On a chilly morning in the rural mountains of Tennessee, a conch shell was blown and a cigarette was lit, signaling the start of the 2026 Barkley Marathons.The famously secretive—and extremely difficult—race is a fan favorite every year. The Valentine’s Day start is the earliest start date in the race’s history, which dates back to 1986. Most years, the race is held in mid-to-late March or early April.The 2026 edition officially began at 6 a.m. ET and will conclude at 6 p.m. ET on Monday.The format of Barkley is unlike any other ultramarathon. Each year, around 40 people start the roughly 100-mile race. To finish, they must complete five loops of the course—which meanders through Frozen Head State Park—under the 60-hour cutoff. The course changes every year and participants aren’t allowed to use GPS to navigate. Typically, runners can expect north of 60,000 feet of elevation gain.Only 20 people have completed the race, with Brett Maune, Jared Campbell, and John Kelly finishing multiple times.…