At first you think he's crazy...how can anyone even consider running 100 or more miles?
But then his story sucks you in, and in some small way, you begin to understand.

Dean Karnazes' book, Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, is an extremely well-written book (I only noticed one typo) that draws you in and refuses to let you go. It follows Karnazes from his youth through to the 199-mile Relay Race he ran as the sole runner of Team Dean. This unfolding timeline helps readers better understand the thought process of why running means so much and how anyone can progress from running a 5k or 10k to continually pushing the boundaries of challenging one's self with consecutively longer and harder runs.

"Not that I cared much about my placing. Passion had fueled my progress and I hungered for more...I yearned to test the limits of human endurance and stretch the limits of self. I was listening to my heart, finding my place in the world. If it could be done, I wanted to do it. Because I needed to know how far I could go."

Karnazes somehow manages to capture the illusive joys of daily running that make dedicated runners hit the treadmills, roads, trails and tracks day after day. Speaking to the core truths that runners grow to appreciate, even if they don't always understand, Karnazes comes across as the guy you could easily run into on the street, catching an early morning or late night jog. Approachable, but a little over the top in his diet and running distances, Ultra Marathon Man is surprisingly easy to relate to.

"Long-distance running is a loner's sport...It keeps me fresh...I guess a lot of people find it in church, but I turn to the open road for renewal. Running great distances is my way of finding peace."

While reading this book, I encountered a number of stories or quotes that I was inspired to include as Facebook statuses that would express with friends why I'm dedicated to running, why I keep doing it day after day, and why it can be such a magical experience. Karnazes’ story of using running to help make the world a better place and to improve the lives of others has also inspired me to work to establish the National Parkinsons Foundation as one of the GoFar Charities, which would allow me to run my next half marathon, earning awareness and money for an organization that is newly near and dear to my heart since my mom's diagnosis with Parkinsons this past fall. Karnazes is right - running is a solo sport that is often internally motivated and frequently selfish, but if one wants, if can also be shared with others and used as a tool to make the world a better place for others at the same time.

" ...being able to help others, has given me a greater sense of purpose; it has allowed me to think of something, someone other than myself, in what can often be a solitary and selfish sport."

This book made me realize that I will likely never in my life attempt to, or even desire to attempt to run an ultramarathon, but I have an immense respect for those who do. And the motivation and process of getting through any run is the same, one foot after the other, take it manageable portion by manageable portion, and don’t let yourself get overwhelmed.

"It really didn't matter how long it took to get the job done. This was an exploration into the possibilities of self...If you had the courage, stamina, and persistence to cross the finish line, you were a champion."