50/50

by Dean Karnazes

Discover the secrets for super endurance -- from one of the fittest men on the planet!

Dean Karnazes has run 350 continuous miles through three sleepless nights, ordered pizza during long runs, and inspired fans the world over with his adventures. So what does a guy like this do when he wants to face the ultimate test of endurance? He runs 50 marathons in 50 states-in 50 consecutive days.

With little more than a road map and a caravan packed with fellow runners and a dedicated crew, Dean set off on a tour that took him through a volcanic canyon in Maui in high humidity and 88-degree heat; to an elevation gain of almost 4,000 feet at the Tecumseh Trail Marathon in Bloomington, Indiana; to a severed moose leg found alongside an Anchorage, Alaska, trail that compelled him to sprint for safety.

Now in this heart-pounding book, Dean reveals how he pulled off this unfathomable feat with a determination that defied all physical limitations. But Dean goes beyond the story of the Endurance 50 marathons to share his invaluable secrets and advice for athletes of all levels. These are the tips that kept Dean going during the 1,310 miles he covered and 160,000 calories he burned-while averaging sub-four-hour marathons and often sleeping fewer than four hours each night. Learn how to:

Recover more quickly
Adapt to extreme conditions
Prevent muscle cramps and overheating
Pace yourself when you "hit the wall"
Stay motivated.

Packed with practical advice and including training regimens, 50/50 will inspire you no matter what your fitness goal is, whether it's simply walking around the block, running a 10K, or completing yet another Ironman.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir, Fitness, Health, Biography, Audiobook

333 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2008

About the author

Dean Karnazes (b. Constantine Karnazes) is an American ultramarathon runner and author.

Reviews

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about an athlete who runs 50 consecutive marathons daily as part of a sponsored event. It really is intense how he manages to do it. The book switches from his daily stories to very helpful running tips. It is well written and fun to read!

I expected it to be very unrelatable for me to read as it's such a superhuman thing. But that was okay, there were really some hard times. That's why I was surprised at the end chapters. Without spoiling the message, that was quite superhuman in my opinion!

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admire what Mr. Karnazes has done. I think he's incredibly inspiring. However... this book just wasn't very good. I was expecting it to be mostly stories from the 50 marathons he ran, interspersed with running advice. In actuality, it was mostly running advice with a few short marathon stories. Very disappointing.

While the advice was good, it was running advice you could obtain from various sources, including the Runner's World forums. This book is supposed to be about "super endurance" and almost all of the advice was just the basics, things a beginning runner would need to learn.

I was really disappointed. I really wanted to hear more stories from the marathons. The way it was written, it took several weeks for me to complete the book because I just wasn't that interested. The hook wasn't there.

I've heard other Karnazes books are better. Maybe sometime I'll give one of those a shot.

[Camron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read and I enjoyed the stories from the different marathons, but I wished there was more about the individual events. It seemed to me that he was insincere when describing his fears of completing the task or expressing the difficulties he faced in completing the marathons. Due in part because he kept telling stories of other ultra-events and grander achievements rather than the marathons themselves to make his points. Also, he made it clear that after his sponsor took control of the event it changed from his original vision to something he didn't seem to enjoy or want. This was confirmed when, at the end of the Endurance 50 (and being away from home for so long), he felt he hadn't completed his mission and ran alone half way across the country before saying it is finished. This part of the story puzzled me, yet has become the most inspiring part of his experience. During the Endurance 50 chapters I felt the stress, fanfare, hype, chaos, chore-like enthusiasm, and continuos strong hand of his sponsor. He came across resentful and annoyed at times, yet Dean looked hard for the stories and people that helped him endure, giving fresh relief and motivation. When the end came, I finally felt his sincere joy and true message as he "ran wild" through America. I could feel the satisfaction as he suddenly stopped (Forest Gump-style) and said he was ready to go home. His experience is one I will never have, but in the end I was inspired.

