Customer Reviews

Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

5 star:		(144)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

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. But his achievements, notable as they may be, are not always as great as some of the hype surrounding them might suggest.

Karnazes indicates in his book that he found it more and more difficult to find organized events that supplied the challenge he sought. Thus, he started creating his own extreme events. In that vein, Karnazes' next big endeavor is to run 50 marathons in the 50 states in 50 consecutive days, beginning on September 17, 2006. The website promoting this venture states that Karnazes "will transcend preconceived notions of human endurance." And Karnazes has declared, "To my knowledge, no one has ever attempted this before."

Nevertheless, a relatively unknown runner, Sam Thompson, raising money for Hurricane Katrina relief, is on course to complete the same feat on August 19, 2006, before Karnazes even begins his attempt. (Thompson is not charging anything for people to run with him, while Karnazes is charging $100 per person. Given Karnazes' star power, he very well may get more takers than Thompson has, notwithstanding the hefty participation fee.)

While presumably unaware of Thompson's plan, Karnazes certainly must have known that others have performed consecutive day running exploits that are even more impressive. A few examples:

* Participants in the 2002 and 2004 Runs Across America averaged over 43 miles per day for 71 days in running more than 3,080 miles.

* Finishers must complete the annual Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in Queens, New York in 51 days or less, requiring an average of over 60 miles a day.

* In 2005, Andrew Thompson completed the rugged and mountainous 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail in 47-1/2 days, averaging over 45 miles a day.

* In 2005, 55-year old David Horton completed the equally difficult 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (going from the U.S. border with Mexico to the U.S. border with Canada) in 66 days, averaging 40 miles a day.

In more standard competitive ultramarathon events, Karnazes' record, though quite respectable, is by no means unrivaled:

* His best time in the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run is more than two hours slower than the best time of seven-time winner Scott Jurek.

* His fastest performance in the Badwater Ultramarathon is two hours and forty-six minutes slower than that of Jurek.

* In the International Association of Ultrarunners 2005 24-Hour World Challenge, Karnazes finished 29th in the male division, running 136.2 miles in 24 hours, compared to 166.5 miles for the winner, Anatoliy Kruglikov of Russia. In addition, five women finished ahead of Karnazes.

A cyclist who finished 29th in the Tour de France or a runner who finished 29th in the Olympic Marathon would not be lionized as Karnazes has been. Indeed, Karnazes has received far more attention than the 28 men and the 5 women who finished ahead of him in the 24-Hour World Challenge put together. Why?

Karnazes has been very skillful in promoting himself. He has put his background as a marketing professional to good use. He clearly has a hunger for fame. He has written an entertaining book. He is a good-looking guy, with what he describes in his book as a "chiseled build." He has a lively sense of humor. He is media savvy. He has astute commercial instincts. And since the sphere of ultramarathoning is relatively obscure and not as tightly organized as most more established sports, it is easier to create an exaggerated impression of an ultramarathoner's ability with the general public through clever marketing.

Some admire Karnazes for his marketing prowess. Others find him self-absorbed and overly concerned with image.

To his credit, Karnazes has used his renown to raise money for worthy charitable causes. He also has inspired people to stretch their limits beyond what they thought possible. He no doubt has more challenges in store.

David C. Burgess

i read this book in one day after seeing a piece that 60 minutes did on him as well as Dean's female rival. The amazing thing about these two as well as many of the runners who compete in the badwater is that they are not young by any means. I think this is a real inspiration to those of us in our 40's who think that athletics is for the young. if any thing, I think the maturity of Dean and the others is one of their greatest strenghts in running these ultra-marathons. It not only takes enourmous athletic ability, but also incredible discipline to pace yourself and an unbelievable tolerance for pain.

Dean's stories of stopping at the 7-11 store or ordering a pizza while running are hilarious and I did not find him to be sexist in anyway, especially since he was defeated by a woman twice in the badwater run. This is a truly inspiring story not only for athletes, but for people in general as Dean clearly displays that running these races is not all about body it's just as much, if not more, about having a strong mind and will. Something that people can apply in their everyday life.

This really was one of the most inspirational and fulfilling books I've read in quite some time.

For those of us who are runners, either for recreation, competition or a bit of both, it is difficult to explain the mystique to non-runners. In the case of mega-distance runner Dean Karnazes, it almost defies rationale.

In this friendly, first-person narrative, Karnazes takes readers through some of his most grueling challenges and somehow manages to provide the "WHY" behind his extreme athleticism. It is both humbling and inspiring.

If you're like me, the tough choice is: Do I keep reading, or put the book down and go out for a really long run???! Do both!

Interesting and inspirational book for runners and non-runners of all fitness levels.

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. Got to hand it to him, the man's
confident and is making a lot of money in a sport where it's hard to
come by.

Read this book if you want to know all things Dean. Don't look for
training advice: it's slim ( Be Like Dean I guess). Don't look for
the incredible variety of personalities in the ultra community: it's
absent. This is about Dean remember?

I have trouble describing how just how bad this book is. Those who have not read it might think that I'm exaggerating. But I owe it to humanity (especially runners) to give it my best shot.

First, to describe the writing as sophomoric would be an act of kindness. Was there no editor? Every character speaks like the same person talking; and they all sound like a Marine from a really bad B movie. Did someone really say, "The name's Rock. At least that's what my friends call me."? Anyway, everyone in the freaking book talks like that. Everyone!

