Articles by Dean Karnazes
“No” is a word I must learn to use with greater frequency. When someone proposes something utterly preposterous to you, the obvious response is, “No.”So why did I say yes to Bob Babbit’s proposition? Simple: adventure! S...
Imagine running across a massive pool of steaming hot salt brine covered by a flimsy, mineralized crust where every footfall could result in breakage, with the ensuing outcome being that your foot and ankle are plunged i...
The Trans Canada Trail is a 14,900-mile route—the longest trail network in the world—which stretches from the Atlantic to the Arctic to the Pacific Oceans. Most of us consider the 125-hour cutoff for the Cocodona 250 an impossibly long time, but It took Dianne Whelan six years to reach the finish line.
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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…