Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

by Dean Karnazes

Ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes claims "There is magic in misery." While it would be easy to write off his habit of running for 100 miles at a time - or longer - as mere masochism, it's impossible to not admire his tenacity in pushing his body to reach one extreme goal after another. Sure, it's gory to read about how he lost one of his big toenails from shoe friction during the Western States Endurance Run. But what registers more is that here's a guy competing in an event that includes 38,000 feet of elevation change--the equivalent of scaling the Empire State Building 30 times.

Despite his considerable athleticism, "Karno" argues that the first half of any race is run with one's body, and the second half with the mind. Without delving into excessively touchy-feely territory, he explores "the possibilities of self" as he completes an ultra-marathon in 120-degree heat in Death Valley, and later the first-ever marathon at the South Pole. It's an odd combination: a California surfer dude contemplating how, as Socrates said,

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Biography, Memoir, Health, Fitness, Audiobook

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Dean Karnazes (b. Constantine Karnazes) is an American ultramarathon runner and author.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The closest I will ever get to an ultramarathon is reading this book. To better simulate the all night running experience described in this book I thought I would try a sort of ultramarathon reading style. So in the tradition of Dean Karnazes here are the confessions of an all night reader.

After a night at the local pool learned flip-turns from Anne we returned home to put the girls to bed. Instead of Scrabble or episodes of the West Wing (which are our surefire date-defaults) we decided to read in bed. For me, that usually means about a half hour before I can't keep my eyes open anymore.

But tonight was different. I was going to try to read this baby cover to cover before I slept. Nevermind the 250 pages of textbooks I have to read by Monday for school. I started out strong through the first 100 pages, rarely breaking more than a few seconds between chapters.

By that time Anne was fast asleep but my night had just begun. My favorite part of the book was Dean's description of his first Western States 100 mile race. He provided great detail and I felt like I was right there with him. I was starting to feel the fatigue setting in from my own lofty pursuits. After all, Dean wrote that the actual activity you choose is unimportant as long as you are giving everything you've got.

By the time I reached page 200 the lines were starting to blur. I had to get up and swing my arms and jump around to keep the blood flowing. So this is how Dean felt!? 226 miles without stopping? Try that many pages without coming up for air.

5 hours and 6 rice-crispy treats later I finished reading the last acknowledgments and closed the book. It was a little after 3:00am. Dean and I connected on a level that only those who dare to push their most outer limits can.

The way I read this book last night is not for everyone. But this book is! A very fun read that will leave you thinking about your own ultra ambitions.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ug. Ego-stroking pap. The description of the Western States race is awesome, but sadly you have to read about him describing himself (hint: the word "ripped" is used 3 times) to get there. And then deal with the last 100 pages, all about a self-indulgent trip to the South Pole (look at me! I'm rich!).

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently picked up running as a way to get in shape, and it's become a bit of a hobby. I thought I would enjoy Karnazes's book both because I appreciate people who push themselves to the limit and because, as a PhD student, I know what it's like to be entirely devoted to a dream. I was hoping to feel inspired and to meet a kindred spirit.

Not happening. Dean Karnazes is so into himself that it's difficult to get a glimpse of ultrarunning through him. His descriptions of his physical form are unappealing, in that he goes out of the way to inform you that he is "ripped like a prizefighter" and that "my body reached a level of fitness that defied all sensible limitations." He definitely gets a kick out of including his Sports Illustrated sexiest athlete photo, as well, but without the good humor I was hoping to see. Even though ultrarunners generally seem to be awesome people, Karnazes does not appear to be friends with any of them. Even though he is racing with some of the best athletes in the world, he never mentions his fellow dream chasers by name or appears to develop strong relationships with his running colleagues. One of the most appealing traits of running books like Born to Run is the obvious affection and admiration the runners display for each other. Dean only seems to admire himself. He talks about participants in his sport as an elite and mysterious group of people who are just so wild and beyond normal people that there can be no comparison, but from reading the book you'd think he's the only member of this group. He prefers to talk about encounters with normal people who are impressed by his antics and think, "Oh Dean, you so crazy!"

His descriptions of his formative high school track experiences also ring false to me. First of all, I don't know very many groups of high schoolers who "hang out at late-night coffee shops and read Kafka and Kerouac." And the contrast between his beloved cross-country team and the prissy, time-obsessed track team seemed so overwrought that it's like he never grew out of the high school mentality he had while a member of them. Apparently the track coach wanted to time him and, when Dean informed him that "I run with my heart," laughed so derisively that Dean stormed off the field in a huff and didn't run again for fifteen years. That doesn't say "tough guy" to me.

