In the Spell of the Barkley

'A wonderful, compelling read'Vassos Alexander, radio presenter and ultrarunnerWelcome to the Barkley Marathons, a fever dream of an ultra event, inspired by a prison break, heralded by a conch blast, paid for in cigarettes and socks, and completed only by a select few. A race in which competitors haul themselves up mountains, through extreme weather conditions, beyond pain and exhaustion, mile after mile. Completed 60 miles? That’s just the fun run.Journalist and ultrarunner Michiel Panhuysen is a multiple-time Barkley entrant, having fallen under the spell of this most enigmatic of races – and its presiding philosopher-genius organizer Lazarus Lake – in the early 2010s. On each occasion, the Barkley won. The Barkley nearly always wins.In the Spell of the Barkley is a story of sporting obsession, exploring what drives individuals to challenge themselves at the limits of what is possible – and what it takes to succeed.

A compelling account of one of the world's most enigmatic races, captured by an author fully in thrall, The engrossing story of his fascination with, and multiple attempts to complete, the world’s most difficult ultramarathon race ... highly recommend, A wonderful, compelling read

Michiel Panhuysen is a journalist, ultrarunner, and the author of two acclaimed books in Dutch: De wietindustrie (co-authored with Nicole Maalsté), about the Dutch cannabis industry, and In de ban van de Barkley (In the Spell of the Barkley). He is a veteran of long-distance endurance events, none of which could adequately prepare him for the Barkley.