Summary: "And I thought, "My god, I'll never get to that level." And if someone at that level can't make a go of it in the sport, and you want to make a go of it in the sport, you're going to have to do a lot more than win races, or just race. You're going to have to figure out other revenue streams to make a go of it, especially if you want to commit your life to this, which I really did." It was a treat to have Dean Karnazes join me on the podcast this week. The 55-year-old Bay Area resident remains one of the most recognizable figures in ultrarunning—if not all of running in general—for his accomplishments on and off the race course, which include multiple sub-24 hour Western States finishes, 10 Badwater finishes (including a win in 2004), 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, cross-country runs, a 350-mile run on no sleep, and countless more. Karnazes' achievements have inspired many, and angered some, but the breadth of Karnazes' impact on the sport, and peoples' lives, is inarguable. He's authored four books, including the international best-seller Ultramarathon Man, which helped bring widespread notoriety to the sport of ultrarunning and led Time magazine to name him one of 100 most influential people in the world. Karnazes, who has sponsorship endorsements with The North Face and other brands, has also done a lot of work for charity, including Karno Kids, which has helped provide financial support for organizations and programs focused on improving health and wellness for children. We covered a wide range of topics in this episode, including: — His recent experience at the Western States Endurance Run, where he finished in just over 27 hours. — How Western States as an event has evolved since he last ran the race 10 years ago. — The current competitive landscape of ultrarunning and how it's impacting the sport. — His role in the sport of ultrarunning and how its evolved over the past couple decades. — His 22-year relationship with The North Face and helping launch The Endurance Challenge Series 11 years ago. — Advice he'd give other athletes looking to make a living in the sport. — The biggest lessons he's learned as an athlete and how he's applied them to other areas of his life. "I take a 360-degree approach in everything I do," Karnazes told me. "Training, strength-training, diet, of course, sleep, of course, interpersonal relationships—all of these things make you the best animal you can be—so I've really focused on all of those things as I've gotten older." — His approach to training and how it's changed over the years. — The benefits of hiring a coach for his 50 marathons in 50 states and 50 days endeavor in 2006. — Tips for running strong after the age of 50. — What brings him the most fulfillment—and what keeps him going after two-plus decades in the sport. — How he thinks about pain and why he considers it the definition of fun. — What can be done to knock down some of the barriers of entry into ultrarunning. — The importance of his family's support over the years and the advice he'd give to other ultrarunners whose families might not understand their commitment and passion for the sport. — A whole lot more. This episode of the morning shakeout podcast was edited by John Isaac at BaresRecords.com. Complete show notes here: https://www.themorningshakeout.com/podcast-episode-21-with-dean-karnazes/ Sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday morning: www.themorningshakeout.com/subscribe/ Support the morning shakeout on Patreon: www.patreon.com/themorningshakeout