[Loy Machedo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dean Karnazes' athletic memoir ’50 50 – Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 days – and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance!” is less of a training encyclopedia and more of a inspirational bio of one individual who dared to take it to the next level. The amazing descriptions, clear cut language and the sincerity by which every paragraph has been ubiquitously crafted, takes the reader right to where the incidents took place.
26.2 Miles each with 42 Staged Marathons and 8 Live Marathons added up with planners, organizers, police escorts, public crowds, official routes with unofficial moments, pain, mental agony, mistakes and moments of doubts – all sum up to the 50 Marathons in 50 states in 50 days. And if you thought that was just about it – well add up another few hours giving interviews, signing books and interacting with people.
What I personally loved about the book was the simplicity in which it was crafted, the tips which were shared with each episode, the humble nature of making each marathon look more like a challenge and task at hand – rather than a successful achievement in itself made this book stand out. In fact do not be surprised if you catch yourself trying to emulate Dean and wanting to try your hand (or leg) for that matter in running.
Overall – A book worth reading.
Overall rating – 7 out of 10.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I started this book with the intention of laughing at the unbridled excess that is manifest in the title. But! It turns out that this is an interesting book. In addition to being, at least partially intentionally, a window into what seems to be a relatively benign, even productive, form of obsessive behavior, it's also not a bad general guide to running. Karnazes (and his ghost, Matt Fitzgerald) embodies my favorite thing about running culture, the mutual support of the very fast, the very slow, and everybody in-between. He and I are pursuing qualitatively and quantitatively different goals, to put it mildly, but there is a lot of information and advice in here that I can bring to my own slow plodding. That's cool.

[Paulis Janovs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iesāku klausīties šo grāmatu 2021. gada pavasarī, bet kaut kad pārstāju. Šī grāmata bija viens no iemesliem, kas manu skriešanu padarīja vieglāku, jo man ļoti patīk skatīties dokumentālās filmas vai klausīties podkastus par šādien trakiem piedzīvojumiem. Un klausīties šos trakos cilvēkus kamēr skrienu padara skriešanu desmit reizes foršāku un jautrāku, un grūtāk ir piekust no garas distances. Pirms dažām dienām izdomāju pabeigt klausīties. Ļoti kruts piedzīvojums. Var daudz ko jaunu iemācīties par maratoniem un viskaut ko citu tajā sfērā.

[Karīna Janova-Jannava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastiska iedvesmas grāmata skrējējiem! Lai arī pretenciozs nosaukums un pasākums - noskriet 50 maratonus 50 dienās, Dīns pats ir ļoti jauks un vienkāršs cilvēks. Ļoti patīkami klausīties viņa stāstījumā, kurā nav ne kripatiņas no lepnuma, augstprātības vai pārspīlētā amerikāņu entuziasma. Tieši pretēji viņš stāsta tā, it kā katrs cilvēks varētu tik traki daudz skriet.
Man pielipa! Šī grāmata deva man perfekto noskaņojumu pirms mana pirmā maratona- ja jau viņš tā easy peasy var noskriet 50/50 dienās, tad jau es savu vienu arī varēšu.

[Willie Majeska · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a slow one for me. I’ve been trying to consume “marathon fuel” as I inch closer (10 days as of writing this) to my first full marathon, and this seemed like a good option.

I imagined the story of 50 consecutive marathons over 50 days would be motivational and it was, however, Dean made it through this with such ease that it lacked the drama and intensity of other books of this ilk such as the Goggins book I read earlier this year.

I truly think I’ll encounter more drama and adversity in my one marathon than Dean did in his 50 which is a very humbling thought and not the one I expected to leave the book with

Props to Dean for being superhuman

[Jonathan H. MONTES · Rating 5 out of 5]

I injured myself running and decided to take some time off from the activity to recover. This is the first time for me to have piriformis pain and the recovery is real. There is nothing to do and stretch and give the muscles and tendons time to heal, but in the meantime I must have running in my life and this book filled that vacant spot for me.

Anxiety is heavy in my life and always has been: thus running. Since I can't run for some weeks now, I decided that reading about running would do some good. Fortunately, I was right. Unfortunately, I have a bigger craving to put on my sneakers and go for a run.

This book is heavily focused on marathon running. It's goal is not to help you run a marathon but to take a reading adventure with one of the most physical things a person could do: run 50 marathons in 50 days.

