One man's story of attempting The Barkley Marathons - an ultra endurance event so secretive and extreme, rarely anyone reaches the finish line. Taking place deep in the Frozen Head State Park in the US state of Tennessee, this competition is one of the most gruelling ultras in the world. Inspired by an infamous prison break, within sixty hours, the participants must cover 100 miles through inhospitable terrain. Runners get lost in the dense fog, become completely hypothermic and get severe hallucinations after dozens of sleepless hours. And it's bizarre. The entry form is virtually impossible to come by and it costs $1.60 to enter, along with a pack of Camel cigarettes. The race is started by the race director lighting a cigarette, and completing just one of its infamous 'loops' is referred to as a 'Fun Run'.

In the 35 years that the race has existed, only fifteen runners have managed to finish.Journalist and ultra runner Michiel Panhuysen is the one of the few people to take on the Barkley multiple times, and he has also never made it to the finish line. But through his attempts his fascination and respect for the race, the participants and the equally illustrious and mysterious race director-philosopher-genius Lazarus Lake only increased. In this breathtaking book, Panhuysen tries to unravel the mystery of the Barkley and asks himself why he - and countless ultra-runners with him - are captivated by the extreme hardships associated with their sport.