You'll probably have to do the forum readers a service and explain to them exactly what The Barkley is.

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"The right to party is a battle we have fought, but we'll surrender and go Amish... NOT!" -Wayne Campbell

I assume he means these:
http://www.mattmahoney.net/barkley/

I heard a great couple interviews about the Barkley Marathons on UltraRunnerPodcast.com, including one with the RD. Apparently, if you come into home base after one of the loops and decide not to go out again, you don't get a "Did Not Finish," but the more humiliating "Refused to Continue" on the official results.

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"I believe that I'll finish." - Herb Brown (IMLP 2012)
"100 miles is not that far." - Karl Meltzer

This was my point. Most people don't realize what The Barkley is, and when the OP referred to his buddy's second "attempt" it truly is little more than an attempt.

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"The right to party is a battle we have fought, but we'll surrender and go Amish... NOT!" -Wayne Campbell