I first came upon this notion when I saw it in a documentary. I figured I search to see if a book was written by the runner, and here it is! I loved every second of this book. Some pages can be skipped, but you'll know when that is as a natural reader.

I recommend this book. Don't look for help on running a marathon. It's a book about reaching a goal of 50 marathons in 50 days, nothing more. If you are looking for a little running motivation, this will work.

Enjoy

[Caio Malufe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean and Matt achieved the goal of describing an amazing feat in an easy read that grabs your attention and only let’s go once you’re done with the book!

[Cal]

twas okay, a bit too informal for what i am looking for atm

[Chad in the ATL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this is most certainly the longest book title of any book I have ever read. To start with, I have read Dean's first book - Ultramarathon Man - a couple of times now. I have enjoyed the rereads of that book and I'm pretty sure the same will be true of this book. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Dean and his running quest, in 2006 Dean attempted to cover a marathon in each of the 50 states on 50 consecutive days culminating at the New York City Marathon. This book brings to life the highs and lows of the journey, including the logistical issues, physical hurdles and emotional struggles that he and his crew endured over nearly two months. But far from being a 'look at me' story, 50/50 spends much of the time detailing what any person can do to improve themselves and reach their athletic goals, no matter what they might be. Dean's writing style is both powerful and inspirational, yet also conversational. It seems like he is sitting in your livingroom having a conversation. I've actually met Dean, and I can tell you that he is just that way in person. In this book, he spends time describing his approaches to diet, fitness, equipment, race strategy and many other aspects of marathon running. Perhaps most importantly, Dean shares his philosophy and provides many quotes that are inspirational to all of us. For instance, this passage really stuck in my mind:

"Awakenings are always terrifying, as they force you to realize that your
past has been lived in confinement. The most disturbing part is when you
recognize that the shackles holding you down are largely ones you have placed
upon yourself. the prison is self-constructed. 'We are all living in cages with
the door wide open,' George Lucas once said.

It is so easy to live a life that has been scripted for you by others, to
fall into the mire of conformity by following a path that society has laid
before you, rather than heeding your own unique calling. Comfort, complacency,
routine, the path of least resistance, the easy road - these things are the bane
of humankind. It is a disquieting moment when you awaken to realize that
trappings of conventionality have created a life for you that is entirely
different from the one you wish to live"

Without a doubt, if you get a chance to read this book, do it. Whenever you are feeling unable to meet the battles that life throws at you or can't motivate yourself to continue training, this book will serve as the wake-up call to get outside and keep moving - whether you are running or living.

[Tammam Aloudat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe my only critique of 50/50 is how simplistic it is. Karnazes writes of his 50 marathons, a gigantic achievement by any standard, as if he was writing about a walk in the park. There is little feeling of the difficulty and suffering inevitably associated with such undertaking. Otherwise, the book is a good read and in its audiobook format a very good listening materials to accompany running.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I hoped for was grit and a bit of toeing the edge of sanity, to find an idea, a memory, a lesson when all that is physical, mental and emotional is exhausted. The idea that when you push yourself to the edge, there's something to be found there. I wanted that "there." What it seems to be instead is a beginners guide to fueling, training, injury, marathons and passion.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very easy and fast read. I like description of challenges, tips for every runner and whole this story. Motivation for everybody and people he met during this amazing quest. Also very interesting part for me the science bit - what happens to body when runs 50 marathons in 50 day.

Motivational well balanced book for every runner or non runner.
Best lesson - take it in baby steps

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot less than "Ultramarathon". No doubt an incredibly accomplishment but you get it after just a few chapters so the rest gets a bit mundane. This would have worked great as an article or pamphlet but the book doesn't seem so necessary

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I especially like the concept of "runabout." Get a backpack, put a hydration pack in it, cell phone, money, and just run or walk to wherever.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really two books in one, smooshed together somewhat chaotically. First, it's an account of the author's outlandish stunt of completing 50 full marathons in 50 days in 50 different states. But it's also a how-to guide for runners thinking of running a marathon themselves. As a result, there is a tremendous amount of "do as I say and not as do" advice. Karnazes violates just about every basic tenet of distance running, from not getting enough sleep, not eating or drinking properly, and even the rookie mistake of not taking off wet socks after a run, causing painful blisters. Which he then fails to treat for several days, because he's embarrassed. And although he denies being a masochist, he's clearly in the "if it doesn't hurt then you aren't doing enough" camp. Which makes sense given his accomplishments, but makes me think that perhaps he isn't the best person to be motivating beginners to do more than they are ready for (which does warn against, but again the words are discordant with his actions).

