Miles to go …

September 11, 2009

Running Inspirational Quotes from “Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an all-night runner”

Filed under: running — arungupta @ 9:51 am
Just finished reading Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner. This book is authored by Dean Karnazes (popularly known as "Karno") – an ultra endurance runner. The book describes Karno’s journey of becoming an ultra endurance runner and is highly inspirational. I give a strong recommendation for any runner to read this book (buy @ Amazon). Here is a very brief list of his running accolades:

  • 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days
  • 9 times solo finisher of The Relay (199+ miles)
  • 11 times silver buckles (sub-24 hour finish) Western State 100-mile Endurance Run
  • 7 times Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles foot race in 120 degrees), won in 2004
  • South Pole Marathon 2002 Winner (only person to complete the event in running shoes)
  • and many many many more …

Here are some inspirational / motivational / training quotes from the book:

  1. Don’t run with your legs, run with your heart.
  2. If running feels good, you didn’t push hard enough. It’s supposed to hurt like hell.
  3. Go out harder and finish harder.
  4. Running is about finding your inner peace, and so is a life well lived.
  5. Pain and suffering are often the catalysts for life’s most profound lessons.
  6. If you had the courage, stamina, and persistence to cross the finish line, you are a champion.
  7. Long distance runners requires a certain discretion and reserve. It’s easy to let you ego get the better of you early on and run beyond your means. It’s a mistake that may haunt as the miles and the hours add up.
  8. When exhaustion sets in, the mind often rationalizes the irrational. For example, 38 miles = 1 marathon + 2 10 Ks.
  9. Pain is the body’s way of ridding itself of weakness.
  10. Most dreams die a slow death. They’re conceived in a moment of passion, with the prospect of endless possibility, but often languish and are not pursued with the same heartfelt intensity as when first born. Slowly, subtly, a dream becomes elusive and ephemeral.
  11. If you can’t run then walk. And if you can’t walk then crawl. Do what you have to do. Just keep moving forward and never, even give up.

    A shorter version of the above quote is:

    Run when you can
    Walk if you have to
    Crawl if you must
    Just never give up.

  12. Runners are real people. They don’t run for money or recognition, they do it out of passion. Most have day job that pay the bills, and running is a labor of love.
  13. Without discipline to rise before dawn and pound out the miles, you’ll never make it. If the fire in your heart isn’t strong, there’s no point trying.
  14. How to run an ultramarathon ? Puff out your chest, put one foot in front of the other, and don’t stop till you cross the finish line.
  15. When it gets right down to it, the levels of commitment and devotion required to excel as an ultra-endurance athlete are all-consuming.
  16. The human body is capable of amazing physical deeds. If we could just free ourselves from our perceived limitations and tap into our internal fire, the possibilities are endless.
  17. Pursuit of a passion matters more than the passion itself. Immerse yourself in something deeply and with heartfelt intensity – continually improve, never give up – this is fulfillment, this is success.
  18. Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you’re not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you’re not demanding more from yourself – expanding and learning as you go – you’re choosing a numb existence. You’re denying yourself an extraordinary trip.

I only wish to reach up to 10% of his level … that’s my first "baby step". And certainly a dream would be run/train along with him :)

Follow him at @DeanKarnazes or subscribe to his blog.

Technorati: running training ultramarathon motivation deankarnazes karno

Share and Enjoy:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • DZone
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Twitter
  • Slashdot
Related posts:
  1. TheRelay 2010 Rules Simplified – Are you interested in running ?
  2. Running Pet Peeves – Running San Francisco Marathon 2009 First 1/2
  3. Running first marathon this weekend
  4. Running Summary Q3 2009 – 400 miles, 80% of running days
  5. Running San Francisco Marathon 2008

5 Comments »

  1. This was my favorite quote from that book:
    “As a running buddy once said to me: Life is a not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: “WOW!! What a ride!”

    Comment by John D. Lilly — September 11, 2009 @ 2:35 pm

  2. [...] Content available at http://blog.arungupta.me/2009/09/running-inspirational-quotes-from-ultra-marathon-man-confessions-of... [...]

    Pingback by Running Inspirational Quotes from “Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions of an all-night runner” - Technology — September 11, 2009 @ 3:00 pm

  3. John, totally agree! Life is worth a living, so lets live it by running and enjoying :)

    Comment by arungupta — September 11, 2009 @ 3:05 pm

  4. [...] See more here:  Running Inspirational Quotes from “Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions … [...]

    Pingback by Running Inspirational Quotes from “Ultra Marathon Man: Confessions … love life — September 11, 2009 @ 3:31 pm

  5. This was actually a fascinating subject, I’m very fortunate to have the ability to come to your weblog and I will bookmark this page in order that I could come again another time.

    Comment by Norris Simonis — April 10, 2011 @ 1:22 am

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

The views expressed on this blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Oracle.
Powered by WordPress