There are a lot of people doing amazing things to help get children back outside to play in the sunshine and adults off the couch and away from the burgers and fries.
While there are many heroes of health that we could talk about, there is no one quite like Dean Karnazes. Dean is known as the Ultra Marathon Man to most, and he is one of the biggest inspirations ever to hit the United States.
In fact, Dean can be found running around the world, since he has now completed races on all seven continents and has been a top competitor or winner in some of the most challenging races in existence. He has even won the Badwater Ultramarathon, and you know how competitive and grueling that race is!
Ultra marathon racing is something different.
I recommend to read my ultra marathon training tips post today and head over to the ultra marathon running post just before your ultra race.
Who is the Ultra Marathon Man
Dean Karnazes has been running around the world for many years, but he really came into the media spotlight in 2006. This was the year that Dean decided to run a marathon every day for 50 days straight. He ventured across the United States competing in a marathon every single day, and he even took the time to stop in at various schools to speak to the children about the importance of staying fit.
The Ultra Marathon Man is the type of role model that all parents should want their children to follow. While he has won more races than most runners can ever dream of winning, his focus remains on being a model for the younger generations.
-He is a model of health, fitness and determination.
-He is proof of what can happen when you decide you want to do something and go after it relentlessly, never giving up or allowing obstacles to get in your way.
-He is a lesson not just for children and not just for runners and athletes, but for people of all ages around the globe.
In an interview with The Health & Fitness Network, Dean was asked how he got to where he is today, and his response was this: “Hard work, no excuses.” That is the formula for success whether you are training for your first marathon, walking your first 5K, or trying to accomplish any other goal in your life.
What Does the Ultra Marathon Man Eat?
A lot of runners wonder what can be found inside the stomach of the Ultra Marathon Man. What do you have to eat to maintain energy levels required for runs that last three days straight, runs through Death Valley, and biking events that carry on for a full 24 hours?
Dean Karnazes has probably the simplest diet of all runners: he sticks to foods that will leave him feeling good when he is done eating. It isn’t about the flavor or the enjoyment of food in a social sense.
Food is a source of energy for the Ultra Marathon Man.
He definitely needs tons of that, so it makes sense that he would avoid the “forbidden fruits” as he called unhealthy foods in one interview. Unhealthy foods don’t leave him feeling energized and healthy, so he simply doesn’t eat them.
This doesn’t mean that every runner has to stick to the same diet. Not everyone can be the Ultra Marathon Man.
In fact, most people would eventually crack and eat a gallon of ice cream eventually if they tried to cut out all foods that did not energize and nourish their bodies in the purest sense. This shows how focused and determined the mind has to be in order to perform at the elite level of Dean Karnazes.
Yet, it is good advice to think about what you are about to eat, and ask yourself how it is going to make you feel when you are done eating.
That may make you put down the French fries or pull out of line for the ice cream drive-thru. This is especially true for runners gearing up for a competitive race.
You need to eat for fuel and nutrition, rather than for your taste buds alone. If you would like to know more about ultra marathon diets, you should read this ultra marathon nutrition post.
More Dean Karnazes
If you are interested in learning more about the Ultra Marathon Man, you should pick up a copy of his latest book titled RUN.
In this book he gives an insider look at what it is like to perform amongst the top athletes in the world and push the boundaries of the human body. He talks about some of the most significant runs of his life, and even talks about his emotional state and what it took mentally to get through some of the most grueling races of his lifetime.
There aren’t many people who can tell you what it is like to run without stopping for three days straight or what your mind goes through when running 50 marathons in 50 days. Most people do not get to see the world through the eyes of a super elite athlete pushing themselves to the limit day after day. The Ultra Marathon Man can testify to all of that and so much more, and he gives a lot of detailed insider information in his inspiring book 50 marathons in 50 days.
The title of his very first book was Ultra Marathon Man.
You may never be able to experience what Dean has experienced, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from his experiences. It doesn’t mean you cannot use his experience as inspiration to become the best possible runner in your own corner of the world.
If you really want to get the most inspiration from Dean, start with his first book Ultramarathon Man and then venture into the other two books. If you just want a quick glimpse into the mind of a running superstar, then pick up RUN today.
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