When it comes to Dean Karnazes, there’s a lot of controversy. People tend to either love him, or hate him. And the line seems to exist between those who call themselves real ultrarunners, and those who aren’t familiar with any ultrarunners except Dean. While the biggest thing to admire about Dean is probably his PR machine (he used to be a Marketing Executive, after all), he did win Badwater in 2004. That’s no easy race to win, either. Yet there are also many, many runners who beaten him in ultramarathons around the world. So, does he really deserve the self-given title of the ultramarathon man? You can decide
Dean Karnazes was proclaimed, “The fittest man in the world” by Men’s Fitness magazine. An internationally recognized endurance athlete and bestselling author, Dean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. Among his many accomplishments, he has run 350 continuous miles, foregoing sleep for three nights. He’s run across Death Valley in 120 degree temperatures, and he’s run a marathon to the South Pole in negative 40 degrees. On ten different occasions, he’s run a 200-mile relay race solo, racing alongside teams of twelve. Dean Karnazes has swum across the San Francisco Bay, scaled Half Dome in Yosemite, mountain-biked for 24-hours straight, surfed the gigantic waves off the coast of Hawaii, and is an accomplished windsurfer. Dean Karnazes has won the Vermont Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run, holds eleven Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run Silver Buckle’s, has raced and competed across the globe, and has won the world’s toughest footrace, the Badwater Ultramarathon, running 135 miles across Death Valley in the middle of summer. His most recent endeavor was running 50 marathons, in all 50 US states, in 50 consecutive days, finishing with the NYC Marathon, which he ran in three hours flat. His first book, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, is a National Bestseller, and was the #7 bestselling sports book worldwide in 2005. Ultramarathon Man is currently in print in eleven languages and available in audio format.
The theatrical trailer for UltraMarathon Man: 50 Marathons • 50 States • 50 Days:
Loading ...
Dean K is our ultramarathon man because he is considered the ambassador for the emerging modern everyday ultrarunners. He may not be the best there is, and in fact, there are many better elite ultrarunners out there in terms of winnings. But who says the ultramarathon man title must go to the best ultrarunners?
What separates Dean from other ultrarunners (beside his age; he’s reaching 50) is his ability to reach out, touch and inspire so millions to just go out and run. The international success of his book and the number of his followers speak to that. I was inspired to attempt ultras when I first read his book. Scott Jurek’s book and those by others, along with their long list of accolades, did Jack for me because I simply can’t relate to them!
Dean’s running exploits is impressive when you consider his age and his commitment to his charities and most importantly his own family. I met his family during his stop in Seattle for his 50–50-50, and let me tell you, they’re just the most wonderful and down-to-earth folks one can come across. You can feel that they’re a family, a strong unit that supports each other.
I can’t relate to ultrarunners like Anton K or Erik S, who are young and single without a care in the world. All they do is run, eat, sleep and run! But I can relate to Dean.
And, that is why Dean K is the Ultramarathon Man in my book.
Dean K is our ultramarathon man because he is considered the ambassador for the emerging modern everyday ultrarunners. He may not be the best there is, and in fact, there are many better elite ultrarunners out there in terms of winnings. But who says the ultramarathon man title must go to the best ultrarunners?
What separates Dean from other ultrarunners (beside his age; he’s reaching 50) is his ability to reach out, touch and inspire so millions to just go out and run. The international success of his book and the number of his followers speak to that. I was inspired to attempt ultras when I first read his book. Scott Jurek’s book and those by others, along with their long list of accolades, did Jack for me because I simply can’t relate to them!
Dean’s running exploits is impressive when you consider his age and his commitment to his charities and most importantly his own family. I met his family during his stop in Seattle for his 50–50-50, and let me tell you, they’re just the most wonderful and down-to-earth folks one can come across. You can feel that they’re a family, a strong unit that supports each other.
I can’t relate to ultrarunners like Anton K or Erik S, who are young and single without a care in the world. All they do is run, eat, sleep and run! But I can relate to Dean.
And, that is why Dean K is the Ultramarathon Man in my book.
Thanks for your comment and articulating your view so well. Dean certainly has inspired many, myself included. He put ultra running on the map for many and got thousands to give running a try again, much in the way Chris McDougall has, with Born to Run. It’s really great to hear he and his family are so down to earth from your personal experience — they appeared to be in the movie.
I think we do need a variety of runners as different folks inspire different people. Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks for your comment and articulating your view so well. Dean certainly has inspired many, myself included. He put ultra running on the map for many and got thousands to give running a try again, much in the way Chris McDougall has, with Born to Run. It’s really great to hear he and his family are so down to earth from your personal experience — they appeared to be in the movie.
I think we do need a variety of runners as different folks inspire different people. Thanks again for sharing.
I agree. There is something so admirable in doing great things with actual real life responsibilites. He is enthusiastic about his sport but I get the feeling that is not all he talks about and I just bet he has friends that AREN’T ultra runners… There is nothing spoiled or privileged about his persona.
The guy’s a joke, a self indulgent jerk who, according to his own books, completely neglects his wife and kids. I have to say that he almost turned me away from running, he is capable of turning the beautiful and SIMPLE sport of distance running into a pop show. F.. him!