Dean Karnazes (b. Constantine Karnazes August 23, 1962) (pronounced car-NAH-sis), is a Greek-American ultramarathon runner, and author of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner which details ultra endurance running for the general public.[1][2] Contents [hide] Karnazes grew up in Los Angeles, where he began running home from kindergarten; he took up running so that he wouldn’t have to burden his mother with rides home from school every day. At first, Karnazes ran direct routes from school to his home. Later, he began to run diversionary routes that would extend his run and take him into uncharted territory.[2] By third grade he was participating in and organizing short running events with other kids. As Karnazes grew older, he began testing his limits: by age eleven he had hiked rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon and had climbed Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States; by age 12 he cycled 40 miles for fun. In junior high, Karnazes met Jack McTavish, a track coach who became Karnazes’ mentor and introduced him to the appeal of long-distance running. McTavish's basic running instructions were simple: "Go out hard and finish harder." Using this motto as a basis, that season Karnazes won the one-mile California State Long-Distance Championship held on the Mount Sac track. At the end of the race, coach McTavish commented: "Good work son, how'd it feel?" To this Karnazes replied: "Well, going out hard was the right thing to do. It felt pretty good." The coach replied: "If it felt good, you didn’t push hard enough. It’s supposed to hurt like hell." A week after the race, Karnazes' father's job was transferred to San Clemente. These were the last comments the coach ever said to Karnazes, who has stated that he lives by these words to this day.[2] In 1976, as a high school freshman, Karnazes joined the cross country team under Benner Cummings. Cummings’ running theory was that running is about finding your inner peace; his motto was "run with your heart." That season, Karnazes was awarded "Most Inspirational" team member. Karnazes also ran his first full marathon that year, a fundraiser for underprivileged children, finishing in just under six hours; he raised $105. Karnazes was not compatible with his high school track coach and stopped running for fifteen years.[2] Karnazes resumed running at the age of 30. In 2004, Karnazes was named one of GQ's "Best Bodies of the Year". In 1995, Karnazes founded Energy Well Natural Foods in San Francisco and he remains president of the company, now called Good Health Natural Foods.[3] He holds graduate degrees in Science and Business. Karnazes resides in San Francisco, California, with his wife, Julie, and two children, Alexandria and Nicholas.[4] Karnazes is also a regular columnist for Men's Health.[2] [edit] Racing and endurance Significant race wins: 2004 Badwater Ultramarathon[5] 2006 Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run[6] Running accomplishments: 128.75 miles in 24 hours on treadmill in NY (2007) 350 miles in 80 hours and 44 minutes without stopping (2005)[7] North Face Endurance 50: fifty marathons in fifty U.S. states in fifty consecutive days inaugural South Pole Marathon in running shoes 148 miles in 24 hours on a treadmill (2004)[8] single-handedly completed the 199 mile Providian Saturn Relay six times 1000-Mile/10 Day Buckleholder at the Western States Endurance Run[9] (i.e., better than ten twenty-four hour finishes. Note: Karnazes current count is 11 finishes in less than twenty-four hours each) Other endurance accomplishments: swimming across the San Francisco Bay [edit] North Face Endurance 50 See also: Marathon#Multiple marathons The North Face Endurance 50, also known as the 50/50/50, was fifty marathons in fifty states in fifty consecutive days, beginning with the Lewis and Clark Marathon in St. Louis on September 17, 2006, and finishing with the New York City Marathon on November 5th. Eight of the fifty races were official marathons. Since marathon races are typically held only on Saturdays and Sundays, on the other days Karnazes ran the courses of established marathons, but ran them unofficially. (For example, as part of the Endurance 50, Karnazes ran the course of the Boston Marathon, but not the race itself, which is held in mid-April.) After finishing the Endurance 50, Karnazes decided to run home to San Francisco from New York City. He was expected to finish the trip in January 2007. However Karnazes chose to end this trek on December 15, 2006, in St. Charles, Missouri, to spend more time with his family.[10] [edit] South Pole Marathon controversy In January 2002, Adventure Network International (ANI) organized the first marathon at the South Pole. Five people, who had each paid $25,000 to participate, reached the start point. The race originally started on January 20, but fog and poor snow conditions forced the organiz

Well, this is a cycling shot, but this will be about something else. Ever since the phys-ed classes in middle school, I always hated running. I couldn't breathe properly, more often than not asthma would kick in, and in no time I'd be having a side cramp, forcing me to stop. Also, my feet hurt like all hell, and the lack of exercise didn't help. Needless to say, I avoided endurance runs and all forms of running throughout highschool as well, and was quite relieved when I didn't have to do it anymore in college. And now, seven years later, I'm trying hard to get back in shape. I've been riding my bike to work almost daily for 18 months now, and since the beginning of the summer, I've signed up for the gym, and have been running on the treadmill among other things. I really dreaded starting this particular exercise, but went for it anyway. Today, for the first time in my life, I've ran for one hour without stopping. And without dying. Sure, my legs hurt like all hell, but damn, I'm proud of myself. P.s: I FORGOT TO SAY THAT ALL THOSE THINS ARE THANKS TO MY LOVELY AND SPICY GIRL FRIEND THAT I WILL LOVE FOR EVER