Dean's attitude towards women is also highly unappealing. Ultrarunning is one of the few sports where men and women compete together and women frequently come out on top. However, Dean's idea of a good joke was to send a male friend who completed a "lesser" ultramarathon a tampon instead of a congratulatory cigar—a tampon the friend had to "live down" by completing several more ultramarathons.

This book did have moments that were enjoyable, especially Dean's description of actually running Western States. His writing is simple and makes for a super quick read. But I will not be reaching for any more work by this author. His focus on himself and on what a hardass he is because he works through the pain provides a stark contrast with my experience of running books to date, in which the athletes experience joy through running. Yes, ultrarunners get tired. Yes, you have to mentally force yourself to get through even short runs if you are an inexperienced runner like me. But I'm not digging Dean Karnazes the happy masochist.

[Timothy Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, people hate Dean Karnazes... but ask yourself this: would you know who Scott Jurek was if you had never read Dean Karnazes? I wouldn't.

Dean's book sometimes sounds like he's spinning a yarn. It's pretty unbelievable at points. On the other hand, he does some unbelievable things. And he does most of what he does for charity.

In general, it's a very good read. It made me feel like going out running. And indirectly, I trained for and signed up for my first ultramarathon because I read this book. Love him or hate him, Dean Karnazes put ultramarathoning on the map.

Is Dean the best runner in the world? Maybe not. Is he the best ultramarathoner? Probably not, either. He did win Badwater in 2004, and you don't do that by being a mediocre athlete.

[Nick Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize until after I'd read this book and given it a 4-star rating that people were dumping on it for his egotism. Honestly, having breezed right through this (it's not a difficult or lengthy read by any means) I kinda felt the opposite.

I've been reading a lot about running and marathons lately and Karnazes came up as an example of an extreme athlete. Reading up about him, he seemed to be some kind of invincible superman, but him spending most of the book explaining the hell-ish conditions of his extreme jaunts, I built up a sympathy for the guy.

Sure, he dives into self - flagellation when he describes his body as godly and he can run two marathons with ease as training, but it illuminates how high the bar is to even attempt to accomplish the feats he's done.

Sure, he talks about his growing pile of commendations, but what would you expect from a nearly career athlete? Medals and trophies are for athletes, not nerds like me, they just come with the territory.

The book is far more Disney Channel than instruction manual and reading about his struggles, the centerpiece of the book, carries far more weight than his accomplishments. He may talk about his extreme physique, but he's having some humble pie with it.

[Rhiannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a runner, and although I have not done and probably never will do an ultramarathon, I know quite a few ultramarathoners and thought this book would give me a better idea of the sport. But, wow, this book is a piece of crap.

Rarely have I read something by an author so completely self-absorbed, self-worshiping, self-indulgent, and egotistical. He feigns modesty throughout the book, but its insincerity is crystal clear. Yes, Dean, I know that you're an amazing runner (although there are other ultrarunners who are even better, and they get no mention in this book) but I really don't care that you have 5% body fat, that you are "cut like a prize fighter," that "over the course of the decade [you] managed to amass nine more Western States Silver Buckles...dozens of medals, plaques, and trophies" but that although "it's cool to have mementos like these, [you ] didn't have them out on display in the living room."

Also, the writing is just plain bad. Dialogues with other people (all of whom, even his family, are portrayed as completely one-dimensional characters) are unrealistic.

And finally, he's sexist. No mention of the (many) incredible female ultrarunners, but he does send a tampon as a joke to a male friend who'd just finished his first Western States 100. Implying, I assume, that because the guy didn't run it particularly quickly, that he was no better than a woman. No matter that a woman, Pam Reed, beat Dean TWICE in the 130-mile Badwater race, and that she was the first person to run 300 miles continuously.

This book is not about the sport of ultra running. This book is about Dean Karnazes, and an ego the size of Canada.

[Ramesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

After meeting Dean in person and hearing his own story in SF, I was really looking forward to finish this book. It was as if Dean himself telling this story to me. The book is indeed a great motivation and covers the transparent details of what all goes in an ultra runner's mind. Truly a wonderful journey..

