Dean Karnazes

Dean Karnazes (b. Constantine Karnazes August 23, 1962), is a Greek-American ultramarathon runner, and author of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner which details ultra endurance running for the general public.

Overview

Karnazes grew up in Los Angeles, where he began running home from kindergarten; he took up running so that he wouldn’t have to burden his mother with rides home from school every day.

At first, Karnazes ran direct routes from school to his home. Later, he began to run diversionary routes that would extend his run and take him into uncharted territory. By third grade he was participating in and organizing short running events with other kids. As Karnazes grew older, he began testing his limits: by age eleven he had hiked rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon and had climbed Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States; by age 12 he cycled 40 miles for fun.

In 1976, as a high school freshman, Karnazes joined the cross country team under Benner Cummings. Cummings’ running theory was that running is about finding your inner peace; his motto was "run with your heart." That season, Karnazes was awarded "Most Inspirational" team member. Karnazes also ran his first full marathon that year, a fundraiser for underprivileged children, finishing in just under six hours; he raised $105.

In 1995, Karnazes founded Energy Well Natural Foods in San Francisco and he remains president of the company, now called Good Health Natural Foods. He holds graduate degrees in Science and Business.

Publication

Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner | publisher = Penguin | year = 2006 | id = ISBN 1-58542-278-9

Racing and endurance

Significant race wins:

• 2004 Badwater UltramarathonBadwater Ultramarathon, 2004 results
• 2006 Vermont 100 Mile Endurance RunVermont 100-mile Enurance Run, 2006 results

Running accomplishments:

• 128.75 miles in 24 hours on treadmill in NY (2007)
• 350 miles in 80 hours and 44 minutes without stopping (2005)North Face article
• North Face Endurance 50: fifty marathons in fifty U.S. states in fifty consecutive days
• inaugural South Pole Marathon in running shoes]]
• 148 miles in 24 hours on a treadmill (2004) Chapman Logic
• single-handedly completed the 199 mile Providian Saturn Relay six times
• 1000-Mile/10 Day Buckleholder at the The Western States Endurance RunWestern States Endurance Run recordholders (i.e., better than ten twenty-four hour finishes. Note: Karnazes current count is 11 finishes in less than twenty-four hours each)

Other endurance accomplishments:

• swimming across the San Francisco Bay

Source

Wikipedia

On The Web

Ultramarathonman Where's Dean Deans blog