Dean Karnazes, also known as the “Ultra Marathon Man” and the “Perfect Human” popularized ultramarathons with his book Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner. Karnazes once ran 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days and has run 350 continuous miles. Karnazes is the recipient of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and … Read more
The Marathon Monks (gyoja) of Mt. Hiei, Japan take on kaihōgyō, a spiritual challenge of endurance in pursuit of enlightenment. The journey lasts over seven years and the stakes are high. If they fail, the monk must perform Hara-kiri – ‘honourable suicide’. If they survive, they become a living saint. They wear white, the Buddhist … Read more
For some runners, early morning runs are actually pleasurable. Frankly though, most of us would rather spend the time in bed. In general, we encourage you to run when you can. It’s always best to build up a habit that’s sustainable, so it becomes a lifestyle rather than a phase. That being said, early morning runs … Read more
When you run far, things get weird and wonderful. From the persistence hunters of the Kalahari, to the fact that women are faster than men over longer ultradistances, to the first woman to run a marathon, to the first man to run all the way around the world. Distance runners are known for pushing at … Read more
You’ve run a marathon, maybe a few, and you’ve found yourself toying with the idea of an ultramarathon. But what does it take to go from marathon to ultramarathon? And do you have what it takes? A marathon is 26.2 miles, no more, no less. Typically, you can expect a marathon to be a fairly … Read more