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

About halfway through it becomes an ego-fest. Karnazes may be an ultradistance runner, but he's not the best and should stop acting that way. He's marketed himself as the posterboy for ultraendurance running and it starts to get weary in the book.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read by running legend Dean. I loved this one more than 50/50, this felt more relatable to me. Dean is a strong runner and managed to find a nice balance between ultra running and the rest of his life. His story on running for the little girl Libby was inspiring, and I loved how he is so honest about running for charity. (as in: I can't do much more than just running, but might as well do really good at it) Great for the running reading list!

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's unfortunate that what could have been a really inspirational story about pushing oneself to the ultimate limit of physical endurance is overshadowed by the douchiness of the author. I wanted to be in awe and instead I was just annoyed. The constant false modesty was tiring and incredibly transparent. And I get that anyone who writes a memoir would want to shine themselves in a flattering light, so I understand Karnazes' decision to focus on races that he finished. But I think it would have been a better book if he had included at least one honest account of one of the races where he made a conscious decision to stop and not finish.

He's a great runner and I am in awe of his skill and dedication. The fact that he raises money for sick children also raises his stock in my book. But sending a tampon to a friend after finishing a marathon (especially considering that ultra-marathoning is one of the arenas where women consistently out-perform men) is just a dick move.

I feel better now.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely not a book I would have chosen for myself. I read it because my son, who is a marathon runner, gave it to me to read and I was very impressed. I am not usually a great fan of the autobiography, but Dean Karnazes writes with humour and diffidence about his incredible achievements. Anyone who can do the things he has done is a hero - slightly crazy admittedly, but a hero. Well worth reading.

[Katerina Charisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Δεν είμαι και σίγουρη αλλά νομίζω ότι καταλαβαίνω το γιατί ο Καρνάζης προκαλεί σε αρκετό κόσμο αντιπάθεια: Είναι τρελός, πεισματάρης, ικανότατος, ωραίος, πετυχημένος, έκανε το χόμπι του επικερδέστατη μπίζνα και τέλος πάντων ανήκει σε μια πολύ πολύ μικρή ελίτ ανθρώπων που ελάχιστοι μπορούν να φτάσουν ή να ξεπεράσουν.

Και το ξέρει.
Και το δείχνει.

Και γιατί όχι; Αν κάποιος πρέπει να καυχιέται για τα κατορθώματα του Καρνάζη, τότε αυτός πρώτος πρέπει να είναι.

Γιατί όταν πας το τρέξιμο σε τέτοια επίπεδα, ε είσαι εξαίρεση.

Μετά από 4-5 δρομικά βιβλία πιστεύω ότι απέκτησα μια αρκετά σφαιρική εικόνα και άποψη για το θέμα «τρέξιμο» και όποιος ενδιαφέρεται για τη λόξα τα βιβλία αυτά είναι πολύ καλό να τα διαβάσει.
Άλλωστε η απάντηση είναι πάντα η ίδια: Κανείς δεν ξέρει τελικά γιατί τρέχει, αν και όλοι κάτι βρίσκουνε στο τρέξιμο που τους τραβά.

Κι ας μην είναι όλοι μαραθωνοδρόμοι, δεν είναι εκεί το θέμα.

Τώρα, στα του βιβλίου. Ο Καρνάζης δεν το ‘χει και τόσο το αφηγηματικό στο συγκεκριμένο, αλλά επειδή διαβάζω κι άλλο δικό του και από όσο κατάλαβα είναι τύπος που με ό,τι καταπιάνεται θέλει να το κάνει καλά, δε μας πειράζει, βελτιώνεται (και σε αυτό.)

Όμως πρέπει να πω ότι αν ξεκινούσα με πρώτο βιβλίο τον Υπερμαραθωνοδρόμο, τότε μάλλον δε θα είχα βγει ποτέ για τρέξιμο (και μη με ρωτήσετε, δεν ξέρω ούτε εγώ γιατί ξεκίνησα να τρέχω.)

Για κάποιον που δεν έχει τρέξει ποτέ του – κι ίσως να μην το σκοπεύει καν – είναι μάλλον αποτρεπτικό.
Οκ, και στα άλλα βιβλία διάβασα για τα κακοπαθήματα των δρομέων, τη ζέστη, τη ζάλη, τον πονοκέφαλο, τους εμετούς, τις λιποθυμίες, τα νύχια που πέφτουν, αλλά μάλλον ο Καρνάζης εδώ είναι ωμός και αμείλικτος. Λέει τα πράγματα όπως ακριβώς έχουν.

