Quotes from Dean Karnazes

You're either born a runner, or not. Simple as that. And it isn't the act of running that constitutes this demarcation, but the desire. Running isn't necessary

at the end of all our exploring we will arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time.

Runs end, running is forever.

In school, you get the lesson and then take the test; in parenting, you take the test and then get the lesson.

And thus I kept doing it. Mile 20 passed. Mile 23 passed. Mile 26 passed. Running an ultra is simple; all you have to do is not stop.

intrepid outward exploration of the landscape and a revealing inward journey of the self. These are the things that keep me going, the lust for exploration and the quest to better comprehend who I am and what I'm made of.

Thoreau once said that a man's riches are based on what he can do without. Perhaps in needing less, you're actually getting more.

When you're going through hell, keep going. —Winston Churchill

All racers are runners, but not all runners are racers.

Running has taught me that the 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.

If it comes easy, if it doesn't require extraordinary effort, you're not pushing hard enough: It's supposed to hurt like hell.

I had listened to my heart, and this is where it had led me

Life is at its most extraordinary during the struggle, not during times of idle contentment

People speak of finding balance. To me, that's a misplaced ambition. If you have balance, you do everything okay. But to excel at your craft, you need obsessive, unbridled fanaticism. Not only does excellence require such commitment, it demands it. A life worth living is frenetic, disjointed, breakneck, add quite fantastic. Balance doesn't lead to happiness - impassioned dedication to one's life purpose does.

Respect the distance, take each breath purposefully, make every step count, calculate the surges, watch your heart rate, stay hydrated, maintain your calories. Do all of these things continuously while remaining incorruptibly patient. An ultramarathon moves slowly very quickly.

No need to shoot the breeze with Nixon when the surf was so great

Perhaps nothing in sports or in life is as accessible to all as running. It didn't matter our language, creed, or skin color, running was a commonality we all shared. Two hundred of us ran down that highway as one. So many things in this world divide us, rip us apart, but here was something that united us, that brought us together. The fact that running is available to all doesn't diminish its significance; it amplifies it.

Running was a part of my hardwiring, and that's what I wanted to do. So this is what I tell people who talk about wanting to follow their passion. 'It doesn't have to be running. It can be basket weaving. Be the best basket weaver in the world. Throw your heart and soul into it.'

Running back-to-back races requires a certain tactical prudence. Going too hard in any one race might jeopardize your performance in another. Maintaining proper hydration and caloric equilibrium also becomes increasingly critical.

Running is about finding your inner peace, and so is a life well lived.

I eat nothing that's processed or refined - no high-fructose corn syrup, no sugar, no trans-fats. I eat a lot of fish and monounsaturated fats from olives, olive oil and nuts. A lot of organic, fresh fruits and vegetables. No bread. No gluten. No wheat. No rice.

Running is a simple, primitive act, and therein lays its power. For it is one of the few commonalities left between us as a human race.

Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.

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.