Second, Karnazes makes each of his running endeavors sound like some kind of holy experience in which he turns out to be the god of running. He details his high school running career -- which was really only one season as a freshman cross country runner. He ran one race with the varsity team, but makes it sound like he saved the team (he obviously came in 5th of the runners on his team).

After the cross country season, he was then going to run track, but the track coach laughed at his statement, "I run with my heart." So he quit and "I didn't run again for fifteen years." Huh? One statement from a coach and he didn't run again for 15 years? He didn't even run cross country again the next season?

Third, all credibility is destroyed again and again. For example, the book shows an elevation profile of the Boston Marathon course versus the Western States 100. The problem is that it's not the Boston profile (which is readily accessible from the marathon's website). Later he states that given the "traditional running adage that you need one week of recover for every mile you race", he'd need 14.5 years rest from one summer of racing. Every moderately knowledgeable runner knows that it's one day per mile of racing, not one week.

Finally, the repeatedly feigned modesty, followed by immensely self-grandizing blather just gets old. I could barely stand to read the next page, and only continued so that my running buddies and I could laugh about the book during our long runs.

Karnazes's book sounds like someone attempting to impress their Uncle Joey (who has never run a mile in his life) during Thanksgiving dinner. He exaggerates, misstates, and attempts to make clichés sound philosophically deep. My guess is that he could have written a good book by being truthful and modest about his accomplishments. But he didn't. Perhaps he could have summed up the pain of running an ultra marathon as being greater than the pain of finishing his book. Now that would put things in perspective.

I had to get the book, since there aren't many books on ultra running. You'd think that somewhere in his book he'd mention the names of some of the greatest ultra runners of all time, such as Ann Trason or Yiannis Kouros. There's not even a hint that there have been others quietly doing what he does and even more. If he had, I would have liked him a little better and would have been more likely to put up with his hyperbole and bravado.

As others have noted, I lost most of my respect for DK when he started trashing the Boston Marathon when comparing it to the Western States 100. After that, I found it difficult to get past his exaggerations without wondering how much truth there was behind his words.

As a marathoner in my mid-40's, I bought this book with great anticipation. Dean takes the reader on a journey through countless miles but somehow the "marathons" stop short. In all honesty, I have survived 186 pages of this extra ordinary mans expose'. What I have been left with is an egotistical, self-serving man on a quest for God knows what. It's one race after another. Never does he tell about his recovery period or a summary of the physical abuse he puts himself through. Dean is rare and God knows he doesn't lack confidence or an ego. Sorry Dean -- I expected so much more!!!!!

It is disheartening to read some of the comments posted below, and I question whether these are legitimate postings, or the work of a single jealous individual using fictitious names. I have read the book, my friends have read the book, and we have passed it along to our friends and families, all of whom have found it to be a remarkable and captivating story, and not in the least bit offensive.

If you read the legitimate and credible reviews by the likes of TIME, The New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, The San Francisco Chronicle, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Kirkus Reviews, and others, the book has received widespread acclaim.

It is too bad that one vindictive individual could post such malicious remarks, and that is the problem with Amazon Customer Reviews (indeed with the Internet in general). Ultramarathon Man is a work of magnificent proportions, and that will always attract the best elements of society, and, unfortunately, the worst as well.

Wow! What a book. I was a little apprehensive about this book after reading the negative review by Kathryn Bertine, which I believe has been withdrawn, but I'm glad I let all the great reviews lead me in the right direction.

I actually got a chance to meet Dean at a book signing and he is one of the nicest, most humble guys I've ever met. What I thought was so great about him was that his family was with him at the book signing. His daughter helped with the raffle drawing and his son handed out bookmarks. I'm not much of a family man, but I fully appreciate how Dean has involved his family with his love of running. After reading the book you will see that it's not a selfish act, but rather a lifestyle. His children, wife and parents seem to be having fun and isn't that one of the most important things about life?

In regards to the book, I can't remember the last time I read such an honest story. I actually didn't put the book down and finished it in a night. It's a quick, but passionate read. Dean doesn't make himself out to be some great super athlete; what makes him so great his is undying passion, persistence and heart. Dean takes you on a journey through the Western States Race, to the Badwater Ultramarathon, to the first marathon held in Antarctica at the South Pole, and finally to the 199 mile relay race from Calistoga to the Santa Cruz beach - which Dean ran solo - continuing on to the Santa Cruz amusement park with his children after the race. To say Dean has endurance is an understatement.

His uncanny ability to push through pain is clearly evident throughout the book. What makes this book so good is how real Dean is. It's only by placing one foot in front of the other and repeating this for 50, 100 or over 200 miles that Dean is able to complete his Herculean tasks. It's through these "Baby Steps" as he calls them, that he makes it from the starting line to the finish line. Dean said at the signing that he wasn't the fastest, just the one that's able to run the longest. Dean, as he puts it in his book, is truly a "casual drinker with a running problem."

The wisdom that Dean passes on from his deep drowning moments of despair, he encounters in his races, are some of the best moments in the book. He truly discovers life and living in those desperate moments. This book will take you on a whirlwind of emotion; it'll make you hot, cold, sad and happy. It might even motivate you to get out there and run.

This book is an inspirational read if you like to run but wonder why you spend so much time doing it. The author describes enough of his life to set the stage for why he became an extreme running and he provides a inside look to why he does it.

I think this is a great book for those of us trying to get in touch for our own reasons for running. When I turned the last page, I immediately got out my running gear and had one of my best runs in a while.