The Barkley Marathons isn’t just a race—it’s a mythical beast that devours even the most hardened ultra runners. Tucked away in the foggy wilderness of Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, this 100-ish mile sufferfest isn’t for the faint of heart. With 60,000 feet of elevation gain, off-trail navigation, briar thickets sharp enough to tattoo your legs, and no aid stations in sight, the Barkley is more war than run. You don’t even get GPS—just a hand-drawn map and a compass. Good luck. Only 40 runners are chosen each year via a secretive application process. The entry fee? A license plate from your home state. The start time? Whenever the race director, the infamous Lazarus Lake, feels like blowing into a conch shell and lighting a cigarette. And the course? It changes every year. Oh, and did we mention the books? Yep—runners must rip pages matching their bib number from hidden books along the course to prove they didn’t get lost (or quit). Since its inception in 1986, only a handful have ever finished. Most don’t make it past the second loop. The Barkley Marathons isn’t about winning—it’s about surviving. Dare to enter, and you just might become a legend.