Who is Dean Karnazes?

Running a marathon is considered to be one of the greatest feats of human endurance. The total distance of 26.2 initially seems arbitrary. Why not 25 miles, or 30? Why 26.2?

The marathon is deeply rooted in history, and is thought to have its origins in events that happened nearly 2,500 years ago. In approximately 490 B.C., on the Plains of Marathon, a brave, but severely outnumbered army from the Greek city - state of Athens was battled an invading force from Persia. Tradition says that the Athenians launched a brave offensive, and managed to kill over 6400 Persians while losing less than 200 of their own. After sustaining heavy losses, the Persians retreated to their ships and prepared to head south toward Athens. Their goal was to regroup and destroy the city before the Athenian army (which was traveling overland) could return to defend their homes.

Facing the threat of invasion by Persia, the Athenians knew that they needed to deliver news of the incoming threat as quickly as possible. Accordingly, they ordered a messenger, named Phiddipedes, to run all the way to Athens, a distance of 26.2 miles. He was to deliver news of their victory, while also advising the citizens to prepare for a Persian sneak attack. It is thought that Phiddipedes ran the distance in approximately three hours. When he arrived, he was so severely exhausted that he managed to gasp, "Rejoice, we conquer." After that, he collapsed and died.

When I first learned of this story, I found it somewhat silly. For one thing, most of the artistic depictions of Phiddipedes I had seen portrayed him as running along completely naked. It was in college that I learned that this was typical of classical Greek art and their fascination with the "athletic ideal." Still, the image of a fellow running naked through the hills of Greece was comical. I could only imagine what people might have said (perhaps something to the effect of "dude, where's your chiton?"). Additionally, I found the story amusing because this run killed Phidippedes. Thousands of people successfully complete marathons every year, and finish in fine form. Phidippedes obviously wasn't in good enough shape. Either that, or, I thought, he did not understand that wonderful concept we call hydration.

However, all of these views changed when I learned of another great endurance athlete (with a Greek name, no less!) named Dean Karnazes. He recently gained national fame by running fifty marathons in fifty states in fifty consecutive days.

I'll say that again.

Fifty marathons. In fifty states. In fifty days.

However brilliant this achievement sounds, the truth is that Dean has run distances far greater than 26.2 miles without sleeping.

Try 350 miles in a shade over 80 hours of nonstop running.

I know what you're thinking. This guy is insane.

Well, as I later learned, Dean is not the first so called "ultramarathoner." In fact, tradition says that Phidippedes was the first.

What most people tend to overlook is a story related by the Greek historian Herodotus. As he tells it, the Athenians first dispatched Phidippedes to the city of Sparta, which is 140 rugged, mountainous miles away. Upon arriving, he was expected to plead with the Spartans to join Athens in pushing the Persian army back. The Spartans, however, refused to aid Athens until the moon was full, since their religion apparently forbid it. Thus Phidippedes turned around, and ran 140 miles back to Athens, delivering this disappointing news.

All I can say is, thank goodness for e-mail.

Later on, it is said that he grabbed his sword and shield and fought valiantly on the battlefield at Marathon all day. It was only then that he ran a "marathon" back to Athens, where he died. If this legend is true, then in total, Phidippedes covered approximately 306 miles on foot over the course of several days.

It's safe to say that I would have died long before making it that far. That can be said for most people. Not so for Dean Karnazes, though. Assuming the legends of Phidippedes are true (which admittedly is a significant assumption), Karnazes is probably the closest incarnation of Phidippedes walking...er...running among us today.

Amazingly, he does not earn a living by running absurd distances. He owns his own health foods company, is married, and has two children. He is not overly young, either At 45 years old, he has reached an age when most professional athletes have retired. And yet, he is widely considered one of the greatest endurance athletes (and fittest human beings) on the face of the earth. He regularly rises before dawn, runs a marathon before breakfast, showers and dresses, and helps take his kids to school before heading to work himself. Typically, situps, pullups, and pushups, perhaps combined with another long run, await when he comes home in the evening.

Karnazes recently authored a book titled Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner. In his simple, colloquial style, he tries to provide rational explanations for his seemingly insane desire to run ridiculous distances.

The book is essentially an autobiography. Essentially, Dean uses various races from different parts of his life to tell us a story, not of his entire life, but rather, his life as a distance runner. He was a relatively good cross country runner in high school, but as he grew older, his interest in running was superseded by a greater interest in windsurfing and climbing the corporate ladder.

All of that changed on the night of his thirtieth birthday. As he downed tequila shots with friends (his wife had long since grown tired and headed home). He claims that in the drunken festivities, a married woman began flirting with him. She bought him several more shots, at which point, Dean says he became overwhelmed by a mess of emotions. He was entering a new decade, and despite his intoxication, realized he was a shot or two away from potentially ruining it. So, he he excused himself, claiming he needed to use the bathroom, and walked home.

When he came home, he realized he did not want go to bed. Rather, he craved a revitalizing adrenaline rush - perhaps something to make him feel good about himself again. As he tells it,

...I went out to the garage and cautiously made my way through the darkness to the back porch, where I kept an old pair of sneakers used for yard work. I deliberated for a moment about what else to wear. After some thought, I undid my belt and pulled off my pants. I had on a pair of loose - fitting jockey briefs, which would be comfortable enough. I took off my sweater but left my undershirt on. The socks were a problem. They were black, silk knee - highs. I folded them down low around my ankles, then put on the sneakers.

In my pants pocket I found a twenty - dollar bill. It had started the evening as a hundred - dollar bill, but the bar had consumed the balance. Folding it up nearly and stuffing it into my shoe, I took a swig of water from the hose, and made my way back to the street...

He then proceeded to run thirty miles on his thirtieth birthday. The pain was excruciating, but as he tells it, his spirit soared to knew heights. He had found a new passion.

There are countless other tales of long distance runs, including the Badwater ultramarathon in Death Valley, and running a marathon at the South Pole, among other seemingly ridiculous places. There are also many humorous, but nonetheless true, accounts of Dean shoving pizzas and cheesecakes down his throat on the run in order to keep his body fueled.

The book itself is very easy to read. It will never be considered a great work of literature, as Karnazes' writing is quite conversational. At times, the book presents itself as more of a transcribed interview as opposed to an autobiographical work.

It is also largely grounded in familiar athletic cliches. For instance, early in the book, Karnazes relates a story about his stoic junior high school track coach, Jack McTavish. After completing a race, the coach approached and asked how Dean felt. He of course replied that he felt pretty good.

In response, his coach said "If it felt good, you didn't push hard enough. It's supposed to hurt like hell."

In other words, no pain, no gain.

Despite these minor shortcomings, the book is nonetheless inspiring, particularly in an era when increasing numbers of Americans are struggling with weight - related health complications at earlier and earlier ages. We may not all be able to run 350 miles (most of us aren't crazy enough). However, Karnazes' amazing cardiovascular feats demonstrate that the human body is an absolutely remarkable machine, and that, when pushed, it is capable of doing amazing things.

Ultramarathon Man does not teach us about any radically new concepts. It is not a book filled with revelations or brilliant insights. Indeed, when asked about why he runs such long distances, Karnazes will often say, half - jokingly, "well, I'm not very bright."

Rather, this book reminds us that oftentimes the most fulfilling experiences in life are those which are difficult to attain. This lesson is so simple (dare I say "pedestrian") that we often forget it, but it is, at least from this reader's perspective, very important.

So, in short, don't be afraid of some pain. Don't be afraid of a little stress. For there are few feelings that are greater than when we can look back at an accomplishment, and simply utter, "wow. I can't believe I did that."

Excuse me while I grab my running shoes...