Publishers Weekly
02/22/2021
Karnazes (Ultramarathon Man) returns with another in his series of ultramarathoning memoirs, now triumphantly chronicling his preparation for and run of one of the world’s most difficult courses, the Western States 100, a 100-mile ultramarathon through the Sierra Nevada mountains. While he memorably describes the pains of pushing his body to extremes and celebrates the mindset required to do so, his narrative style is also laced with humor—such as when he playfully remarks, “running an ultra is simple; all you have to do is not stop.” Karnazes also reflects upon a few other memorable treks, including his time on a “sports diplomacy” mission as a goodwill representative for the U.S. in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan (“It didn’t matter our language, creed, or skin color, running was a commonality we all shared”). Opening up about his family life, he details his somewhat distant relationship with his son and his anxieties over fatherhood. Fans of extreme sports will consider this a must-read and appreciate the pithy motivational bits peppered throughout, such as “To know thyself one must push thyself.” But the winning tone and message will lend this broader appeal to inspiration-seeking readers and those who appreciate accounts of the grueling end of human endeavor. Agent: Carole Bidnick, Bidnick & Co. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
Dean Karnazes’ writing wakes up the appetite to run long distances. In this book, Dean takes us on a lifelong journey of ultramarathons, through the ups and downs, the friendships and lonely moments, and the struggles and rewards of each race. Dean writes in a direct and intimate way that keeps us reading like he runs — without stopping." — Kilian Jornet, author of Above The Clouds and World Champion Ultramarathoner
“Those of us who devoured Ultramarathon Man are in for a treat. In A Runner’s High, Dean reveals his heart and bares his soul. Returning to the legendary Western States, he openly and candidly shares the highs and lows of his life and career choices as an ever-enduring long distance runner. You will see Dean as never before, and you will be captivated and drawn into this adventure right alongside him.” — Kara Goucher, two-time Olympian & silver medalist at the 2007 World Championships
“An unfiltered look inside the world of endurance sports from the original Ultramarathon Man. Dean has lived many lifetimes during his storied career and he takes us on that journey with all the detail, honesty and introspection of a man that’s lived in those shoes. The narrative is snappy and humorous and we get a behind the curtain look at what it takes to live a life of adventure and all that comes with it: the good, bad and ugly but also the beautiful and sublime when everything magically comes together and you achieve something truly mind-blowing.” — Michael Wardian, Guinness World Record Holder & 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents record holder
“We need more books like this about running—the ones not simply about training and winning, but the ones that explore running as a way to get to our most human selves, and running for running’s sake. Dean Karnazes in The Runner’s High shows us the deep love and respect for what the sport has given him—and what he has given in return to this sport is immense—a sincere demonstration of diplomacy, tenacity, grit, and the appreciation of discovery in all stages of our running lives.” — Mirna Valerio, runner, speaker, and author of A Beautiful Work in Progress
“I always thought that there was no stronger or more profound feeling of a runner’s high than when finishing a race, a marathon or an ultra-marathon. That is, until I read A Runner’s High, because it captures that exact same emotional state when you read this amazing story. Dean’s accomplishments, his stories, his tenacity, his advice and his wisdom shine through in A Runner’s High and will inspire the reader to believe that anything is possible if you believe in yourself, have the courage, and run with your heart.” — Dave McGillivray, Race Director Boston Marathon, Ironman and Trans-America runner
"As someone who one day intends to complete the Western States 100, A Runner's High both excited and terrified me. As always, Dean shares an enthralling story that you just cannot stop reading. I loved the vulnerability Dean exposes in his journey to show the reader that despite all the superhuman feats, he is human like the rest of us. His words have the ability to leave us wondering, what am I capable of? If you love stories about the power of the human spirit, this book is a classic." — Tina Muir, Running For Real Founder and Professional Runner
“Dean Karnazes' writing is as inspiring as his amazing running accomplishments. His Greek heritage and the pursuit of excellence through running and athletics shine through brightly in this new book. After reading A Runner’s High, I had to go out and run!” — Jeff Galloway, US Olympian & creator of the Galloway Method
“A Runner's High is a powerful narrative on life, running and finding meaning through perseverance. Every runner should read this book.” — Jason Koop, Coach and bestselling author
Kilian Jornet
Dean Karnazes’ writing wakes up the appetite to run long distances. In this book, Dean takes us on a lifelong journey of ultramarathons, through the ups and downs, the friendships and lonely moments, and the struggles and rewards of each race. Dean writes in a direct and intimate way that keeps us reading like he runs — without stopping."
