The conch shell blew at 5 a.m. and the 2026 Barkley Marathons began, this time in the anti clockwise direction and on Valentine’s Day.

In this episode, I break down my full loop at Barkley, from the chaotic descent off Chimney Top to the long climb up Rat Jaw, the prison tunnel, Little Hell, navigation errors, and the final push back to camp just under 14 hours.

I also share some of the lesser known history of the race, including how the Barkley nearly disappeared in 2006 before a Tennessee Senate resolution preserved it at Frozen Head State Park. A race born as a joke about a failed prison escape has become one of the most respected endurance tests in the world.

This was a strong field. The weather was ideal. The direction was reversed. And for me, it ended with a fall, a hairline rib fracture, and a hard earned lesson.

Barkley is never just about finishing. It is about small navigation wins, brutal climbs through thick leaves, and seeing how close you can get to your edge.

And this year, it was also about spending Valentine’s Day collecting book pages with Allison.

Sixteen books. Fourteen hours. One broken rib.

The price we pay for love.

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