In the Barkley Marathons’ 30 years, only 14 people have ever completed it. But it’s not for lack of trying.

Some 1,000 runners have attempted to complete Barkley’s five loop course of agony through Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. The route is supposed to be 100 miles, but Barkley veterans guess that it’s more like a very hilly 130. With no GPS, no course markers, and not an aid station to speak of, sleep deprived runners are challenged more than just physically.

For the vast majority of runners, this race isn’t about finishing. It’s about pushing themselves to their absolute limits.

Start
Brian Dalek
The beginning of the 2016 Barkley Marathons.
Gary Cantrell
Brian Dalek
Gary Cantrell waiting for Barkley runners at the big yellow gate that acts as a start/finish.
Tap
Brian Dalek
After completing loop two, Michiel Panhuyson from the Netherlands takes a seat after dealing with all the Barkley punishment.
Thompson
Brian Dalek
Andrew Thompson, who completed the race in 2009, taps out before finishing two laps in 2016.

Further reading:

The 2016 Barkley Marathons: One Person Finishes! By Brian Dalek

Special Feature: Notorious by Charlie Engle

Episode Credits:

Host: Rachel Swaby

Producers: Brian Dalek, Rachel Swaby

Editor: Audrey Quinn with help from Christine Fennessy

Production help: Mervyn Degaños

Thanks to Pam Nisevich Bede from Swim, Bike, Run, Eat! and Bryce Mander from UC Berkeley’s Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory

Theme music: Danny Cocke

Human Race editor-in-chief: David Willey