In this issue we’ve talked a lot about iconic trails and places that many of us are familiar with. But perhaps the most historic running route of all time is the original marathon. For starters, the very first marathon w...
Articles by Dean Karnazes
In his new book, The Inflamed Mind, Edward Bullmore advances the theory that depression may be caused by inflammation. He observes that patients who have undergone painful surgeries resulting in inflammation often experi...
If you’ve never heard of the Five Percent Solution, don’t be alarmed. I just made it up. But the idea wasn’t born simply out of thin air, it’s an offshoot of the popular One Percent Better movement (okay, cult) that’s sw...
The holidays are upon us, as I’m sure you’re aware. With the daily onslaught of flashy ads and catchy jingles, you’d have to live on a desert island not to notice (one without wifi, of course). The constant bombardment o...
Balance is bullshit. There, I just came right out with it. Seems everyone’s preaching the virtues of balance these days, but I’m no fan. If you have equilibrium in your life you do everything okay. Congratulations. Wooho...
Running on a treadmill sucks. Let me clarify, running on a treadmill on a sunny day sucks. But that’s exactly where I’ve spent the past five days; in a gym, on a treadmill. I’d much rather be outside running on a trail,...
Running a marathon takes crazy; running an ultramarathon takes a special kind of crazy. Few things in life require such commitment and sacrifice, and those are the easy days. There’s no way to finish an ultramarathon wit...
There’s no denying that technology has changed the way we run. When once we “guesstimated” the distances we were running, or used a car’s odometer for measurement, we now know down to the precise footstep how far we’ve g...
During my tenure as an endurance athlete and ultramarathoner I’ve raced and competed across the globe, in some of the most remote, extreme and exotic places on Earth. I’ve traveled to all seven continents of Earth, twice...
We are told that having good core strength will benefit our running and overall fitness. Easier said than done, right? But don’t give in to the notion that it can’t be done. In fact, you’ve probably got all of the tools...
The desire of humans to consume foods that aid performance is not a new phenomenon. Ancient Greek athletes were known to eat figs and other nutrient-dense fruits, olives, seeds and nuts and a particular concoction compos...
The call I made was quick. “Topher, put your running gear on, it’s time to try yoga.” “Yoga? Isn’t that for old people?” “I’ll be there in five.” “Wait, here, at my house? You’re coming here…” I interrupted, “Ge...
A dramatic shift is occurring in the way people choose to spend their disposable income. Who dies with the most toys no longer wins. Memories matter most. And the best way to create memories is through experiences. Rathe...
Man came out of darkness and into the light, and that was my experience during the 2003 Angles Crest 100. Not a lot of planning went into the race. The prior couple weeks had been a hectic whirlwind of travel and there w...
If history is any indication, the sport of ultrarunning is doing just fine. In fact, it may surprise you to learn that people first started making a career out of our sport over 2,500 years ago. That’s right, the ancient...
Having recently returned to California from a rather punishing ultra in Portugal, I can attest firsthand that travel and running don’t always make compatible bedfellows. Still, there’s something magical about seeking uni...
There’s no question that a new crop of runners is emerging on the ultramarathoning scene, a fresh breed with wicked leg speed and laser focus. If you puruse the race results of ultramarathons across the country it’s not...
Heat is the runner’s enemy. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways to mitigate the ill effects of hot weather and maintain consistent performances even as temperatures rise. Think of running in hot conditi...
Long distance runners are getting faster – and slower. For instance, in 1969 the world record for the marathon stood at 2:08:33. Today it’s down to 2:02:57. But the average marathon finishing time in 1969 was 3:29, while...
For better or worse, I’ll probably always best be known as that guy who ordered a pizza while out running. For some reason that particular story seems to resonate with casual runners and non-runners, alike. When I did it...