Book Review: Ultra Marathon Man, Dean Karnazes
Confessions of an All-Night Runner
I loved this book. Read it in one sitting -– couldn't put it down!
I hate running. I had a lady friend that used to run once. We'’d run 4 or 5 miles together and then she'd go for a real run. My friend Girlieman Dave used to run seriously. I ended up at a few parties where I was the only non-runner. I guess I don'’t like runners either. They seem to hang around and discuss their injuries - shin splints etc -– endlessly, and are quite morose and as far from festive as I can imagine.
Why did I buy this book?? I like excess! Running 6 or 7 back-to-back marathons is excessive, but if you enjoy it, go for it. The author, Dean Karnazes, obviously loves running and his enthusiasm bubbles through the pages. His honesty is refreshing too (e.g. he doesn't know why he runs). The book chronicles his running career and is fascinating. From his eating an entire cheesecake and large pizza while running (think about how hard just holding all that food while running would be), to his 100 mile run through mountains, to his race in Death Valley (he passed out the first time), this book captivated me.
Dean and I have a lot in common. We are both Greek, have lots of upper body muscle (i.e. we are not built like runners), are excessive, successful in business, and dedicated family men. We differ in some ways: he runs and I don't, he'’s ripped and I'’m a bit overweight, his resting heart rate is in the 30s and mine is somewhere above twice that. But I'’m willing to bet we'’re a lot more alike than dissimilar; he has an overdrive to excess in the things he loves as I do.
"The average obsessive-compulsive takes seven years to get help. The average runner covers 10,920 miles in that time." I'’m willing to bet Dean is not "“average" in anything that'’s important to him, and I sure hope I'’m not either!
"“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely and in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: '‘WOW!! What a ride!'" a running buddy of Dean'’s.
Buy this book. Read it. Get motivated. Do something excessive that matters to you. Succeed.
I loved this book. Read it in one sitting -– couldn't put it down!
I hate running. I had a lady friend that used to run once. We'’d run 4 or 5 miles together and then she'd go for a real run. My friend Girlieman Dave used to run seriously. I ended up at a few parties where I was the only non-runner. I guess I don'’t like runners either. They seem to hang around and discuss their injuries - shin splints etc -– endlessly, and are quite morose and as far from festive as I can imagine.
Why did I buy this book?? I like excess! Running 6 or 7 back-to-back marathons is excessive, but if you enjoy it, go for it. The author, Dean Karnazes, obviously loves running and his enthusiasm bubbles through the pages. His honesty is refreshing too (e.g. he doesn't know why he runs). The book chronicles his running career and is fascinating. From his eating an entire cheesecake and large pizza while running (think about how hard just holding all that food while running would be), to his 100 mile run through mountains, to his race in Death Valley (he passed out the first time), this book captivated me.
Dean and I have a lot in common. We are both Greek, have lots of upper body muscle (i.e. we are not built like runners), are excessive, successful in business, and dedicated family men. We differ in some ways: he runs and I don't, he'’s ripped and I'’m a bit overweight, his resting heart rate is in the 30s and mine is somewhere above twice that. But I'’m willing to bet we'’re a lot more alike than dissimilar; he has an overdrive to excess in the things he loves as I do.
"The average obsessive-compulsive takes seven years to get help. The average runner covers 10,920 miles in that time." I'’m willing to bet Dean is not "“average" in anything that'’s important to him, and I sure hope I'’m not either!
"“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely and in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: '‘WOW!! What a ride!'" a running buddy of Dean'’s.
Buy this book. Read it. Get motivated. Do something excessive that matters to you. Succeed.
posted by Ted Demopoulos at 1:13 AM
Comments on "Book Review: Ultra Marathon Man, Dean Karnazes"
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Dr Jay Hoch said ... (Thursday, July 14, 2005 8:10:00 PM) :
post a commentLoved this book - hate running. It got me motivated. Motivated to finally clean out the basement after 20 years all in one marathon session!
I'm serious. A wonderful book