2026 Barkley Marathon: No Finishers, Sébastien Raichon Completes Fun Run

The 2026 Barkley Marathons took place on February 14 at Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. This year, like in 2025, no runners completed the full race. However, Sébastien Raichon from France finished the Fun Run, completing three laps of the challenging course in a time of 38:05:46.

No Finishers in 2026 Barkley Marathons

The Barkley Marathons are known for their extreme difficulty and secrecy. This year was particularly challenging due to adverse weather conditions, including rain, cold temperatures, and thick fog. These factors contributed to the event’s outcome of no finishers, continuing a trend from the previous year.

Racing Conditions

The race began at 6 a.m. Participants faced particularly harsh February weather for the first time. The course was already infamous for its combination of rugged terrain and unmarked trails. Racers had to navigate tricky conditions, including slippery mud and decreased daylight, impacting visibility.

• Start Date: February 14, 2026
• Location: Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee
• Only Fun Run Finisher: Sébastien Raichon (France)
• Fun Run Time: 38:05:46
• No Finishers: Recurrence from 2025

Participants and Their Challenges

This year saw 40 participants from 15 countries, with ten women among them. The frontrunners included notable names like Raichon, Mathieu Blanchard, and Damian Hall. Despite their experience, all competitors struggled with the harsh conditions.

The severe weather took its toll, with many runners unable to complete even two laps. Séverine Vandermeulen of Belgium, one of the only women to attempt a second lap, could not finish after successfully starting her second loop.

Historic Context

The Barkley Marathons is infamous for its low completion rate, with only 20 finishers in its 40-year history. This year added to that legacy as participants faced a course that many deemed impossible due to weather and terrain.

Racers are required to complete a course they often describe as longer than the officially listed distance of 20 miles per loop. Each loop must be completed five times, with runners needing to find and tear pages from hidden books to prove they have completed each section. The last full finisher achieved this complex feat in 2024.

Results Summary

As the 2026 Barkley Marathons drew to a close, the weather and immense difficulty claimed victory once again. Sébastien Raichon’s completion of the Fun Run remains a significant achievement in the context of this challenging event.