Και αν δεν έχεις τρέξει ποτέ, ίσως και να μην το κάνεις.
Δύσκολα τα πράγματα γιατρέ μου.

Εδώ έχουμε μια πολύ μεγάλη αντίθεση σε σχέση με το βιβλίο του Τζούρεκ (Eat & Run) όπου ο Τζούρεκ αντιμετωπίζει το τρέξιμο ως αυτοβελτίωση ή ίαση, με τρόπο σχεδόν μυστικιστικό, γλυκό, τρυφερό, ενώ αντίθετα ο Καρνάζης μοιάζει να αυτοτιμωρείται, ή να επιβάλλει στον εαυτό του το εξαντλητικό τρέξιμο γιατί δεν μπορεί διαφορετικά να χαλιναγωγήσει την ίδια του την ύπαρξη, κάτι που αρκετά συχνά αναφέρει και ο ίδιος.

Όπως και να ‘χει, χαίρομαι που το διάβασα και το έχω στη συλλογή μου, ήδη έχω δημιουργήσει μια μικρή δρομική βιβλιοθήκη, who knew? :D

[Chad in the ATL · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started with a single fateful decision one night to just go out and run…and run…and run. This is the story of Dean Karnazes and his life as it unfolded after that night. A non-stop adventure in the heat of Death Valley, the bone-chilling cold of the South Pole, over mountains, through forests – all while running. Through hard work and breathtaking perseverance he achieved amazing athletic acts while balancing a family and career.

“Most dreams die a slow death. They're conceived in a moment of passion, with the prospect of endless possibility, but often languish and are not pursued with the same heartfelt intensity as when first born. Slowly, subtly, a dream becomes elusive and ephemeral. People who've lost their own dreams become pessimists and cynics. They feel like the time and devotion spent on chasing their dreams were wasted. The emotional scars last forever.”

Ultrarunners are an odd lot. Not content with running a meager distance of a marathon – 26.2 miles for those of you counting – ultrarunners head out for jaunts of 50 miles, 100 miles and longer. A fringe subset of endurance athletes, ultrarunners take joy in pushing the limits of human endurance to the absolute breaking point…and beyond. In the world of these extreme athletes, Dean Karnazes is a rock star. He has won the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, which is run through Death Valley…in July…in 130-degree heat. He has run a 199-mile relay event solo. He has run a marathon at the South Pole. Dean is hardcore.

However, Ultramarathon Man doesn’t come across as a “look at me” egofest at all. Instead, Karnazes is a humorous tour guide who doesn’t take himself seriously. He acknowledges the ridiculous nature of what he does and points out the foibles with candor. The result is Karnazes produces an athletic memoir which is grounded in humanity while describing inhuman accomplishments. Is what he is doing a form of addiction? Certainly, and he freely admits that. But Karnazes has turned these somewhat self-absorbed escapades not into bravado, but into something more universal and inspirational.

The magic of Ultramarathon Man is that it doesn’t serve to aggrandize Dean Karnazes and he doesn’t expect everyone to do the things he is doing. His hope is that by doing these larger-than-life challenges, he can inspire others to take set out on their own adventures to capture the hopes and dreams that many of us have set aside as impossible. Ultramarathon Man is really about finding the wherewithal to put one foot in front of the other and never quit until we cross the finish line – no matter what that finish line might look like. This is the best kind of memoir – a memoir of unabashed hope and optimism. I challenge anyone to read this book and not finish with a smile, a chuckle and a newfound glimpse at what just might be possible.

[Jacques Bezuidenhout · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems that the gripe that most people have with this book is that Dean comes across as very egotistic and arrogant.
Well my opinion is, give credit where credit is due.
This guy deserves every bit of his "well sculpted" / "chiselled" / "ripped", 4.5% body fat body.

Him mentioning occasionally that he was well built, is a drop in the bigger bucket of accomplishments / stories in the book.
Most of the book is about being with him in each of his races. And its awesome.

The Western States 100 mile was described in detail. And listening to the audiobook, whilst on a longer run myself, this was motivation to the core.
Some of the subsequent races didn't go into so much detail, and some of the things he did was probably just plain stupid (running in the South Pole).
But kudos for what this guy has attempted / achieved.

This book probably wont inspire you to do anything more, if you aren't already on a path to always do and accomplish more. If you are a person that pushes boundaries, you will respect what Dean has done and why he does it.

