Dean Karnazes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dean Karnazes
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Karnazes at the 2008 Napa Valley Marathon expo
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Constantine Karnazes
August 23, 1962 Inglewood, California, U.S.
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| Education | San Clemente High School (1981) |
| Alma mater | California Polytechnic State University |
| Known for | Ran 350 miles (560 km) in 80 hours and 44 minutes without sleep in 2005 |
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Dean Karnazes (born Constantinos Karnazes; August 23, 1962) is a famous American ultramarathon runner. An ultramarathon is any race longer than a traditional marathon (which is 26.2 miles or about 42 kilometers). Dean is also an author. His book, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, shares his experiences with super long-distance running.
Contents
Early Life
Dean Karnazes was born in Inglewood, California. His parents, Nick and Fran Karnazes, have Greek family roots. Dean had two siblings, a brother named Kraig and a sister named Pary. Sadly, Pary passed away in a car accident when she was 18 years old.
Dean grew up in Diamond Bar, California and San Clemente, California. He stayed close with the friends he made at San Clemente High School. Growing up in San Clemente made him love being outdoors. He also liked the small-town feel of the city.
Amazing Running Achievements
Dean Karnazes has completed many incredible endurance events. Most of these were running races, but he also did a swimming event! Here are some of his most famous achievements:
- Ran 350 miles (560 km) (about 563 kilometers) in 80 hours and 44 minutes without sleeping in 2005. That's like running from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back, without a nap!
- Finished "The Relay" eleven times. This is a 199-mile (320 km) (about 320 kilometers) run from Calistoga to Santa Cruz in California.
- Ran a marathon to the South Pole in 2002. The temperature was −13 °F (−25 °C) (about -25 degrees Celsius)! He did it without special snowshoes.
- Ran a marathon in each of the 50 states in 50 days in 2006. This was a huge challenge!
Other impressive athletic achievements include:
- Won the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2004. This race is 135 miles (217 km) (about 217 kilometers) across Death Valley. Temperatures there can reach 120 °F (49 °C) (about 49 degrees Celsius)!
- Won the Vermont Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run in 2006.
- Was the overall winner of the 4 Deserts Race Series in 2008.
- Was part of the American Ultrarunning Team for the World Championships in 2005 and 2008.
- Ran 148 miles (238 km) (about 238 kilometers) in 24 hours on a treadmill in 2004.
- Finished the Western States Endurance Run (a 100-mile race) in under 24 hours eleven times.
- Ran 3,000 miles (4,800 km) (about 4,828 kilometers) across the United States in 75 days in 2011. He ran from Disneyland in California to New York City, covering 40 to 50 miles (65 to 80 km) each day.
- Swam across the San Francisco Bay.
Dean has also received many honors:
- Won Competitor magazine's Endurance Athlete of the Year Award three times (2008, 2006, 2005).
- Won an ESPN ESPY Award for "Best Outdoor Athlete" in 2007.
- Was added to Men's Journal's Adventure Hall of Fame in 2007.
- Was named one of Outside magazine's Ultimate Top 10 Outdoor Athletes in 2004.
50 Marathons in 50 States in 50 Days
In 2006, Dean Karnazes took on an amazing challenge called "Endurance 50." He aimed to run 50 marathons in 50 different states on 50 days in a row.
He started with the Lewis and Clark Marathon in St. Louis on September 17, 2006. He finished with the New York City Marathon on November 5. Only eight of these 50 runs were actual marathon races. On the other days, Dean ran the official marathon course in each state. He had help from race organizers and staff to make sure it was an official run. For example, he ran the official course of the Boston Marathon, but not on the day of the big race.
Dean successfully completed this huge goal. He finished the final marathon, the NYC Marathon, in 3 hours and 30 seconds. A film called UltraMarathon Man: 50 Marathons, 50 States, 50 Days was made about this incredible journey.
Other Activities
In 1995, Dean Karnazes started a company called Energy Well Natural Foods in San Francisco. It is now called Good Health Natural Foods, and he is still its president. Dean also writes a regular column for Men's Health magazine.
In 2011, Dean opened a frozen yogurt shop called U-Top It! in San Anselmo, California.
Media Appearances
Dean Karnazes has been featured on many TV shows and in magazines. He has appeared on The Today Show, 60 Minutes, The Late Show with David Letterman, CNN, and ESPN. He has also been on the cover of Runners' World, Outside, and Wired magazines. You might have seen articles about him in TIME, Newsweek, People, and The New York Times.
On the TV show Stan Lee's Superhumans, it was suggested that Dean's body is very good at handling lactic acid. Lactic acid can make your muscles tired during exercise. Dean believes his endurance comes from his body's ability to clear lactate from his blood and turn it into energy. One of his training tips is to eat sardines for protein!
Personal Life
Dean Karnazes went to California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. He studied food science technology. He also went to graduate school there and was the top student in his class. He paid for his education with scholarships and by working at a health center on campus. Later, he earned more degrees in Science and Business from the University of San Francisco's McLaren School of Business.
Dean met his wife, Julie, when they were in 9th grade at San Clemente High School. When Dean ran his 50 marathons in 50 states, his children often joined him. They were homeschooled at the time. Dean and his family live in Ross, California.
Books
Dean Karnazes has written several books about his running adventures:
- The Road to Sparta: Reliving the Ancient Battle and Epic Run that Inspired the World's Greatest Footrace (2016)
- Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner (2006)
- 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days (2009)
- Run: 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss (2011) - This book won an award for its publicity campaign.
- A Runner's High: My Life in Motion (2021)
