Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner
by Dean Karnazes
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Book Summary Information
Author: Dean KarnazesEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-03-02
ISBN: 1585424803
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Tarcher
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9781585424801
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Book Reviews of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner
Book Review: Exceptionally Motivating
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm one of those guys who tends to fluctuate in weight as well as fitness level, and inherently my level of motivation determines both of those. A former college athlete, I was always in very good physical shape, and could basically eat anything and be alright. As the years have gone on (heck, I'm only 28!), I find myself having one poor eating day and gaining five pounds, and finding it incredibly difficult to maintain my exercising motivation. I have a 2 year old daughter, a 7 month pregnant wife, work all day, play the role of husband and daddy all evening, and in the winter months, yes, even in Arizona, it's just so cold and difficult to become motivated at 4am.
Enter Ultramarathon Man. A good friend of mine plays the part of my motivator. He's in excellent shape, is incredibly disciplined in every aspect of his life. Before heading out to Mexico last summer, he dropped this book off at my door and said "read it and enjoy." Two days later, I had read the book, front cover to back--and I did thoroughly enjoy reading the book. I read it again--and now 6 months later, coming out of a rut, I'll be reading it yet again.
Why? It's an enjoyable read that is incredibly uplifting and inspirational on several levels--this superhuman that is Dean Karnazes is so humbled and down-to-earth about his accomplishments, that you feel as though you're reading a book by your best pal, or by your biggest fan. He wants you to read his story, and then create your own off of that. I'm not saying that he advocates someone 50lbs overweight to go out and run Badwater. I'm saying that he makes you want to challenge yourself to reach beyond what you believe you are capable of doing. That's why I love the book. As each chapter progresses, I want to set it down, lace up my shoes, and head to the mountains for a run, no matter what hour of day it is. At the same time the book is so fast paced and enjoyable, it's difficult to set down so you just keep reading.
Will it go down in history as a literary masterpiece? No. But it's about as motivating as it gets...
To the people who say "Dean's not even the best ultrarunner out there, but the book makes people think he is..." get over it. The guy wrote the book, and did a damn good job at that.
Summary of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner
As an athlete, ultrarunning legend (Men's Journal) Dean Karnazes has run 350 miles without rest and is probably the first person to eat an entire pizza while running. As an author, he has inspired countless couch potatoes to get off the couch, cancel the cable, and start running. In September, Karnazes embarks on his most monumental feat ever, The North Face Endurance 50. Beginning September 17 (at the Lewis & Clark Marathon in St. Charles, Missouri), Dean will run fifty marathons (each marathon is 26.2 miles) in fifty states on fifty consecutive days. The North Face Endurance 50 will culminate with Dean's run in the New York City Marathon on November 5.Promotional blow-in cards for this unprecedented run, sure to receive extraordinary media coverage, are inserted in this paperback edition of Ultramarathon Man, which also includes a new epilogue with Dean's diet and training tips.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, "Suffering leads to wisdom." But Karnazes's self-motivation is utterly intriguing, and it's impossible to read this memoir without wanting to go out and run a marathon yourself.--Erica Jorgensen
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