The 2026 Barkley Marathons Have Begun—Its Earliest Start Date Ever
Runner's World
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The 2026 Barkley Marathons kicked off on Valentine’s Day, marking its earliest start date in history. Known for its grueling difficulty, the race began at 6 a.m. ET and will conclude 60 hours later, with participants completing five loops of a 100-mile course through Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. This year’s event is particularly notable for starting nearly two months earlier than usual, which had not happened since its inception in 1986.
The Barkley Marathons are unique among ultramarathons due to their secretive nature and challenging format. Runners must navigate the course without GPS, encountering steep elevation gains totaling over 60,000 feet. The race’s unpredictable terrain and strict time limit make it one of the most demanding endurance events in the world. Since its debut, only 20 individuals have finished the race, including Brett Maune, Jared Campbell, and John Kelly—repeat finishers who have become symbols of the event’s elite difficulty.
The race has a dedicated following despite its lack of mainstream coverage. While there is no live stream or official timing splits, enthusiasts turn to Keith Dunn’s updates on X and BlueSky for real-time insights. Dunn’s commentary keeps the running community engaged, making the Barkley Marathons a cultural phenomenon within the fitness world. The event has inspired countless stories, including a 2024 feature by John Brant and a 2014 documentary, *The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young
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Originally published on Runner's World on 2/14/2026