Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 21
 Not Ultramarathon Man, but not bad... August 25, 2008
Brent Hanson (Perham, MN)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
After reading Ultramarathon Man, I was looking all around for a 50k to 50 mile race. Reading the book was both interesting and inspiring.
When I saw 50/50 was coming out, I was pretty excited. Having completed it, though, I'm a little disappointed. The feat that Dean accomplished by running 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states was remarkable. I just felt like the journey that we, the reader, follow isn't quite so remarkable. It feels like many of the marathons are just brushed over. It feels more like an outline than a real in-depth journey.
At no point during reading this book was at the frenzied, "I absolutely have to read one more chapter" stage. Ultramarathon Man did that for me. Although I buzzed through this a little quicker than I probably do an average book, I can't imagine I'm going to tell my friends who have an slight interest in running that they've got to check this one out. Running diehards like myself are going to be interested if only for the fact that about an average of two decent running books come out per year.
If Dean was speaking in town, I'd be extremely interested in hearing his stories. If he was running a race, I'd be all about trying to hang with him. He seems like an extremely positive guy. I just wish that he would've dug into a little more details and really given us the guts of what truly was a cool and unique feat.
 50/50: Secrets I Learned September 8, 2008
AW
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I thought the book was well written, interesting, and fun to read. Both beginning and veteran runners would find Dean's experiences and/or advice
worth reading about.
Inspiration Incarnate September 9, 2008
Vishal Nayak (San Francisco)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
And by "Incarnate" I mean "In Karno." If you're into running, adventure, logistics, being inspired, getting motivation, losing weight, getting fit, or life, you have to read this book. Dean Karnazes is a legend, a hero, and an icon, and if you haven't read his first book, you must.
Good not great, decent follow-up to Ultramarathon Man September 5, 2008
Jack Dharma (Long Beach, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A light read, more a travelogue of the 50 in 50 event with some running/health advice thrown in for good measure. Karnazes is a good narrator and some of the people he meets are inspiring, but this should only be a follow-up to Ultramarathon Man, which is great in my opinion. You could do a lot worse than this book for a nice read.
 Ultra-Energizer Bunny! September 10, 2008
Kevin Quinley (Fairfax, VA)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
The next time you want to skip that daily three-mile run because you're sore, tired or distracted, you might want to consider the example of Dean Karnazes. He undertook to run fifty marathons in fifty consecutive days. Yeah - you heard that right.
He pulled it off.
Oh, and he did it on about 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night. Supported by his corporate sponsor, The North Face, Karnazes took up this running challenge for reasons akin to why men initially scaled Mt. Everest - because it was there. "50/50" is a worthy and inspirational follow-up book to his inaugural work, "Ultra-Marathon Man." If you could plug into this guy's genes, there would be no energy crisis. When he gets through running these long distances, he goes wind surfing, mountain biking or rock climbing.
Now are you inclined to get off the couch?
Few can relate to Karnazes' feats of extreme exercise; nor does he advocate that everyone follow his example. He does not proselytize for ultra-running. The book's chapters are sprinkled with sidebars of practical advice for the casual runner.
And when Karno finishes his 50 marathons in50 days, what does he do? He undertakes to run across the country, from New York back to him home in San Francisco. The guy makes Forest Gump look like a slacker.
"50/50" concludes with hints that Karnazes will be following up with another ultra-adventure. The guy is on to something here. Even the most casual running can tap into the vein of inspiration and motivation offered here in Karno's quest to pull off an extraordinary feat with his extraordinary feet!
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