Three runners complete the hardest ultra trail on the planet

Aurélien Sanchez, John Kelly and Karel Sabbe are three runners who completed the challenge within the allotted time, marking six years after someone successfully conquered the Barley Marathon - the most difficult and harshest described tournament on the planet.

1 hour 37 minutes before the 60-hour time limit expires, Aurélien Sanchez, of France, approaches the yellow finish gate at Frozen Head National Park, March 16. He is the first person since 2017 to complete 160km in the praise of those present. 19 minutes later, John Kelly came in second. When there were only nearly 7 minutes left before the time was up, Karel Sabbe, the Belgian made it to the finish line.

The achievements of the three runners are described as "extraordinary efforts" because in their 37-year history, only 15 have done this. To win the race, the runner in 60 hours must complete 5 laps, 32km each, through the forests of the Cumberland Mountains, Frozen Head National Park. Dubbed the "spirit-killing tournament", the Barkley Marathon challenges the legs to run with mountain ranges with a cumulative altitude of up to nearly 19,000 meters, twice the height of Mount Everest.

The track also doesn't have any trails. Runners will have to find their way using a compass or map and won't be allowed to use a phone. The organizers also increased the difficulty of the race by scattering 9-13 books along the forest. Athletes must find the book, tear off the page number corresponding to the bib number to prove that they have completed the round, otherwise they will be disqualified. After completing a round, the athlete will be able to change the number of bibs and continue to have to find books.

The first two laps, athletes will run in one direction. Two laps later, the remaining players will run in the opposite direction. After 4 rounds, John Kelly is the leader, so he has the right to choose the direction for the final round. He chose to run clockwise - which was preferred. Sanchez started second, going in the opposite direction, Sabbe ran in the same direction as Kelly but started almost an hour later.

In addition to the three finishers, another runner, Damian Hall, also participated in the final round. However, Hall was unable to complete the challenge when he got lost and couldn't find the book.

Sanchez, who finished first in the race, was 32 years old. He lives in the US and regularly participates in ultra trail tournaments. He said in 2018 he went to Frozen Head and picked up a walnut shell on a pole next to the famous yellow finish gate of the Barkley Marathon. Since then, he brought it with him when he competed in tournaments to make lucky charms.

Kelly became only the third person in history to finish this extreme tournament twice. Meanwhile, Sabbe boasted of finishing within the allotted time. In 2022, he participated in the 2022 tournament but lost in the 5th round. He was taken to the concentration camp by the security team after "roaming" at midnight.

The Barkley Marathon is a strange tournament. Each year, the tournament only accepts about 40 athletes to participate. To be selected, runners must write an essay with the topic "why should I choose to participate in the tournament" and send it to the organizers. Those with the most impressive essays will enter the race for a fee of just over a dollar. Those selected after gathering at the designated area also do not know the exact departure time. Gary Cantrell - the founder of the tournament will blow the horn at any time of the day to signal the official start of the race.

Most athletes will give up because they get lost after the second round. In history, Jared Campbell is the only person to have finished the race three times in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Meanwhile, Brett Maune has finished twice and is also the record holder with a time of 52 hours 3. minutes 8 seconds.

John Kelly once shared: "Completing round one is fun. After two rounds, the fun diminishes a bit. By the third round, everything is confusing. As long as you lose focus, you will never be able to make it. complete the lap".