What motivates an amateur racer to rack up thousands of training miles and take on the pain and tedium of marathons and ultramarathons? Sometimes it's about keeping a step ahead of your ghosts.

For years, an annual ball in tiny Talkeetna celebrated the immeasurable role of Carhartt clothing. We sent a writer to cover the event, where devotees regaled stories of heroic trousers and death-defying coveralls.