In the Spell of the Barkley: Unravelling the Mystery of the World's Toughest Ultramarathon

One man's account of the near-mythical ultrarunning event that is the Barkley Marathons

Welcome to the Barkley Marathons, a fever dream of an ultra running event set deep in the Tennessee woods, inspired by James Earl Ray's prison break, heralded by a conch blast and paid for in cigarettes and socks. Since the race began in 1986, just 15 people have successfully crossed the finish line having completed the full 100 miles. This is a race in which competitors haul themselves up mountains, thro...