The man who ran the world

How running across Australia pushed Jack Pitcher to breaking point

From wild hallucinations to life-changing reflections, ultra riders share their unforgettable stories of endurance grit with James Shrubsall

After a traumatic childhood that saw him abandoned as a baby, adventurer Marc Rhodes turned adversity into a passion for challenges, including conquering the Arctic

Sarah Ruggins’s Double End to End record took fortitude forged by an agonising early illness, finds Tom Davidson

Tennessee’s infamous Barkley Marathons race is notoriously tough – but 20 people have completed it. Gloucestershire’s equally brutal homage to the iconic ultra has zero finishers... so far. Our writer lined up with those attempting to be the first

Adventure athlete Ross Edgley has carved out a niche with his treacherous open-water swims. His next feat? A90-day lap of the Icelandic coast. MH suits up for a training session