Articles by Dean Karnazes
At its core, an ultramarathon is about exploration—a grand journey into the physical and psychological limits of self. We often ask ourselves what we are capable of and how far can we go. An ultramarathon gives us a foru...
It’s been said that shared struggle brings people together. When looking at the ultrarunning community, this would certainly seem to be the case. If you’ve ever witnessed an aid station during a 100-mile footrace you kno...
If you’re going to fail, you might as well do it with some pizzazz. My first attempt at the Badwater135 was a DNF for posterity. The year was 1995, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. This was before Go...
The Western States Endurance Run was conceived in 1974, which, considering all the changes the sport has undergone over the years, may seem like a long time ago. It was a singular act by Gordy Ainsleigh, w...
The word “adventure” conjures up images of distant mountain peaks, lone athletes on single-track trails, portaledges dangling precariously from sheer granite walls and remoteness. Not your typical d...
Why would anyone voluntarily choose to do something arduous, lengthy, uncertain and painful? I’ve written five books trying to explain the appeal of ultrarunning. Thousands of hours have gone into ponderin...
When asked if he preferred breathing through his mouth or his nose when running, elite athlete and Badwater finisher Bart Yasso unabashedly responded that he breathes through his mouth, nose, ears, eyes, skin and hair...
Racing and travel seemed to have roared back to life in 2022, both domestically and internationally. Some have called the uptick a post-pandemic surge, while others have cautioned that the pandemic still lingers. Whateve...
Walt Stack, age 75, runs the Four Peaks Fifty and was featured in the 1983 May issue of UltraRunning Magazine. Steve Cupps Toward the end, some thought Walt Stack might be losing his mind. Th...
Amelia Earhart said it well: “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” Most ultramarathon distance runs take place on a race course that provides the forum, with a set route and distance. Each ultramarathon is an adventure...
If I hadn’t tried them myself, I never would have believed it. Though I guess with the advent of e-assist bicycles, scooters, skateboards and even stand up paddleboards, it was just a matter of time until someone adap...
If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s an ultrarunning scene in South America, let me assure you there is — it’s wonderfully vibrant and full of life. Having just returned from racing in Argentina’s P...
As if we’re not divided enough these days, another growing chasm of separation is beginning to widen. America is the most age-segregated country on Earth. Nowhere else do people live such separated existences. Growin...
Ultrarunners are notoriously prolific. We run on every imaginable terrain—mountains, deserts, snowfields, marshes, grasslands—on all continents. Any landscape that’s accessible is runnable. Been there, run...
What could tidal rhythms, a wooden ball and a cable car possibly have to do with training for an ultra? More than you would think. Turning any activity into a game can make it more enjoyable and help prevent boredom a...
Shan Riggs’ 5K run was abruptly interrupted by the sight of an enormous lizard scurrying up a nearby tree, a creature unlike anything he’d seen in Connecticut. It was as long as a park bench, muscular and thick – lik...
It might surprise you to learn that the first marathon was actually an ultramarathon. And the first marathoner was actually an ultramarathoner. Many are familiar with the legendary tale of a Greek runner setting off a...
Certain sporting arenas across the globe have taken on almost mythical proportions. Tennis has Wimbledon, golf has Augusta, baseball has Yankee Stadium and football has Lambeau Field. Though I would argue – as impartiall...