Michael Wardian
An unfiltered look inside the world of endurance sports from the original Ultramarathon Man. Dean has lived many lifetimes during his storied career and he takes us on that journey with all the detail, honesty and introspection of a man that’s lived in those shoes. The narrative is snappy and humorous and we get a behind the curtain look at what it takes to live a life of adventure and all that comes with it: the good, bad and ugly but also the beautiful and sublime when everything magically comes together and you achieve something truly mind-blowing.”
Dave McGillivray
I always thought that there was no stronger or more profound feeling of a runner’s high than when finishing a race, a marathon or an ultra-marathon. That is, until I read A Runner’s High, because it captures that exact same emotional state when you read this amazing story. Dean’s accomplishments, his stories, his tenacity, his advice and his wisdom shine through in A Runner’s High and will inspire the reader to believe that anything is possible if you believe in yourself, have the courage, and run with your heart.
Mirna Valerio
We need more books like this about running—the ones not simply about training and winning, but the ones that explore running as a way to get to our most human selves, and running for running’s sake. Dean Karnazes in The Runner’s High shows us the deep love and respect for what the sport has given him—and what he has given in return to this sport is immense—a sincere demonstration of diplomacy, tenacity, grit, and the appreciation of discovery in all stages of our running lives.
Jason Koop
A Runner's High is a powerful narrative on life, running and finding meaning through perseverance. Every runner should read this book.
Kara Goucher
Those of us who devoured Ultramarathon Man are in for a treat. In A Runner’s High, Dean reveals his heart and bares his soul. Returning to the legendary Western States, he openly and candidly shares the highs and lows of his life and career choices as an ever-enduring long distance runner. You will see Dean as never before, and you will be captivated and drawn into this adventure right alongside him.
Tina Muir
"As someone who one day intends to complete the Western States 100, A Runner's High both excited and terrified me. As always, Dean shares an enthralling story that you just cannot stop reading. I loved the vulnerability Dean exposes in his journey to show the reader that despite all the superhuman feats, he is human like the rest of us. His words have the ability to leave us wondering, what am I capable of? If you love stories about the power of the human spirit, this book is a classic."
Jeff Galloway
Dean Karnazes' writing is as inspiring as his amazing running accomplishments. His Greek heritage and the pursuit of excellence through running and athletics shine through brightly in this new book. After reading A Runner’s High, I had to go out and run!
Kirkus Reviews
2021-02-06
In his latest running memoir, Karnazes reckons with age.
Since his debut, Ultramarathon Man (2006), the author has done as much as anyone to bring ultrarunning to the mainstream, extolling the virtues of the sport as he recounts his astonishing feats of endurance. In this book, Karnazes demonstrates his outsize influence; seemingly every few pages, another runner approaches him (often midrace) to show their appreciation. If this setup sounds boastful, be assured that the author has a knack for self-deprecation that he deploys smartly in these scenes. Such humility seems easier for Karnazes to achieve than it has been before, and this book finds him at a kind of nadir in his career. He’s in his late 50s, out of shape (relatively speaking), and running a 100K ultra in an attempt to fitness-cram before another extremely difficult race he hopes to run. The narrative is less the story of another Karnazes triumph than a tale of reckoning with an inevitability faced by all athletes: decline. Lying on the ground after a fall, he reflects, “my younger self could waltz through a 100K, but now such contests invariably digressed into Homeric slugfests. Maybe I didn’t belong out here anymore; maybe it was time to quit. I continued staring at the sky, contemplating my reason for being.” The tinge of self-pity reads as appropriate to the circumstance, and the author’s openness to introspection gives this book more depth than some of his others. He won’t be mistaken for a belletrist, but the text’s more lyrical sections are appropriate to the moment. As ever, Karnazes is at his best telling the simple truths of running: “To me, running is a grand adventure, an intrepid outward exploration of the landscape and a revealing inward journey of the self.”
A book that will inspire athletes of all stripes, whatever their aches and pains, to hit the ground running.