The book's split personality made it less than successful on both counts. I would have preferred a more in-depth account of the individual marathons, some of which got only a sentence or two in passing. Along with details on the training and logistics involved in such a feat, which he glosses over as "I ran a lot" and "a lot of people worked hard to organize the events." And then a separate section (or whole other book) on how normal people should prepare for their own first marathon or ultra distance event. He does tack on a generic training plan at the end, but there is no hint as how one gets from barely being able to complete a single marathon to anything approaching the "super endurance" promised by the title. For instance, the only gear he mentions using is the paid sponsorship stuff, and even then he skips over most of the salient details of which products he uses for different types of training and events.

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 Marathons in 50 days. He's insane. But he's also super engaging. I like how this grew from him hopping out of the RV for his daily run while on a family vacation to involving his kids and parents on this challenge. I also like that it didn't turn into a North Face commercial.

Although he focused more on the challenges associated with running due to the focus of this book, a
side benefit to this book is knowing it's possible to do a road trip to the lower 48 in 48 days. An uncomfortable one, but possible. I shared his frustration with the sponsor cling keeping him from being able to see the road-nothing worse than a pseudo window seat.

I think my favorite part of this book is the people he met on the way - from the couple who did the New England six with him, to the lone woman who ran with him in South Dakota, to the guy who changed up his wedding plans to be there in Maui. I also really liked his focus on the first time marathoners and finishing as a group.

Only surprised after talking about how much he missed Julie that he opted to run home instead of flying right back after NY.

[Rachael Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great read as I train for a marathon. I liked his advice and I liked that it was sprinkled through the whole book, but I would’ve taken more travel log and less soap box. Generally speaking, I enjoyed his tone and attitude toward life and running. He’s not your average runner, but I related to a lot of his experiences and was inspired to push more outside my comfort zone in all areas of my life. I’m not sure non-runners would like this quite as much as I did, but it would be inspiring to anyone.

I did wonder how authentic he was... you get a sense that he was at odds a bit with his sponsor, but probably couldn’t be open about that. I wondered what it was really like to be on the road 50 days like that, it felt glossed over and focused on talking about how great running is. Which I agree with! It read more like a bunch of magazine articles than his experiences, but it was still engaging and well timed for me.

[Hunter Marston · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some ways this book is better than Karnazes' first. I listed a few reasons in my review of Ultramarathon Man: namely Karnazes' macho man self-image, which detracted from my interest and buy-in, or my willingness to like the author as the main "character" in the story. However, I do think this book lacked a little bit of the whimsical discovery of his passion for running (and the ultra distances) which the first book touched on. The subject matter of this book was as a rule more regimented, given that he set out to tackle a specific goal of 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. I appreciated that Karnazes toned down his obsession with his own body and seemed to have matured from the pranks he mentioned in his first book (sending a friend a tampon), but with that more mature tone, I guess some of the adventure was lost as well. Anyways, this was still a very enjoyable listen (I opted for the audiobook to accompany me on long runs).

[Selina Griffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like someone else here, I would have appreciated more info about the runs themselves and less in the way of generic tips.
Some of it was a bit cringey, as these things often are.
What did get me though was not long after lots of things about - you have to prioritise, everyone is busy and has lots to do, my family comes first...was because noone had bought him a plane ticket (hmmmm really? When his family were flying back....I think just an excuse!) Dean impromptu decided to spend a month running back. Now, whilst that does take a tremendous amount of physical ability of course, don't come at me with all this "prioritise, you can't do everything, family first" BS when after being without your family on a trip doing what you love for 7weeks (noted, the kids travelled with you), you then at the drop of a hat spend another month without them, just running. People cannot do this!!! So acknowledge your privilege in having this freedom.

