The average attention span of a goldfish is 8 seconds. That's 2 seconds more than most people. Our minds are constantly on overdrive, especially nowadays with the prevalence of social media and widespread reliance on tec...
Articles by Dean Karnazes
For the most recent Western States lottery, there were 9,993 entries, with a total of 68,724 tickets to fill 257 available race spots. The number of tickets is a function of the number of years an entrant has qualified a...
The inaugural 544-mile Sydney to Melbourne Race in 1983 was arguably one of the most grueling ultramarathons of its time. Toeing the start line were some of the most elite and accomplished endurance athletes of the day,...
While many other societies hold older individuals in high esteem, here in the US we’re just now opening our eyes to age discrimination and its societal repercussions. Older people are often viewed as out-of-touch, behind...
The author (left) shares a moment at the Western States start line with longtime friend and current Western States board vice president and treasurer, Topher Gaylord. Courtesy Author My first 100-mile fo...
Being focused on metrics and numbers can take the joy out of running. Yes, having goals is important, but sometimes the best goal is simply not to have one.
In a world where everything comes easily, why do something difficult? What follows are some thoughts and musings on the conflicted allure of arduous tasks.
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...
The 1000 Miles to Light relay, intended to run point-to-point across Australia, was ultimately held entirely on an Australian military base with each team member completing eight 5ks per day for 10 days for a combined total of 1,000 team miles. The effort raised over $65,000 for ReachOut Australia, an organization that provides critical mental health services for youth and young adults.
In January 2019, something unexpected happened at the 20-mile mark of the Hong Kong 100K. Dylan Bowman broke. Something more was going on than merely not finishing a race. It was something deeper and profoundly unsettling. For the first time ever in his celebrated career, Dylan felt used up and over.
The Aussie spirit looms large at the Blackall 100 and for an outsider, it was all very captivating and magical. Would I ever return? Heck yes! Would I do anything differently? Yeah, I’d bring a bigger backpack. A person could live like a King off that checkpoint food.
If you’re in search of a truly unexpected gift, the ultrarunning world has a few head-scratching curiosities worth a second glance.
California is experiencing its worst fire season in the state’s history. And by some indications this is the new normal. The problem of clean air is hardly unique to California. It’s a global issue. Fixing this problem is not going to happen in our lifetime, and perhaps not in our children’s lifetime unless more is done.
Man came out of darkness and into the light, and that was my experience during the 2003 Angeles Crest 100. Not a lot of planning went into the race. The…
Ultramarathon races take hours, days. What’s a few lost seconds, right? Wrong. Seconds really do matter. Let me share with you a little story that illustrates this point. The race wasn’t a traditional ultramarathon, but a multiday adventure race involving a variety of disciplines, which included running, mountain biking, paddling and rock climbing.
I just returned from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where I glimpsed into the future. And there ain’t nothin’ left to hide.
The word inspiration has almost become cliché these days. It’s so overused the true meaning has been diluted and cheapened. Yet there’s no denying that the words others say to us can have the power to, well, inspire.
Over the years there have been an increasing number of families attending the Western States Endurance Run. I thought it might be enlightening – and perhaps a bit entertaining – to hear the perspective of a family member, so I solicited the help of dear ol’ mom. What you’re about to read is her take on the inaugural Western States “experience.”
My seatmate asked what was bringing me to Chicago. “I’m going to run the marathon,” I informed him. “Wow,” he proclaimed, “Is that far?” Perhaps the noise of the plane’s…