasmin returned to her own version of Everest time and time again until she overcame her limits. We each have our own version of Everest, our own Barkley Marathons. There’s a finite number of times you have to pick yourself up and try again before you overcome whatever's standing in your way. The exact count remains unknown until you surpass it. How many times are you willing to continue to show up for yourself to push past your limits? 🔗 Link to Jasmin’s incredible story below. And if you haven’t heard of this race, take a few minutes to look up the history, insane rules and traditions, and weird connection to James Earl Ray. It’s a crazy story in its own right. #WomensHistoryMonth https://lnkd.in/eYDW8mUe

128th Boston Marathon Monday, April 15, 2024 𝔏𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫 1% 𝔬𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡'𝔰 𝔭𝔬𝔭𝔲𝔩𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔥𝔞𝔰 𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔞𝔤𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔦𝔰𝔥 𝔞 𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔱𝔥𝔬𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔦𝔯 𝔩𝔦𝔣𝔢... 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔟𝔬𝔡𝔶 𝔠𝔞𝔫 𝔡𝔬 𝔦𝔱; ℑ𝔱'𝔰 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔪𝔦𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔫𝔢𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔳𝔦𝔫𝔠𝔢! This year's registration resulted in the highest number of qualified applicants in the history of the race with 33,058 applications, 11,039 of which could not be accepted. This year's "cutoff" time needed to be accepted into the Boston Marathon was 5 minutes 29 seconds or faster than the qualifying time for each respective age group and gender. This year's qualified field includes 12,535 men, 9,440 women (I'm one of them), and 44 non-binary athletes; 660 qualifiers were accepted based on finishing 10 or more consecutive Boston Marathons. Citizens from 127 countries around the world, residents of all 50 US states, and athletes entering the Boston Marathon used more than 528 qualifying marathons. The five most popular qualifying races were 2023 Boston, 2022 Chicago, 2023 TCS London, 2022 BMW Berlin and 2022 California. Approximately 11,391 athletes ran their first Boston Marathon (I'm one of them). The youngest and oldest accepted athletes are 18 and 82 years old respectively. 6,182 qualifiers met their qualifying time by 20:00min or more. 8,858 qualifiers met their qualifying time between 10:00min and 19:59min. (I am proudly in this group with 03:17:42 of the Berlin Marathon) 6,979 qualifiers met their qualification time between 05:29min and 09:59min