Printable Biography of Dean Karnazes

“Dean Karnazes might just be the fittest man in the world,” writes Men’s Fitness (March 2006). As an internationally recognized endurance athlete, Karnazes has done what few people thought humanly possible. He’s run 350 continuous miles, straight through three nights without sleep. He’s run across Death Valley in the middle of summer, where temperatures reached 128 degrees, and he’s run a marathon to the South Pole in negative 40 degrees. On seven separate occasions, he’s run a 200-mile relay race solo, racing alongside teams of twelve.

Dean and his remarkable adventures have been featured on 60 Minutes, The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS News, CNN, ESPN, The Howard Stern Show, NPR’s Morning Edition, the BBC, and many others. He has appeared on the cover of numerous magazines, including Runner’s World and Outside, and has been featured in TIME, Newsweek, People, GQ, The New York Times, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, Men’s Journal, Forbes, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, and the London Telegraph, to mention a few. He is a monthly columnist for Men’s Health, the world’s largest men’s health & lifestyle magazine.

Dean’s recent book, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, has been on the New York Times’ list and is a National Bestseller. Ultramarathon Man won a “Best of Amazon” award in 2005 and was the #7 bestselling sports book worldwide (The Economist). Ultramarathon Man has received gleaming reviews in Publisher’s Weekly, Esquire, Newsday, Sports Illustrated, and myriads of others, and is currently in print in ten languages.

Always wanting to do more, to give more, to help others in need, Dean has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity through his running and sports career. He has participated in the Leukemia Society of America’s “Team-In-Training” and “Man of the Year” programs, has raised money for the Special Olympics, YouthAIDS and childhood organ donation programs, and has contributed his time and energy to numerous environmental organizations.

Beyond being a record-holding endurance athlete, philanthropist, and bestselling author, Dean is an accomplished businessman and entrepreneur with a notable professional career working for several Fortune 500 companies and startups alike. He holds two graduate degrees, several patents and trademarks, and is the President of his own food & nutrition company, which he has taken from startup to $25 million. Dean is actively involved in the non-profit and governmental sector as well, and serves on the Board of Girls On The Run, a national program dedicated to building confidence and self-esteem in young, largely at-risk, girls, and is a member of the California Task Force on Youth Wellness, serving under Senator Tom Torlakson.

Dean is a sought after speaker who has captivated audiences across the country with his stories of persistence and perseverance. His dynamic, engaging and inspirational presentations focus on going beyond perceived limitations to be the best that you can. He talks about unlocking an inner strength to achieve extraordinary results. His real-life examples explore topics like: dealing with adversity, overcoming obstacles, setting and reaching lofty goals, the importance of teamwork, even in solo endeavors, and excelling in a competitive, and often confusing, world. In his presentations, he examines and discusses the essential ingredients necessary for high-achievement and prevailing against staggering odds.

Dean is believable, because his extraordinary accomplishments are real, and he delivers his message with an insight and candor that only one who has lived through such experiences can. His tales of endurance and perseverance are often comical, sometimes tear-jerking, and always entertaining. His rooster of clients include: Nike, Roche Pharmaceuticals, The Gap, Accenture, Genentech, The North Face, L’Oreal Cosmetics, Stanford University, Yale, CNET, JP Morgan Chase, and a host of others.