Hyrox star calls Barkley Marathons ‘hardest race on Earth’ after her debut in ‘extreme scavenger hunt’

Hyrox star Kris Rugloski has vowed to return to the Barkley Marathons after a challenging first appearance at the notorious race.

The American ultrarunning and Toughest Mudder / Hyrox great qualified for the race courtesy of her win in last year’s Barkley Fall Classic, along with England’s Tim Landy who won the men’s event.

But whereas Landy was in the select group of 10 from the 40 starters who made the first loop inside the cut-off, Rugloski found it much tougher going compared to the Fall Classic in the same area.

‘I thought I knew what hard was’

And writing on her Instagram page she said: “I thought I knew what hard was. I’ve pushed through pain, exhaustion, and difficulty before. But the Barkley Marathons exist in a realm of challenge entirely their own.

“There’s no way to compare it to other races when you spend almost no time on marked trails and instead navigate an extreme scavenger hunt for book pages.

“I managed to collect half my pages before taking a scenic detour (I was lost) for a few hours, searching for the next one, only to end up packing it in and heading back to camp.

“This isn’t just an ultramarathon – it’s a riddle, a puzzle, and an exploration of the edge of what’s possible.”

‘Will not be the last time’

But Rugloski’s exploits in other spheres have demonstrated time and again she refuses to be beaten and it’s clear there’s now unfinished business at the Barkley.

She added: “I went in knowing the odds. I came out knowing exactly why they’re so low. The Barkley isn’t meant to be finished. And that’s exactly why it’s the hardest race on Earth.

“Such a privilege to spend some time “out there”. Will not be the last time!”