A Runner’s High

My Life in Motion

By: Dean Karnazes

Narrated by: Andrew Eiden

New York Times bestselling author and ultramarathoning legend Dean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits, from running in the shoe melting heat of Death Valley to the lung freezing cold of the South Pole. He’s raced and competed across the globe and once ran 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days.

In A Runner’s High, Karnazes chronicles his extraordinary adventures leading up to his return to the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in his mid-fifties after first completing the race decades ago. The Western States, infamous for its rugged terrain and extreme temperatures, becomes the most demanding competition of Karnazes’s life, a physical and emotional reckoning and a battle to stay true to one’s purpose. Confronting his age, his career path, and his life choices, we see Karnazes as we never have before.

For Karnazes, the running experience is about the runner and the trail. It is not the sum of achievements but a story that continues to be told each day, with each step. A Runner’s High is at once an endorphin-fueled adventure and a love letter to the sport from one of its most celebrated ambassadors that will leave both casual and serious runners cheering.

Almost couldn’t finish it

I am a big fan of Karno, but this was tough. The book seemed overly descriptive. If he had put the thesaurus away it could have shaved an hour or more off the read time with no elements of the story missing. The narrator was terrible. I prefer an audio book with no voices, like Andrew’s interpretation of Dean’s parents voices, etc. was brutal. He was so over the top, it took away from the already over the top story telling. Just eh.

Excellent and Captivating

I loved this book the moment it started. It was a wild ride throughout Dean's western states race!

Loved the performance

Andrew is a great voice artist and the story of Dean is entertaining and inspiring.

Running is the reward

Very inspiring. Well written and a joy to listen to for those on the path. As they say. There is no finish line. The path is the reward and those of us who run learn this. Thank you Dean and the entire running community for making this sport so meaningful.

Dean knows how to tell a story

This is the third book I've read by Dean Karnazes. He's really great at relating his experiences to the reader. He seems to have a good sense of what will interest those of us who haven't done ultras. Highly recommended!