Named by Time magazine as one of the, “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World,” Dean Karnazes has expanded the limits of human endurance and along the way inspired countless others to be the best that they can be. Men’s Fitness says, “Dean Karnazes might just be the fittest man on the planet.”
And how does he stay so fit? He’s a Zoner.
“I’ve taken Barry’s principles and applied them in a very real way to my athletic pursuits. The results have been undeniable,” Karnazes said. “I’ve been a personal acquaintance of Barry’s for years and was an early adapter of 40/30/30 nutrition. I’ve followed the principles of the Zone Diet regimen for more than a decade and believe that it has helped me to both perform better and to feel better overall.”
“Dean Karnazes is a great example of the ability of the Zone Diet to cause adaptations to one’s physiology to give them unique advantages in athletic performance,” Dr. Sears said. “Dean follows the Zone Diet exceptionally faithfully, yet during his ultra-marathon runs, he consistently consumes high-fat junk food. What gives? By following the Zone Diet, he is adapting his body to burn fat preferentially as opposed to carbohydrates to make the chemical energy (ATP) needed for muscle contraction. During an ultra-marathon, by consuming high-fat (i.e. high-octane) junk food, he can produce extraordinary amounts of ATP. His competitors, who are adapted to burning carbohydrates (i.e. low octane fuel), will make far less ATP than will Dean. This means one thing: He will always have far more energy than they will. Fortunately for Dean, it is unlikely they will ever learn this basic fact of metabolism.”
An internationally recognized endurance athlete, Dean has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. He has raced and competed on all seven continents. Among his many accomplishments, he’s run a 135-mile ultra-marathon across Death Valley in 120-degree temperatures and a marathon to the South Pole in negative 40 degrees. He’s run a 200-mile relay solo, racing alongside teams of 12 and has completed a 350-mile run. In 2006, he ran 50 marathons, in all 50 US states, in 50 consecutive days, finishing with the NYC Marathon, which he completed in three hours flat.
Dean and his incredible adventures have been featured on The Today Show, 60 Minutes, The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS News, CNN, ESPN, The Howard Stern Show, NPR’s Morning Edition, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, the BBC and many others. He has appeared on the cover of Runner’s World, Outside, and Wired magazine, 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 largest men’s publication in the world.
A New York Times bests-elling author, his first book, “Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner,” was the #7 bestselling sports book worldwide in 2005. His much anticipated second book, “50/50: Secrets I Learned While Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days—and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! is slated to be released in conjunction with a feature-length documentary film chronicling his cross-country marathon tour.
Dean is a member of the California Senate Task Force on Youth Wellness and serves on the board of Girls on the Run, a non-profit prevention program that encourages girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running and outdoor exercise. He is a 2008 winner of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports Community Leadership Award.
Career Highlights:
Winner, Atacama Crossing, 155-mile footrace through the Atacama Desert, 2008
ESPN ESPY Award winner, “Best Outdoor Athlete,” 2007
Winner, Dead President’s Ultra, 2007
Winner, Vermont Trail 100, 2006
Ran 50 Marathons, in 50 US States, in 50 Consecutive Days, 2006
Competitor magazine, Runner of the Year, 2006
Emmy Award winner, Dean Karnazes – Ultra Marathon Man, Best Sports Feature, 2006
American Ultrarunning Team, 2005 World Championships
Men’s Journal, Adventure Hall of Fame, 2005
Winner, Badwater Ultramarathon: World’s Toughest Footrace, 2004
Eleven-time Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run Silver Buckle holder, 1995-2006
Outside magazine, Ultimate Top 10 Outdoor Athletes, 2004
Winner, Outdoor World Championships, 2001