Running with Dean Karnaze (the Ultra Marathon Man)

On Wed. October 25th Ken and I were up in Nashville, IN to run in one of the Endurance 50 events. It was the Tecumseh Trail Marathon (point to point) that Ken and I ran last December 2005. But this was a special running of the marathon as it is one of DEAN KARNAZE’S marathons. Dean has set out on an historic endurance running event: To run 50 marathons, in each of the 50 U.S. states, in 50 consecutive days. We ran his 39th marathon with him. I had emailed the race director after registering and said that I would be slow and would be running way back and he said that was ok. I was scared that I would not be able to keep up with Dean and get lost.
We stayed Tuesday night at a fantastic B&B, The Allison Inn. The innkeeper, Tim was so accommodating to our needs. The Inn served breakfast at 8:30 am but since Ken and I would be running at that time, Tim had bagels, bananas, yogurt, OJ, and coffee ready for us at 6 am. And he granted us a special check out time so that we could return after the race to shower and also leave our belongings at the inn while we were out traipsing thru the woods.
The morning of the race found the weather about 30 degrees. Later in the day it warmed up to upper 40s. There were 55 runners (filled to capacity).The elevation was 591’.
I loved this race last year and was so excited to be in such a great runner’s company. We started the race after he spoke to us about having fun during the run and enjoying ourselves. And he put us at ease by asking us questions, finding out if this was our first marathon (14 runners), first trail marathon, our goals, etc. I ran with him the first 3 miles and then ran behind him. He has some powerful legs that I enjoyed viewing!
At one point he stopped for a bathroom break and got lost. So at the first of about 4 “check ins” where we hydrated and ate, we waited on him! Later on, I had to take a bathroom break and got lost! I looked up and was off the trail. I was yelling and looking for the trail markers about 15 minutes when another lost runner came thru the trees. Chris had a compass and knew we were supposed to travel southeast and after tromping thru the woods and making our own trail we found the real trail and off we went. I hung with him and it paid off – I did not get lost again (as long)! At one point we ran on a gravel road and the “check off” guy came by in a truck and told me to run up ahead and join another group that were heading back on the trail. He said he wanted me to finish with them and I laughingly said “do you not think I will make it in?’ and he replied – “I think you will finish – I just don’t want you to get lost again.” So I ran down and joined them and I look around and there is Ken and he is running with a guy named Jake. They were part of a group that missed the turn off (not marked) and ran 2.5 miles on. So they ran 5 miles extra! We ran/walked the last 3 miles together. The hardest part was the trail around the lake with 2 miles left- rocks and roots seemed to jump out at my shuffling feet and I looked at the lake and wanted to swim to the other side where you could hear the finishers! But I kept on, made a wrong turn at the dam (leading Ken and Jake the wrong way) and had to backtrack but finally made it in to the finish – an hour after Dean, but ahead of a few runners (I think they got lost too!)
I knew this was a hard course but when I was finished and heard Dean say that he has spent some time on the trails over the years and this trail run was as challenging as any, I was proud that Ken and I can now claim we have completed this course 2 times! We received numerous water bottles, T-shirts, Dean’s book “Ultra Marathon Man” (he signed it), a free month of training with Carmichel Training Systems, Sole Custom Footbeds and many more goodies. The best part was being able to ask him questions about his diet (lots of salmon, no sugar, using olive oil) and his mental difficulties. I asked if though he knew he was well trained for an event, did he ever just want to quit. He laughed and said yes, that at the Badlands Race (a 135-mile endurance run that starts in Death Valley, California, 282 feet below sea level, and finishes at the Mt. Whitney Portals, which is at an elevation of 8,360 feet), he wanted to quit within a few miles and just go home. What honesty! I was really impressed with this runner who made everyone feel important and who really encouraged both the fast and slow! The day was filled with beautiful scenery, adventure, kind and considerate runners, a great support staff and the building of confidence and character. This was a highlight of my running events. And of course it was Ken’s idea! We ended the day by eating at the restaurant in Nashville, The Ordinary and had salmon in honor of Dean.
Dean’s blog about these marathons is http://enduranceis.typepad.com/
The website for the Endurance 50 is http://www.endurance50.com/
And by the way – Ken is now thinking of doing an endurance race- Hardcore 100 Mile Endurance Race. I can say no, right?!