As far as autobiographies go, I really enjoyed the format of this book in terms of mostly focusing on the races, and taking you through the journey in the heat of the race.
It is probably debatable whether all retelling of the story is 100% accurate, given that he was close to being comatose in a couple of cases in these races. Nonetheless you can feel the pain he went through, and found myself cringing occasionally when he described what went wrong next.

The book is really short. So easy to get through without too much fluff outside of the races.
Not recommended for just anyone. But if you are into endurance yourself, and would like to get a feeling of what it is like in some of the world's toughest races, you might enjoy some of this book.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago when I first got into running. It is crazy to hear how someone can log all these miles. the training alone is crazy. Just so you know an ultramarathon is anything over the standard 26.2 and most races are the 50-100 plus mile variety. The author would run 20 miles during his extended Lunch at work or run at night for hours. One thing that stuck with me was the amount of calories he would consume to be able to use as energy. He mentioned he ran once, I forgot the distance, stopped at a pizza parlor and ordered a pie. He folded the pie 2-4 ways and ate it as one big piece of pizza calzone and then continued to then run back home. great autobiographical story and account of his running career. Very entertaining and motiviational.


10/10/21- as my first marathon approaches in two weeks I decided to read this gem of a book again for some inspiration. The author's accomplishments never cease to amaze me. He writes about his first western states 100 (also completed more than a handful of them since), running for 48 hours straight, completing a marathon in south pole, completing the Badwater ultra, running 200 miles straight and so and and so forth. He was still maintaining a 9 to 5 job but would only sleep 4 hours a day to have time to train and be with his family. Crazy determination and will power displayed in this book

[Sushmitha Kanukurthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book about 15 mins ago and I am not sure of where to begin! Ever since I took up running (about two years ago), I have come across many a book that have left me inspired and driven about pursuing this passion. But this book has done far more. While Dean Karnazes's super human feats are unique; what makes this book so amazing is his ability to infuse that passion in the readers. He makes the book easy to read, profound, awe inspiring and a testament to what the human body is capable of achieving, if only you are willing to push yourself. For a while now, I had given up running because of the repeated migraine attacks that come with it. Maybe it is time for me to stop waiting to things to change and invest in bringing about the change. As Dean says in the book "Pain and suffering are often the catalysts for life's most profound lessons."

I could go on and on about this book but it will suffice to say that if I could give this book a 10 star rating, I would! Definitely a must read for all those who want to push themselves but don't know where to start!!

[Curtis Trueblood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wildly fun book that hit harder than expected. Listening to it, now as a runner, was cathartic thinking back to hearing it the first time as my dad read it to my mom on long road trips.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first became aware of Dean Karnazes a few years ago shortly after moving back to New York. That was when he came into the spotlight for a lot of people, shortly after he won the Badwater Ultramarathon. In my small running circle, I spread word of his infamy, of the man who ordered pizza for delivery on his all night runs. How he would run a hundred miles just to get to the start of a marathon. How he ran a 200 mile relay race--by himself. Most of what I knew of him came from short articles in running magazines or interviews on NPR. In gearing up for this year's marathon season, I borrowed this book from a friend to find out more about the Ultramarathon Man--who in 2006 ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days; who was the first person to run a marathon to the South Pole--in running shoes; who ran 350 miles without stopping. I wanted some inspiration to get me through the dark moments of my running, when the pain sets in and I feel like I just can't move any further. It helps me in those times to think of someone who went further, who did more, who ran faster or harder and dug deeper to keep going even under the most dire conditions.

Karnazes talks about his early life as a runner, his introduction to the sport by his first track coach, Coach McTavish. Coach's advice was simple: "Go out hard and finish harder." That would be a mantra that Karnazes would take with him throughout life. He seems to be a man full of energy and determination. An article in the New York Times before the 2010 New York Marathon talked about the determination of professional runners. "Mental Tenacity separates the mortals and the immortals in running," the article says. Karnazes must have more mental tenacity than anyone on earth. He pushes himself to extremes just to see if he can. When he feels himself unable to go on, he digs deeper inside himself and finds strength where mere mortals would falter. As a runner, he has pushed the limits of what a human can do. He's pushed the limit so far it seems unlikely that anyone will challenge his feats anytime soon.

