Tag: Dean Karnazes

“50/50” & “Running The Sahara”

On By kingofpotsIn Books, Insights, Movies, Pictures, Running, Running For Cause, Ultramarathon5 Comments

1. I received a very early X’mas gift  from Jay Nacino aka Prometheus Cometh two weeks ago and it was delivered through courier system. The gift was a compilation of running films/movies recorded in two (2) CDs. Thanks, Jay for the gift. God bless.

2. The following films were recorded in those two CDs: Chariots of Fire; Without Limits; 50/50; and Running The Sahara. Having seen the first two films mentioned in widescreen, I was very interested to watch 50/50 and Running  The Sahara because they deal more on ultramarathon and multi-day stage runs. Both of these running events were filmed sometime in 2006.

3. I will not deal with the whole story of these films as every reader of this blog could easily browse or “google” the title of the films and they could get the details of these running events. 50/50 was made as a film and at the same time published as a book to document Dean Karnazes’ 50 marathon races, in 50 States in the US, in 50 days. Running The Sahara is a film about three (3) ultrarunners from the USA, Canada, and Taiwan traversing the African continent by passing through the Sahara Desert in 111 days.

4. What I like to point out and emphasize in these running events is the tremendous PLANNING involved to undertake such feats. Dean Karnazes took at least 3 years to convince The North Face in appreciating his plan to run 50 marathons, in 50 different States, in 50 days and another year to finally coordinate and arrange for the implementation of the said project. It was only when his book “The Ultramarathon Man” became a No. 1 Top Seller and his being a top contender in the 100-Mile Western States and Winner in one of the Badwater Ultramarathon editions that he became popular.

5. The planning and preparation for the three (3) ultra runners in 3 different countries in the Running The Sahara took also years. Moreso, with the logistics; production/film crew; and other administrative requirements preparations for the event. This film/event also tested the endurance of the support staff and film crew in order to finish the running event.

Kevin Lin (Taiwan); Ray Zahab (Canada); & Charlie Engle (USA)

6. These two running epic events were well-planned and documented. These films really inspire other people to seek their endurance limits and at the same time promoting some advocacies/charities to help less-fortunate people. So, if ever you plan to do such endurance run, whether an ultramarathon event or multi-stage/day run, you have to document it so that the INTEGRITY of the event is intact. A simple blog (with pictures) would do or inexpensive tracker/GPS device to record your event should be with you all the time during your run.

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Running Books For Sale!!!

On By kingofpotsIn Books, Pictures, Running, Sports Program4 Comments

I am selling two (2) copies of the book “Born To Run” in Hardbound for P 1,000.00 each.

Born To Run

I have one (1) copy of Dean Karnazes’ latest book “50/50” for sale for P 850.00 (Hardbound).

50/50

The proceeds will go to the training and support of the Elite Team Bald Runner Distance Project.

First come, first serve! You can leave your comment if you are interested.

Thanks for your support!

(Note: These books are highly recommended to ultrarunners!)

Motivation On Running

On By kingofpotsIn Books, Insights, Jogging, RunningLeave a comment

The following excerpt was taken from the book, 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days–and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! by Dean Karnazes on page 156:

“The key to keeping your passion for running strong over the long haul is to ensure that it remains a journey and never becomes a routine. Lots of runners, myself included, use running to test and redefine various physical and mental limits, which brings endless fulfillment. Others pursue intellectual development through running, learning ever more about the art and science of effective running, how nutrition affects performance, and so forth. The possibilities are endless. The only wrong to move is to miss out on all of them and make running something it’s not: boring. Because the simple act of putting one foot infront of the other and moving forward at an accelerated rate can be one of life’s greatest–and simplest–pleasures”

“Walkabout” In 7:30 Hours

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Running, Trail Running, Ultramarathon8 Comments

“Walkabout” is an Australian term where their aborigines would “go walkabout” at the age of thirteen in the wilderness for a period of six months as a rite of passage and for them to be able to trace the pathways of their ancestors.

“Walkabout” is also a term being used by ultramarathoners as part of their cross-training where they walk for miles and hours during the day or night.

