Book Review: Dean Karnazes' Ultra Marathon Man

Want to light a fire on a running-related message board? Just mention Dean Karnazes and his best-selling book, Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner. Many running "purists", and particularly ultra-running "purists" have referred to Karnazes as a phony. Some have said that his book is simply a series of self-promoting indulgences. I recently had a chance to read Ultra Marathon Man and found some of Karnazes' critics to be correct. The book is self-promoting, however, what do you expect with an auto-biography. If I were to write a memoir, I wouldn't spend too many words degrading myself. Regardless, I ask runners to give Karnazes and his book a chance.

Ultra Marathon Man describes Karnazes' life through his childhood to his brief teenage running years. Karnazes then describes a vacuum in his life following the untimely death of his sister during his college and post-college years. On his 30th birthday, however, Karnazes had an awaking and, shortly thereafter, began training for the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. Karnazes then describes his training for Western States and the race itself. He then details a failed Badwater attempt, a successful Antarctic Marathon, and his solo completion of a 199-mile relay race in 2000.

The vivid descriptions of Karnazes' first Western States and Badwater attempts were riveting. On the other hand, Karnazes' critics are correct in that much of the dialog is contrived and certain passages are self-promoting to the point where you are likely to cringe a bit. Regardless, to those that say that Karnazes is a phony, I quote from page 51 of the book where he describes how he felt on his 30th birthday before returning to running.

"At that moment I realized that my life was being wasted. Disillusioned with the trappings of the corporate scene, the things that really mattered-----friendship and exploration, personal expansion and a sense of meaning-----had gotten all twisted around making a lot of money and buying stuff. I hungered for a place where I could explore nature and my capabilities, away from a corporate office in a corporate building in a big city with crowed supermalls and people judging me by the car I drove (which, of course was a new Lexus)."

To anyone who loves running long distances but toils in an office every day, Karnazes has to speak to you at least on a base level. How can one honestly say that this is phony? The guy was going through life in a fog and found that ultra running provided him with purpose and meaning. And to boot, ultra running provided him with a new and meaningful career. So what if Karnazes has promoted himself and managed to make a buck? In the process, he has provided exposure to the sport and raised money for good causes. Plus, the Karnazes' franchise and publicity machine does not take anything away from the ambassodors of the sport. As an average amateur runner, I understand and value the accomplishments and contributions of Scott Jurek, Pam Reed, Ann Transon, David Horton, Anne Riddle Lundblad, Tim Tweitmeyer, Annette Bednosky, Kami Semick, and others.

The weekend athlete reading Outside Magazine on an airplane may view Karnazes as the sole face of ultra running. But to those of us who truly appreciate trail and ultra running, Karnazes is one of many (and different) ambassadors of a wonderful sport. In closing, read Karnazes' Ultra Marathon Man for the race descriptions and a look into the ultra marathon experience. If the self-promotion is too much for you, skip the paragraph. At the same time, try not to become jealous as you look out the window of your office building wondering if you could (or could have) made a career out of the sport that you love.

Make Marathon Weekend a Family Event

Marathon training is a rigorous and time-consuming endeavor not just for you, but for your family as well. Minimum weekly mileage requirements and long runs are necessary to get you to the starting line with a prayer of finishing the event. If you have a time goal, some speed/tempo work is also necessary. Beyond actual running is the pre and post-run stretching, strength training, and perhaps a trip or two to a sports massage specialist to work out the kinks. New running shoes, clothes, and gear must be purchased. Furthermore, how energetic and social are you on a Saturday night after a Saturday morning 20-miler? Finally, your family must listen to you drone on interesting topics such as hamstring tightness, fartlek workouts, and tapering, I could go on and on but you get the picture. Marathon training is a serious commitment not only on your part but also your family.

So when choosing your marathon destination, reward your family. Bring them along and make it a family event. They supported you through months of training. They want to not only share in your moment but see the fruits of their labor. Give them something to look forward to other than being your support crew. Here are some simple guidelines:

Choose an age appropriate mode of travel and location. If you have young children, driving six hours or less is much more painless than flying. In this case, choose a marathon closer to home. I live in Atlanta and have three children under the age of six. Chattanooga (Chickamauga), Knoxville, Birmingham, Huntsville, Charlotte, Savannah (Tybee Island), Charleston (Kiawah Island), and Jacksonville all offer marathons within a six hour drive. As your children get older, flying will become a more viable option and we will expand our geographic range.

Make it easy for them to see you race. Big city events like New York and Chicago can be difficult for families. The crowds and logistics can be awkward if you have younger children. Smaller races can offer opportunities for you family to see you multiple times without aggravation. Also, hotels near or along the race course also offer convenient race viewing opportunities.

Find something fun for everyone. You get to run 26.2 miles. That is your fun. Now research something everyone else will enjoy. Perhaps you can take your family to a fun or interesting restaurant the night before the race. See what your host city has to offer in terms of terms of museums, events, and major attractions. Last year my family accompanied me to the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The race was on Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon we went to the Chattanooga Children’s Museum. On Saturday night, we enjoyed a great meal at the Big River Grille. On Sunday morning, we toured the wonderful Tennessee Aquarium. By the end of the weekend, my kids believed that this was their mini-vacation.

It is impossible to separate your family life from your marathon training. They must co-exist in symbiotic relationship in order for you to succeed. So make the most of your marathons and set the course for a wonderful weekend experience for everyone.