As most of you know, I'm a fanatic runner. It is my SPORT of choice.
Anyway, Buddhaboy got to interview the number 1 ultramarthoner in the world, Dean Karnazes. Somehow, he managed to get an invite for us to join him on a run on South Beach Monday afternoon.
So, I got to run with him:
Just a few of his acomplishments:
Longest Continuous Run, 350 miles
Ten-Time Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run Silver Buckle Winner
2005 Adventure Hall of Fame, Men’s Journal
2004 Top Ten Ultimate Athletes, Outside
2004 Ultrarunner of the Year, Competitor
Winner Badwater Ultramarathon: The World's Toughest Footrace, 2004
(Sidenote: Badwater is called the toughest footracae on Earth. 135 miles across DeathValley in teh middle of the summer.)
Buddhaboy and I showed up and went on an "easy" run along South Beach. We got in about 40 minutes or so.Â
The boys ran a bit fast, but I would slow down, and Dean would slow down. I had heard he was cocky, and he was far from it. He answered all of my stupid fangirl questions, and was encouraging to me when I was tired.Â
I was frustrated because the high wind on South Beach drained me, but as Buddhaboy reminded me, you're running with one of the most elite runners on the planet.
At the end of the run, I apologized for slowing the boys down. Dean was completely humble and nice and said that I run like a little champ. He could tell that it was hard for me to keep up (my eyes and nose ran continuously, I couldnt even see), and I hung in there. He then reminded me that it takes YEARS to truly make great distance runners. Women endurance champs are generally in their early 40's.
Here's a pic of us:
I'm the little one in the middle that looks like she's been on a death march. Dean of course is on the left. Buddhaboy on the right.
Dean just announced that this summer, he'll be running 50 marathons in 50 days. Insane. However, he runs about 75 base miles a week so perhaps it's not that big of a stretch.
I hope to meet him here when he does his Fort Lauderdale Run.
PS - Don't tell me that I look like ass. I know it. I think this is the worst pic I've ever taken. But, I earned looking like that, so screw it.
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