1
Wins
3
Podiums
1
Races
2017
Active since
About
John Kelly is an American ultrarunner, electrical engineer, and three-time finisher of the Barkley Marathons — making him one of only two people in history to complete the notoriously brutal 100-mile Tennessee wilderness race three times. A PhD in machine learning from Carnegie Mellon and Chief Technology Officer by profession, Kelly grew up near the Barkley course in Morgan County, Tennessee and only returned to running seriously in 2013 after a decade away. His 2017 finish (15th ever), 2023 finish (second time), and 2024 finish (second ever three-time finisher) cemented him as the event's most decorated repeat competitor. He coaches runners and writes under the handle 'Random Forest Runner', blending data science and endurance sport.
Notable Wins
- — The Barkley Marathons 2017
- — The Barkley Marathons 2023
- — The Barkley Marathons 2024
Race History
| Year | Race | Cat. | Pos. | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Barkley Marathons | men | 2nd | 59:15:39 |
| 2023 | The Barkley Marathons | men | 2nd | 58:42:23 |
| 2017 | The Barkley Marathons | men | 1st | 59:30:53 |
Recent Coverage
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