Ultraman Dean Karnazes: Extreme Example of What Happens When One Decides To Change Their Life

Conventional wisdom is that we have 'meaning of life' introspection when we turn 40. While this cliched concept is certainly far to general to have much application to the real world the fact is that most people are far too busy just living to have much time or perspective to entertain such thoughts until around that age. Dean Karnazaes had his life changing epiphany on his 30th birthday when he walked out of a bar and decided to do something he hadn't done in 15 years. From Publisher's Weekly:

In high school, Karnazes ran cross-country track, but when his favorite coach retired, he quit the sport. Fifteen years later, on his 30th birthday (in 1992), on the verge of an early midlife crisis, he threw on his old shoes and ran 30 miles on a whim. The invigorating feeling compelled him to pursue the world of ultra-marathons (any run longer than 26.2 miles).

Dean decided that he wasn't happy with his life behind a desk and preferred running. In short order he became an Ultrarunner--someone who runs races longer than a 26.2 marathon. Among his accomplishments:

Running the first marathon held at the South Pole
Finishing the Western States 100-mile endurance run (11 times)
Winning the Vermont Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run
Winning the Badwater 135-mile ultramarathon through Death Valley
Finishing a 199-mile relay race... with only himself on his team (7 times)
Running 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 days

He is currently (as of this writing) running across the United States averaging over 50 miles a day. His long training days are over 100 miles. All because as he was turning 30, he decided to change his life. Crazy? Inspirational? Both?

Here is a 25 minute interveiw with Dean compliments of YouTube.

Update: As of this writing Dean is in Indiana. Click here to follow his progress across the United States.