See, for example, his vertical twist on the beer mile. But he also combines humor with an audacious approach to the sport. With belt buckles from Western States, Hardrock, and the Fat Dog 120, he is obviously an accomplished runner. John is one of my favorite runners to follow in ultramarathoning. So when I found out John Burton was running the 2018 edition of Barkley, I couldn't wait to pick his brain. But perhaps the most important thing to know is that in the 32-year history of the race, only 15 people have ever finished. You can get a few more quick details in this graphic created by the Washington Post for the 2006 race. During each 20-mile traverse, which includes around 20,000 feet of elevation change, racers must rip out pages from books placed along the course to prove they completed the entire loop correctly. Runners must navigate the course five times without aid stations, alternating direction each time. Inspired by James Earl Ray's botched attempt to escape from a nearby prison, the course is an unmarked 20-mile loop through some of the most rugged terrain in eastern Tennessee.

But the Barkley Marathons is exemplary in its idiosyncrasy, challenge, and downright cruelty.

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