Although Dean has been inspiring people all around the world for the years, I only learned about him about a few weeks ago. I came across a documentary called - Ultramarathon Man: 50 Marathons, 50 States, 50 Days, on Netflix one night and thought it was worth a couple hours of my time. By the end of the movie I was obsessed - I have read his books, searched the internet for any new tidbit I could find and even shot a couple Tweets his way. The sheer passion and drive Dean has is amazing, he is always in search for his next greatest adventure but still leaves time to make sure he is a wonderful father and husband. Some of Dean's accomplishments include:
- Overall Winner, 4 Deserts Race Series, 2008
- Competitor magazine Endurance Athlete of the Year Award winner, 2008, 2006, 2005
- ESPN ESPY Award winner, “Best Outdoor Athlete”, 2007
- Winner, Vermont Trail 100 Mile Endurance Run, 2006
- Two-time Emmy Award winner, 2005, 2007
- American Ultrarunning Team, World Championships, 2005, 2008
- Men’s Journal, Adventure Hall of Fame, 2005
- Winner, Badwater Ultramarathon, 2004
- 350 miles (560 km) in 80 hours and 44 minutes without stopping (2005)
- 148 miles (238 km) in 24 hours on a treadmill, 2004
- Single-handedly completed the 199-mile (320 km) Providian Saturn Relay six times
- Eleven-time 100-Mile/1 Day Silver Buckleholder at the Western States Endurance Run (i.e., better than ten twenty-four-hour finishes), 1995–2006
- Outside magazine, Ultimate Top 10 Outdoor Athletes, 2004
- Swimming across the San Francisco Bay
- Ran 3,000 miles (4,800 km) across the United States from Disneyland to New York City in 75 days, running 40 to 50 miles per day, 2011
I certainly was in awe last night as he described his next challenge: to run a marathon in every country in the world in one calendar year, ending with the New York Marathon in 2013.
If you ever have a chance to meet or see Dean in person, don't pass it up.
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