A Runner’s High

My Life in Motion

By: Dean Karnazes

Narrated by: Andrew Eiden

New York Times best-selling author and ultramarathoning legend Dean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits, from running in the shoe-melting heat of Death Valley to the lung-freezing cold of the South Pole. He’s raced and competed across the globe and once ran 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days.

In A Runner’s High, Karnazes chronicles his extraordinary adventures leading up to his return to the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in his mid-50s after first completing the race decades ago. The Western States, infamous for its rugged terrain and extreme temperatures, becomes the most demanding competition of Karnazes’s life, a physical and emotional reckoning and a battle to stay true to one’s purpose. Confronting his age, his career path, and his life choices, we see Karnazes as we never have before.

For Karnazes, the running experience is about the runner and the trail. It is not the sum of achievements but a story that continues to be told each day, with each step. A Runner’s High is at once an endorphin-fueled adventure and a love letter to the sport from one of its most celebrated ambassadors that will leave both casual and serious runners cheering.

©2021 Dean Karnazes (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

If you run you should be entertained

Dean is the man but I thought this book may just be a money grab, and it is, but it was very entertaining and I really enjoyed it. The narrator does a good job although I can tell he's not from California as he mispronounces many local names, i.e. Marin county, Manteca and Placer high school...all butchered. I just thought it was funny, but how does that get by Dean or the editors? Anyway, it's a great account of what it's like to run ultras, although I do not think anyone can really know what it's like until they do so (I have not, but have run a few marathons). I've never even considered doing an ultra although perhaps this book has put a very slight inspiration of maybe, someday, trying a "short" one.

just wow

What an amazing journey. Thank you for sharing. Absolutely one of my favorites. A big 10+++.

style humor and humility

Excellent story telling. I enjoyed the the way I always could visualize his words. He has a dry humorous tone and doesn't hold back his weaknesses, doubts, family stuff, and thoughts. it all makes him relatable to me.

Dean is a Legend

I enjoyed this book, simply because Dean is a great storyteller and has a lifetime of knowledge to share. As a runner myself, I find him inspiring, but the reader need not be a runner to find wisdom in his words. My only negative feedback is the narration. It didn't feel authentic to me. I don't think an author need narrate their own work, but it has to be a good fit. This didn't work for me, although it wasn't a deal breaker.

Narrated by Clint Eastwood

At times the combination of the cowboy narration and Dean’s often spaced out states of being made for some laugh out loud moments. The story is remarkable and the real life insights are well worth the listen. At one point he compared trying to hold back time to running after one’s shadow as the sun is setting, shadow growing. Nuggets, lots of nuggets like trying to chew a handful of nuts ninety miles in and just swallowing them.

Magnificently put into words

Dean touched my soul with this one. He put into words so eloquently many of my thoughts and feelings as an ultrrunner. He made me realize it is okay to be who I am.

Amazing Story

Inspirational to say the least!!! Loved listening to this book, it was beyond hoped for!

Inspiring

Let me begin by saying, I’m not a runner, nor do I ever plan on becoming a runner. I loved this book because it’s truly inspiring, full of life wisdom and funny. Not my usual read but now one of my favorites. Thanks ULTRA MARATHON MAN!

excellent! I could not stop listening

absolutely love listening! the story is so captivating. I definitely recommend, especially if you are a runner.

Almost couldn’t finish it

I am a big fan of Karno, but this was tough. The book seemed overly descriptive. If he had put the thesaurus away it could have shaved an hour or more off the read time with no elements of the story missing. The narrator was terrible. I prefer an audio book with no voices, like Andrew’s interpretation of Dean’s parents voices, etc. was brutal. He was so over the top, it took away from the already over the top story telling. Just eh.