Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #196689 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-17
• Format: Bargain Price
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Customer Reviews

Inspiring
Dean Karnazes is an inspiration. I've been running for two months now and although I don't see myself running 199 miles anytime soon, I found it very inspiring to read about someone who has. This is someone who runs marathons (26.2 miles) as training runs! Throughout the entire book, I felt as if I was right beside him, feel his pain. I think that any runner can appreciate this book. Reading this book makes you feel like this is something you can achieve. Running doesn't require much, just a pair of decent shoes, a shirt and a pair of shorts. You don't need to be built like a football player or be tall like a basketball player in order to run. You just have to want to.

Gets you running
I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though it's not a fine piece of litterature. It's written well enough and without the aid of a ghost writer but the real quality of this book lies with the character of Dean. I can't understand how anyone can read this book and come away with the notion that Karnazes has any ego whatsoever. Dean tells a compelling and entertaining tale of his life that takes us up to the present that includes many, many great tales of humor, perseverence and heart.
I would have some days where I would really not feel like running, but the moment I read a chapter of Dean I felt like I could run on forever. It sounds corny but hearing about Dean bust his butt through 127 degree Death Valley, or do a 12 person, 199 mild relay race by himself, gosh dang, I think I can get my butt outta bed and put foot to pavement for a quick 10k. I was sad to finish the book and found myself following Dean's blogs and progress. He's good inspiration. Worth the quick and easy read. Keep it by your running shoes. Highly recomend.

This book gets three types of review.
The reviews here seem to break down into three categories. There's the reviews by runners that are upset that Dean thinks he's special enough to have a book all about him. There are the reviews by women that are upset that Dean is not a woman, yet there is a book all about him.

Then there are reviews by people with no particular axe to grind, at least none relating directly to Dean and ultrarunning. That's the category I'd like to pick for this review. This book inspired me. I'm glad that he wrote it, and I'm glad that he wrote it by himself, about himself. I probably would not have heard of it if it were not for the publicity, so I'm glad that Dean is competent enough at marketing himself that I heard of it.

This is a great book! Don't be misled by the wounded egos lurking around here.