Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner
by Dean Karnazes
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Book Summary Information
Author: Dean KarnazesEdition: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2005-03-17
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Tarcher 17 March
Book Reviews of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner
Book Review: Amazing book on life and reaching ones goals...
Summary: 5 Stars
I was fortunate enough to meet Dean in person, while he was in Manhattan a few months back promoting his book. He spoke at the Barnes & Noble Store in Chelsea prior to a book signing. He showed up wearing his running attire and shoes (which he is developing with Northface). I read about Dean earlier in the day in the local paper which mentioned his appearance later that evening.
The first things out of Dean's mouth were "Wow, I didn't realize that many people were going to show up." ...But that's the real essence of this guy, he just seems to love what he does and wants to encourage others to share in the enthusiasm and benign benefits. His focus is uncanny, and I truly think that's what separates Dean from most others. Where most people are great at setting goals, Dean is all about the follow through. How many times have we joined a gym, just to spend countless evenings thinking about going, rather then just getting there?
In regards to the book "Ultra marathon Man," it is an exceptionally compelling quick read. I savored almost every word, having been brought back to the days of my Junior Varsity cross-country running coach. Memories of running up hills and later mountains were in the back of my mind, along with my Puma shirts and matching sneakers. It's very clear that Dean was tremendously affected by the death of his sister, and running seems to have helped him put that behind him and move on with his life. But what's also amazing is that by Dean getting on with his own life and achieving unthinkable goals, he has also been able to positively effect those who have been lucky enough to be a part of his life.
There seemed hints around the web of "jealously" of other Ultra runners about Dean being self-promoting. However, I found it quite refreshing to actually gain insight from an individual who has actually accomplished a number of feats that will either never been broken or rarely be duplicated.
When Dean spoke I listened to a man with no ego that seemed to be very at peace with his place in the world and the greater world at large. There definitely was a sense of enlightenment and after reading his book I am better able to appreciate that connection. Even though there was a barrage of questions at the end of his somewhat short speech, he never brought up the facts of his greatest accomplishments, like graduating Valedictorian of his college class (which is one of the better schools in California), or having been the only man on the earth to have run a marathon in shoes at the South Pole or having run the greatest distance continuously of any runner I am aware of; all of these accomplishments were not what he was about.
He was much more focused on the Zen like qualities of life, like the quality of the earths air, the fact that natural foods contain all we need and reaching your goals is just as important as setting them.
When I finally made it up to the front of the line to get my copies signed, I mentioned that the local paper had done a story on him, and asked him if he wanted a copy; he politely declined and autographed the news article for me. At the time I hadn't read his book and didn't realize all of his accomplishments, and now after some simple goggling realized he's made the front page of numerous publications, so a local NYC paper was not really that important to him, but planning out his next run would have been high on the priority list.
Overall, this is a book not to be missed. I gave my other signed copy to a good friend; whom I've done some extreme mountain biking with in Canada and Moab over the years. So one may ask, am I going to go out and run an Ultra-marathon? The answer is probably not, but will I reach my goal of waking up early prior to work and doing an hour on the elliptical machine everyday and modify my diet to be far healthier...yes that's certainly in my future - but one step at a time.
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.Visit www.thenorthface.com/theendurance50 for a list of event dates and cities, and to keep tabs on Dean as he gets ready for September. 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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