Dean Karnazes changed the term to “runabout” where one has to run and alternately walk and then run again for the whole day and night or on a 12-hour period basis or shorter. When going on a “walkabout” or “runabout”, one has to bring some cash/credit card/ID and compact backpack where you can store windbreaker, dry shirt, socks, and cellphone. Continue reading ““Walkabout” In 7:30 Hours” →

Book Signing With Karno

On By kingofpotsIn Books, Jogging, Marathon Race, Pictures, Running, Ultramarathon2 Comments

Almost two weeks ago, Eric aka E-rod posted in his blog the scheduled signing of the 2nd book of Dean Karnazes entitled 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons In 50 Days–and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! at the Barnes & Noble Store in Costa Mesa, California last 16 August 2008.

And so, together with my wife and son, we went to the said store and bought the said book and bought also Karno’s first book for him to sign. The signing activity started on time at 2:00 PM with about 80-100 people where Dean Karnazes started the activity with a brief talk about the background of his new book and later there was open forum where he answered some interesting questions about his running capabilities and ultramarathon events from the audience. Continue reading “Book Signing With Karno” →

Pictures @ The SFM Expo

On By kingofpotsIn Insights, Jogging, Marathon Race, Pictures, Races, Running3 Comments

The following pictures were taken on Saturday when we picked-up our race packets at the SF Marathon Expo:

These were the portalets aligned at the vicinity of the Starting Line and more of these were positioned in almost all water/medical stations along the routes of the Full Marathon and 2 routes of Half-Marathon.

Dean Karnazes, the Ultra Marathon Man, with my daughter, Jovelle before we reached the Marathon Expo.

Well, talking of coincidence? I have another photo-ops with the Dean K. He said to my daughter that I am crazy! Well, I think we are both crazy!!!

This is San Francisco Marathon’s version of their Project “Donate A Shoe”. Wow! The six (6) containers are 200-liter drums filled to the rim with donated used running shoes!

These are my race bib with my name printed in it and a strip (pasted above my name) of the ChronoTrack D-strip timing chip which is disposable; the map of San Francisco with the route of the course (yellow colored route) and a Finisher’s T-shirt.

My recap of the race will posted later today.

Brief Chat With Karno

On By kingofpotsIn Jogging, Pictures, Races, Running, Ultramarathon10 Comments

After the pictures of the 10AM Group had been taken and the final instructions had been delivered by the Chief, Race Organizer, some of the runners and crews and even the members of the race organizer had their pictures taken with Dean Karnazes. I finally approached Dean when he finished taking some pictures with the race organizers and my brief chat went like this:

Bald Runner: Hi, Dean! I am a runner from the Philippines and they call me as The Bald Runner in my country.

Dean Karnazes: Hey, you are not bald! You still have a lot of hair sticking out on your head. (Loooking at my head with his smiling face)

BR: I read your book and you instantly became my idol in ultramarathon and intend to join an ultra running event in the future. You are very popular to the runners in the Philippines. I have a blogsite and I posted your book and your accomplishments as the ultramarathon man. It’s baldrunner.com.

DK: That’s great! I’ll check it out.

BK: By the way, I will be running the San Francisco Marathon with my kids, son and daughter.

DK: This coming San Francisco Marathon?

BR: Yes

DK: I will be at the Runner’s Expo for two days before the San Francisco Marathon and you have to see me there. I want to meet your kids!

BR: Yes, we’ll meet you at the Expo. Can I have a picture with you, Dean?

DK: Ok! ( I asked one of the race organizer’s photographers to take a picture with my camera)

BR: Thanks, Dean! (I offered my hand for handshake & he grabbed my hand)  

DK: You are welcome. I will check your blog.

After that brief conversation, Dean left the place and went to his support vehicle to change his cap and get his hand-held water jug and later lined up with the rest of the runners at the starting line.

After the runners left, my wife and I took some pictures at the Badwater Basin; checked and reviewed the pictures taken; drank a lot of water and Gatorade to replenish the sweat while I was taking pictures; and took some time to use the comfort room in the area. It was already almost 40 minutes had lapsed when I started to drive the car along the direction of the runners.

