Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Karnazes Page | Language: English | ISBN:
1585424803 | Format: EPUB
Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner Description
Amazon.com Review
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 --This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Many would see running a marathon as the pinnacle of their athletic career; thrill-seeker Karnazes didn't just run a marathon, he ran the first marathon held at the South Pole. The conditions were extreme—"breathing the superchilled air directly [without a mask] could freeze your trachea"—yet he craved more. Also on his résumé: completing the Western States 100-mile endurance run and the Badwater 135-mile ultramarathon through Death Valley (which he won), as well as a 199-mile relay race... with only himself on his team. This running memoir (written without a coauthor) paints the picture of an insanely dedicated—some may say just plain insane—athlete. In high school, Karnazes ran cross-country track, but when his favorite coach retired, he quit the sport. Fifteen years later, on his 30th birthday (in 1992), on the verge of an early midlife crisis, he threw on his old shoes and ran 30 miles on a whim. The invigorating feeling compelled him to pursue the world of ultramarathons (any run longer than 26.2 miles). "Never," Karnazes writes, "are my senses more engaged than when the pain sets in." Yet his masochism is a reader's pleasure, and Karnazes's book is intriguing. Casual runners will find inspiration in Karnazes's determination; nonathletes will have the evidence once and for all that runners are indeed a strange breed.
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--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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- Paperback: 295 pages
- Publisher: Tarcher; Reprint edition (March 2, 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1585424803
- ISBN-13: 978-1585424801
- Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Dean Karnazes is a phenomenon: frequent guest on television and radio shows; subject of numerous articles and magazine cover shots; regular columnist in Men's Health magazine; popular keynote speaker. Karnazes has been acclaimed in various magazines as perhaps "the fittest man in the world," "the ultimate running specimen," "the quintessential ultramarathoner," an "ultrarunning legend," and "the perfect beast." And it all was kicked off by his best-selling book, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner.
Karnazes refers to himself as an ordinary person with no special talent, who has performed amazing feats simply by dint of high ambition and unwavering determination.
Karnazes' resolve is indisputable. But he underrates his inherent abilities. His book describes various endurance exploits accomplished as a child and youth, as well as the unusually quick progress he made when he seriously took up long distance running as an adult. These are signs of a person who has exceptional natural stamina. Determination (and even diligent training) alone would not be sufficient to produce his results as an endurance athlete.
Karnazes also has rare energy. He writes of frequently running much of the night during the weekends and then spending active days with his family. He says he often gets by on four hours of sleep per night for extended periods. He tells about running for almost 48 hours straight, covering 200 miles, and then devoting several hours to dash about an amusement park with his kids. Most people could not come close to matching his vitality, no matter how resolute they might be.
While Karnazes may consider himself an ordinary person, he asserts that he is accomplishing things that are extraordinary, even unprecedented.
I finally got around to reading Dean Karnazes book. Here are my
totally unsolicitated opinions.
Dean's an amazing runner. Ten times Western States finisher,
Badwater winner, adventure races, 262 miles "non-stop". He's a great
athlete. Unfortunately he wants everyone to know that. His book is
all about, well, Dean. Dean's runs, Dean's adventures, Dean's
travels. etc. It begins to come across as ego-stroking. Yeah, I know
Dean ran Western States, but who else was there? Throughout the
book, Dean never mentions any other ultrarunners. Don't Tim
Tweitmeyer or Anne Trason at least deserve a word or two? But it
goes beyond running to telling us how great Dean is. I got tired of
reading "I was ripped like a prize-fighter" (Actual quote: who
writes like that?) "I have 2% bodyfat" "I was taking my body to
places it hadn't been before" I did this, I did that aren't I great?
You also learn how many women hit on Dean, that Dean was named one
of Sports Illustrated's sexiest athletes (complete with a picture to
show you why), and that Dean has the chutzpa to title his book
Ultramarathon Man. (Psst, Ain't Dean Great?)
Dean runs 262 miles, Dean goes to the South Pole, Dean's the man. It
just comes across to me as incredibly self-serving and almost
arrogant to write a 279 page book about, well, yourself.
I can think of a dozen ultrarunners I'd like to see books from, but
that's not going to happen because they don't have the ego, the
speaking ability, or, yes, the good looks to go on a national book
tour or on Letterman. Dean does.
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