I do not understand why so many people are so against Dean! He is an athlete who does amazing and unthinkable things and always trying to challenge himself and that’s all there is to it. He isn’t hurting anyone doing what he does. So what if he’s not the fastest athlete out there and doesn’t win any marathons or Olympic gold medals. That is not his goal in life. He is not a speed runner, he is a distance runner. From what I know of him he seems to be a great family guy. Those who have met him say he is a very sincere listener and great guy. Sure he is away from home at times and is involved in many long runs that keep him away from his wife and kids but that is his passion in life, that is what he enjoys doing. He is making money from it so it is technically now his job. My dad travels a lot for his job and isn’t home a lot because of that. He has made a lot of sacrifices for his family and has turned down job promotions in the past so he wouldn’t have to move out of the state away from his family. Just recently we found out his company is relocating so he has no choice and he has to move 8+ hours away from his home…but that is life. It’s a sacrifice you have to make to support your family. Just like Dean, he has turned his running into his job, his way of earning money to support his family and at the same time it’s something he enjoys doing and it’s his passion. It’s what makes him happy. Not too many people can say they enjoy their job like he does. Sure it is his choice but that’s not the point. What do you think of famous actors or singers then? What about those singers/rockstars who go on tour and leave their family behind for months and get involved with drugs and drinking while their child is at home waiting for them? Think of all the broken families out there…dads that are never home and cheating on their wives, or who abuse their children or who do drugs. the list goes on. What Dean is doing is a great thing and should be even more publicized than currently is. Look at all the bad that is going on with the world today. There is no sense in getting all worked up about Dean Karnazas, an amazing athlete! He is an inspiration to many runners. I also don’t understand why hiding a child from Dean is an issue. Just because a child listens to his stories doesn’t mean they are going to turn into him. I think his lesson is to have an ambition in life and go for it! It doesn’t mean that everyone who listens to him is going to want to run ultramarathons. There is no harm at all in having someone listen to him speak. I’m almost appalled that everyone on this site is so against Dean. And you all call yourself athletes? I just think those of you who are so against Dean and his ways should learn a little more about him before you agree with others. It’s only fair to know the full sides of both stories before you comment. Dean is a positive influence for America today and should start to be treated like it!

I cannot believe the number of people who defend the indefensible. I live in Indiana, here there are still people who worship Bobby Knight. I happen to believe that character counts for more than the ability to win championships. I bet he would have won even more if had the character of say Dean Smith.

I believe words mean things! I believe Family is more important than work or even than running.

“Running until I was on the verge of collapse stripped away all of the sappy higher-level needs - delicate things like feelings and esteem - and tended to make our relationship more of an instinctual union. Pushing myself to the brink of obliteration tore down the heierarchy of needs. We somehow loved each other more fiercely at these times, when primitave emotion was the main driving force. The goal was to get me to the finish line, alive.”

?

Call me crazy, Annon, but I think feelings and esteem are rather important in a marriage.

Joan, as far as walking out, I think you did the right thing. Your daughter was with you, if you believe something is harmful to your child, you need to get her out of there. Better to be safe than sorry.

Remember the ends do not justify the means.

Poor Karnazes. Hated by so many. He is not the elite in the ultraworld that nonultra-folk think he claims to be. However, if he gets folks out the door, if he gets ‘em on the track, trails, whatever–good for him (he is good–has some good credentials, just not as good as portrayed or perceived).

My comment about a love of running was perhaps a bit too biting, but…there’s always a “but” coming…I see so many hateful posts regarding the trail/ultra crowd. My apologies –sort of–you could at least stay to listen. Appearances can be deceiving.

As to Fat Charlie’s comments, well, you may have a point there. What I spot (Karnazes’ celebrity), I got … maybe I’m jealous. I remember feeling this same way when I never made it onto the cover of Runner’s World magazine in my prime. I had my 15 minutes of fame and I felt I deserved to be on that cover, dammit. I made all sorts of excuses about how I was “old school” and didn’t wear enough spandex for a cover-girl, but the truth was I felt slighted. Flash-in-the-pan runners were making it on to the cover after I’d labored in the sport for 16 years.

But make no mistake about this: Karnazes’ flash in the pan is nothing but Fool’s Gold.