What makes this book stand out, though, is the humility with which Karnazes tells his story. He writes with an unexaggerated, self-depracating style that belies the feats he has accomplished. He's the first to admit that he is only human, that he too falls sometimes. One of his most spectacular falls occurs when he runs his first 50 mile race to qualify for the grueling Western States 100. Karnazes describes the events immediately following that race with objective clarity, as though he were telling the story of what happened to a guy he knew. The pain he puts himself through would make most of us cringe in terror, but to him it is just another day. He's a normal man with a normal family and kids who want him to play with them. Immediately after running 200 miles, his kids drag him to an amusement park and he spends the next several hours riding roller coasters. I can't imagine that. After running that distance, I can imagine that all I'd want to do is collapse in a bed.

For all the humility with which he recounts his story, he is seemingly not a very humble man. In recent years he has made very public his aspirations, from running 50 states in 50 days to his very public declaration of wanting to be the first person to run 300 miles non-stop. (That feat was thwarted by Pam Reed, who for two years won the Badwater Ultramarathon and quietly and without much fanfare ran a 25 mile loop 12 times shortly after Dean attempted his record breaking run.) The ultrarunning community is small and rather protective of itself. Dean is an everyman who seems to believe that anyone can run these distances. He has opened ultrarunning to the wider world.

None of that changes the power of this book, though. While it may be ostensibly about running, it is more deeply about following your dreams. Karnazes wants each of us to realize the power of our dreams, to not just have them but to strive to attain them--no matter what they be. For Karnazes, the dream and the passion meet at running. He wants to push his body and his mind to the limit and he works hard every day to do that. It's not easy. I think he makes clear how hard it is to run the distances he runs. But that is the point, he says. "Dreams can come true," he tells his kids, "especially if you train hard enough."

That may be the best takeaway from any book I've read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. 36 weeks pregnant and I am ready to get up and run...maybe in two months or so, but I am inspired. I don't think I will ever become and ultramarathon runner, or even a marathon runner for that matter, but in a word with endless possibilities I am inspired to never be content with mediocrity. Like Robin William says in Dead Poets Society "Make your lives extraordinary."

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

"To call running 'fun' would be a misuse of the word. Running can be 'enjoyable.' Running can be 'rejuvenating.' But in a pure sense of the word, running is not fun."

From the Reviews "The perfect escapist fantasy for couch potatoes and weekend warriors alike."

"I couldn't recall a single time that I felt worse after a run than before."

"'Things' don't bring happiness. Some of my finest moments came while running down the open road, little more than a pair of shoes and shorts to my name. A runner doesn't need much. Thoreau one said that a man's riches are based on what he can do without. Perhaps in needing less, you're actually getting more."

"If we could just free ourselves from out percieved limitations and tap into our internal fire, the possibilities are endless."

"Running into Santa Cruz, I was wholly fulfilled. Most people never get there. They're afraid or unwilling to demand enough of themselves and take the easy road, the path of least resistance. But struggling and suffering, as I now saw it, were the essence of a life worth living. If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you are not constantly demanding more from yourself--expanding and learning as you go--you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip."

[Caitlin Constantine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just a crazy fun book to read. Karnazes is seriously demented but I think he knows it, which is why it was so much fun. Also, as a distance runner - but not an insane one like Karnazes - I found it totally inspiring. It's too bad I'm currently nursing a running injury because it made me want to go and pound out a 10-miler the second I put it down.

I think what I liked best about the book was how self-deprecating Karnazes is about himself. He knows he's pretty much insane, he doesn't go for a lot of self-aggrandizement, and he doesn't shy away from the disgusting aspects that go along with running ultramarathons.

Oh, and the picture of him naked with the strategically placed South Pole is worth the price of the book alone.

This might be the highest praise I can give a book - by the end of it, I was thinking, gee, I might like to try to run an ultramarathon some day. Now THAT is crazy.

[Vicky Pilkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book as I wanted it to motivate me to go running more often and it has achieved that. I like how the author describes the pain of running which I weirdly found motivational as I often think when I see other runners how they don't seem to be suffering at all and I am the only one who is!