While Dean Karnazes was running towards Furnace Creek, barely one hour after the start of the run, I slowed down the car and stay beside briefly with him and I opened the window of the car, brought out my head and shouted:

BR: Good luck, Dean!

DK: Thank you, Bald Runner! (in a loud voice while pouring water on his cap/head from his hand-held water jug and he was smiling!)

Later, I took the following picture as he was running  #4 from the leading runner on his way to Furnace Creek:

Being sponsored by The North Face, Dean Karnazes wears running shoes and apparel of the said sports company. His running apparel is now lighter and different from his clothes when he ran the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2005.

Dean Karnazes: UltraMarathon Man

On By kingofpotsIn Books, Insights, Jogging, Pictures, Running15 Comments

Dean Karnazes is the author of the book, “UltraMarathon Man: Confessions Of An All-Night Runner”. This book was published in 2005 but it was only when QuickSilver Runner mentioned his name in his blog last December 2007 that I knew and heard the name of this famous ultra runner. The second time that I read about this guy was in the book of Pam Reed entitled, “The Extra Mile” who was the strongest contender for the Champion Runner in the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2003, only to be defeated by Pam Reed in few minutes.

The book of Dean Karnazes is a very inspiring one for runners, most especially to those who would like to run farther than the marathon in order to test their endurance and accomplish more than running a marathon race. Through this book, I was able to appreciate and find out that there is a group of extraordinary endurance runners who are dedicated in their training, preparation, diet, health and other technical aspects for ultrarunning.

Dean Karnazes had finished so many ultra running events like: the annual Western States 100-Mile Runs, Badwater Ultramarathons, South Pole Marathon, and The Relay, a 199-mile footrace which is participated by teams with 12 member-runners but he ran the distance alone. He was a team of one in the said The Relay Ultra Running Event finishing the distance in 46 hours and 17 minutes! Since then Dean Karnazes had been a popular figure in endurance runs and his participation in such races were tied with charity works to help children who are in need of medical treatment.

Dean K ran the famous 50 marathons in 50 States in 50 days finishing this feat at the New York Marathon last November 2006. Last March of this year, he won the Atacama Crossing in Chile which is a 250-kilometer race in 6 stages at Atacama Desert. Last month, he finished the Gobi March in 4th place held at the Gobi Desert, China which is also a 250-kilometer footrace in 6 stages. Next Monday, he is expected to join the 82 runners who will participate in the 2008 Badwater Ultramarathon.

Here are some tips from Dean in preparing for Ultra running events:

1) When preparing for an ultra running event, he runs at least 70-100 miles per week. Wakes up at 4:00AM and run 3 hours before bringing the kids to school and going to his office. He takes another 45 minutes to one hour quick run after office work. On Saturday mornings, he runs 30-40 miles.

2) For a 50K or 50-mile event, he suggests doing at least one eight-hour training run. For 100-miler, he recommends doing an all-night run to simulate race condition without sleeping.

3) An ultrarunner should be properly hydrated with water and energy drinks with electrolytes. In his early ultra running events in the 90s, he was using Oral Pedialyte for his electrolyte replacements.

4) His daily diet consists of 40% Carbohydrates; 30% of Protein & 30% of Fats. He eats salmon 4-5 days a week and lots of organic salads.

5) He trains half and half for the roads and trails. But he prefers more time running on the roads.

6) He goes to the gym for muscle strengthening workouts. If he can not make it to the gym, he does 4 sets of 50 push-ups and 4 sets of 90 push-ups—once in the morning and once in the evening.

In 2004, Dean Karnazes won the Badwater Ultramarathon covering 135 miles in 120-degree Fahrenheit temperature in 27 hours and 22 minutes of non-stop running.

He is a columnist for “Men’s Health Magazine” and the President of Good Health Natural Foods. He lives with his wife and their two children in San Francisco. To know more about him and his schedule of ultramarathon races, visit www.ultramarathonman.com.

I hope I will be able to watch his movie, “The Ultramarathon Man”, on 31 July 2008 (in the USA) and buy a copy of his new book, “50/50”.

I recommend this book (“Ultra Marathon Man”) to every runner. Happy reading!