“Dean is not an athlete of clichés but a man who deeply inhabits his life as a runner. He does that with a really solid sense of humor and an understanding that life…and running…can be very entertaining!”
—Bill Rodgers, winner of the Boston and New York City marathons
“Iron man Dean Karnazes is no mere mortal.”—
Time “Running with Karnazes [is] like setting up one’s easel next to Monet or Picasso.”—The
New York Times “The undisputed king of the ultras, who has not only pushed the envelope but blasted it to bits.”—The
Philadelphia Inquirer “A ‘short’ run with Dean could land you far from home.”—The
Washington Post “The indefatigable man."—
Esquire “Ultrarunning legend”—
Men’s Journal “Money and fame aside, Karnazes [is] motivated by a primal need more than anything else.” —
Outside
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
"Ultramarathonman" hooked me on Dean. While clearly he is not the world's elite ultrarunner, the book motivated people, inspired them to get fit, to challenge their belief in their own capabilities. He wrote in a style that was refreshing, bold, and passionate. "50/50" was a far cry from his first effort, and when I first heard about "Run!" I was hoping for a rebound from what I would refer to as his sophomore slump. I need to premise this by again acknowledging the positives that Dean brought into my life as an individual, but I must give an honest review.
Dean, what happened? Early on in "Run!" the thought began creeping in my mind that you've started taking yourself far too seriously, and that all of the steps you take in your runs are after nothing but the mighty dollar. This book, at best, is a series of short stories better suited for a free blog as opposed to qualifying it as a full book. Some of the stories are entertaining, but many, and I mean many of them are self-righteous and plain boring. The further I read, the more my letdown turned to anger--Dean, you've lost your way, man! While I'm certain you'll have a fourth effort looming before too long, I encourage you to return to your roots--become an inspirational story teller and avoid trying to make yourself a writer. "Ultramarathonman" worked, "50/50" was just that, and "Run!" simply misses the mark.
I'm willing to give you another shot, Dean, but don't do it for the money, because I'm onto you!