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimately the author has laid down in words answers to why he runs, what compels him to do ultramarathon running, his desires and passions, all honestly written in easy reading nicely packet together narrative that can inspire and aid the one wanting to push themselves to their limits and beyond. Heartfelt testaments from a man who is truly someone pushing himself beyond human limitations.
He tells how he had a need to fill a void despite having a good job and financial security, and he takes the reader upon his road expounding on his pursuit of happiness by doing something that makes him happy, running, very very, long distances.
Those distances went through extremes, from South Pole -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit, to “Running down the white line on the highway to hell,” at Badwater with the temperatures can exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit with asphalt melting the soles of his trainers.
He takes you through all these extraordinary challenges daring greatly into the arena of human heart at conflict with itself, the enemy being the idea that something was not possible, the self into untrodden terrain building and discovering inner strengths and mental toughness, he is a fine example of this and then there are the charities, lives inspired, lives in need of a donor helped, the people he aided, in these efforts a great fete.
He symbolises sheer determination, endurance, and never giving up, and following your dream, the king of pain not giving in and up, a family man, proving, “nice guys can finish first.”

Review with Excerpts @ More2Read

[Ro Huang · Rating 2 out of 5]

It says a lot that the book inspired (solidified?) my interest in ultramarathoning but still gets a two. Karnazes continuously pats himself on the back for "being humble" while mentioning again and again his 4% body fat composition. So many of his anecdotes fall in the category of "I was super tired but made brilliant witty comments to the people around me and made them all laugh and love me". At every aid station, he somehow has a crowd to which he can perform bad running-based standup. He constantly characterizes the women around him by their physical attractiveness. Only at the very end (when he talks about how he was featured in a magazine as the most attractive male athlete of the year or something) does he vaguely mention female ultramarathon runners, giving them a few perfunctory compliments about their grit. This falls a bit short considering that 99% of the book was dedicated to either his or other men's exploits on the race field. I'd almost rather read David Goggins.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Te ridici de pe canapea si alergi.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

After watching Dean's 50/50/50 movie: 50 marathons, 50 states, in 50 days, I decided to read his book. To my surprise, my library had a signed copy!

I find it fascinating people are able to push their bodies to the outer extremes and run multiple marathons in one go. I can't imagine how one would condition their body to be able to survive such torture, so naturally, I wanted to understand it from Dean's perspective. I think Dean has been given some superhuman quality most of us mere mortals do not possess. Truly, I don't think he knows what it is to be a normal person.

Despite my limited understanding of how one would be able to accomplish such a feat, I understand the need for adventure, to escape the mundane, and do hard things. I love pushing myself harder every day in an attempt to crush new goals. Still, running a measly six miles is a challenge for me. Even after reading, my mind is still boggled. Boggled, but SERIOUSLY impressed.

I understand how some people find Dean's writing to be a bit egotistical. I can't imagine calling myself "ripped", but I've never been ripped before. I've never run an ultramarathon either and probably never will, like most readers of this book. Overall, I think he has a good heart and is clearly a devoted and hardworking family man. Dean is only human after all...or is he? ;)

[Brad Lockey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy is kinda nuts, but I love it.
A story of stamina.
A story of drive.
A story of resilience.
A story of exploration.
Run somewhere, because you can.
We're all capable of more; whether it's being a better employee, father, person ... getting in better shape, eating healthier ... but so many of us settle.
Why is that?
I attempt to learn everywhere I go, and I try and push myself every day.
Now, drop and give me 30 push-ups just for fun.
Tomorrow, aim for 31.

Notable quotes that impacted me:

“I run because if I didn’t, I’d be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe the fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run…to savor the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that.”

“Pain is the body's way of ridding itself of weakness.”

“I didn’t go up there to die, I went up there to live.”

“Somewhere along the line we seem to have confused comfort with happiness.”

[Symphony Norfleet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a very good read at all. Dean Karnazes cannot write well and takes five pages at a time describing running while eating pizza. He has an interesting life but it is very obvious in his book that he is obsessed with himself. He also has really immature descriptions, saying about one of his high school track coaches, "his skin was radiant and smooth and he had large, fluffy eyebrows that moved as he talked." My advice to you: never read this book.

[Christelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably one of the most pretentious and self absorbed books I've ever read. Read "Born to run", it has loads more information and talks about other runners than Dean McDeansty Deanster.
I mean, it's not like the guy ever pretends to be something he's not or to write something other than a completely flat "story of my spiritual awakening". Too bad he's really really monochromatic, boring and prone to ill-advised bouts of lyricism.

[Michelle Barker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was invested in the story for the first half of this book and couldn't understand all the reviews that mentioned how the author basically only wrote about how great he was... and then I read the second half. And then I understood.

[Matt Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring at times ... but there are better books to inspire and inform ultrarunners.