The Barkley Marathons Return ‘Harder Than Ever’: Watch Athletes Push Themselves to the Brink

The Barkley Marathon is one of the most unique and challenging long-distance footraces in the world. Not just because of its distance but also because it doesn’t follow any kind of traditional trail.

Runners bushwhack, traverse, and navigate through truly wild and untamed terrain of Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee. There have been many years when no one finished the race at all.

But between 2023 and 2024, a record eight people finished the Barkley Marathon — so this year, for 2025, the organizers made it even harder.

The Barkley Strikes Back: 2025’s Brutal Return to Form is a short documentary from the Singletrack YouTube page about this year’s Barkley race, which pushed runners to the extreme limits of their mental and physical endurance. It tested their navigation skills, mental fortitude, and the strength of their bodies.

When the clock finally stopped ticking, and the race ended, only one person had crossed the finish line. Watch The Barkley Strikes Back to see how the race went down and to find out who triumphed at the end.

Runtime: 18:51