[Matthew Ahearn · Rating 2 out of 5]

One long advertisement for North Face.

This book reads like it was written by a 9 year old with ADHD, “what I did on my summer vacation”.

And before I continue, I will add, I am a professional coach who reads a lot of books written by athletes. This is one of the most pointless books that I’ve read.

It’s a mix of pseudoscience, heavy Bro-bragging, and drama, lots of drama. Heavy on the drama, I laughed out loud several times.

It sounds like an editor made him add sport specific details and the book randomly cites information between long bouts of bragging which have no context.

At no point does he offer any thing in the way of useful actionable information and the information he does offer is carefully balanced between pseudoscience and opinion.

There is literally a blurb about Northface sneakers at a random point in the book.

[Stephen Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a read! This man is remarkable! I feel like the book should be titled 50/50/50! This was a super easy book to read. If you enjoy fitness or running at all, this book by Dean Karnazes is super inspiring. Between all the tips and tricks he provides for runners, the little experiences and people you meet throughout the book, and the tracking of the weather, calories, and more, I found this book to be quite enjoyable. Dean really went out of his way to show how he is still human. How a man who has run over 200 miles without stopping was still nervous about not completing this event. If this book doesn't inspire you to get up and move, check your pulse! I would definitely recommend reading this book.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books by Dean Karnazes. His first book is my favorite book about running. You can't read it and not want to go out running. I read this expecting something similar. I wanted to read of his adventures while trying to accomplish this unthinkable feat (unthinkable for me, clearly not him). But instead it felt like a book of random thoughts about running, philosophies about life and advice on both of those topics. Here and there were thoughts about the state of the world and what we can do better as people and as a society. It was disjointed and would have been entirely disconnected had it not been for the infrequent reminders that he was traveling from state to state running marathons. Overall, it was a disappointment.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if I learned a whole lot of secrets, but I enjoyed the book. The title is silly. Most people will not achieve the kind of super endurance achieved by Dean Karnazes. There is no tip that can help you do that. It is out of the reach of most people, but I think just about every healthy person, with training, can run an ultra-marathon and the book does contain a few helpful tips.

If you are into distance running enough to not take the title seriously, than I think you'll like this book. If you aren't a runner, but you just want to know how Karnazes went about doing such a crazy thing, I think that you'd like this book too.

[Melissa Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, the concept is mind-blowing. 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days (oh, and then Karnazes decides to run home - cross-country). Incredible. I will forever tell people about this guy that did this amazing thing.

I listened to this book over audio on a long road trip, and it kept me from going stir-crazy. I give it three stars because if I was reading a physical copy, I'm not sure I'd have stuck with the whole thing. The stories are nice to hear, but it's tough to write about 50 marathons without being repetitive. There was *some* advice for runners, but not as much as I'd hoped.

[Nipun Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for endurance runners and others who are interested in learning more about long distance running - and then some. Dean makes it seem all too easy, but i was just amazed that something like this is even possible. I loved the practical advice (more mind than body) that is packed into the books and the simple way in which Dean looks at his achievements. His family and support he gets from folks around him was heartwarming to read about. Cant believe he actually did a Forrest Gump act after his 50 marathons - oh well, he is Dean Karno after all!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to go ahead and give him five stars. Spoiler alert -- after a successful 50 marathon idea he got the North Face to sponsor, he had no ticket home to California, where his wife & kids just flew back to. So he began running, sleeping in parks, for days, weeks, I think months? to get back to them. He is letting his freak flag get some nice airing, for sure. Very credible athletic advice on a number of topics, and I like his voice.

[Jacob Cronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well organized and captivated my attention the entire time. I found many helpful tips for running and increasing my endurance as well as my speed. As a runner, I really enjoyed Karnazes’ writing about his journey, even though I had already heard about the Endurance 50 before reading this book. It wasn’t perfect, and the use of a second writer takes a bit away from the book in my mind, but it was good and I often could not put the book down.