Jasmin Paris MBE is one of Britain’s most extraordinary runners. Having set records on the Bob Graham Round and Ramsay Round — two of the UK’s top fell-running challenges — she made history in 2024 as the first woman ever to complete the notorious Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, widely considered the most challenging off-road race anywhere. In its current 100-mile form, it has only been completed on 26 occasions since its inception in 1995. Here, Jasmin speaks to The Journey about running for joy, inspiring the next generation and why hostels remain close to her heart.
Did you ever set out with a master plan to be a record-breaker, or even a celebrity runner?
Not at all. I genuinely just started because I enjoyed it. Running gave me a lot of pleasure, and I loved the people and the places it took me. I think I’ve kept that ethos. I’ve managed to maintain it as a passion rather than a career
Yet after the Barkley Marathons, your photo was everywhere. How did you cope with the attention?
It was quite a lot to cope with in terms of messages, emails, and requests. I’m not that good at saying no, and I don’t have someone to manage it all, so it was on top of my work and home life. That felt overwhelming at times. But I also love talking to people, and I’m massively grateful for those who tell me their stories of being inspired. It’s a real privilege to be in a position where you can make a positive change in someone’s life.
Are there moments when you’ve felt the impact of your running on others?
One that stands out is a letter from a parent whose daughter was going to give up football because she’d been told it was a boys’ sport. After watching my races, she changed her mind. I also got messages from teachers after the Barkley saying their whole class had done a school project on it, and on Jura, where there’s a fell race, lots of children wrote to me that they wanted to run it when they were older. Those things are so inspiring. They show you’re genuinely touching lives outside the running world.
That connects closely with YHA’s work, encouraging young people to get outdoors. Did you stay in youth hostels when you were younger?
Hostels are brilliant because they open up the outdoors for everyone. You can still use them if you’re an experienced mountaineer, but the people who benefit most are those who’d otherwise be nervous about going out. For me, they were part of my own story, walking with my parents, then later with friends after our GCSEs when I was 16. That was wonderful. They’re also lovely for parents watching their children take those first steps into adventuring in the outdoors. They’re safe environments.
What do you think are the biggest barriers to people, especially young people, getting outside?
For many, it’s simply not having had that introduction. I was lucky: I grew up on the edge of the Peak District and spent summers in the Czech Republic running barefoot in the woods. But lots of inner-city children won’t realise how important that is. People can’t want to protect what they don’t know. That's why YHA's school residentials are so important. They provide young people with a safe first step into nature,
a sort of scaffold, allowing them to experience the outdoors.
You mentioned responsibility; you’re also part of the Green Runners. What does that involve?
The Green Runners is a community led by runners themselves, based on four pillars. First, how you move. For runners, that might mean taking the train instead of flying to races, or car-sharing. Second, how you kit up, such as repairing kit, not replacing it every season. That’s one reason I don’t have a sponsor; I wanted to show you can make a pair of shoes last thousands of miles rather than the 300 that is pushed forward. Third is how you fuel, thinking more about sustainable food choices. And fourth is how you speak out, because the biggest change comes from collective voices calling for system-level action.
Learn more about the Green Runners here: thegreenrunners.com
