5 Things Dean Karnazes Can’t Run Without

From running a marathon to the South Pole to running 50 marathons in all 50 US states in 50 consecutive days, Dean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. We wanted insight into his running must-haves (with hopes to suddenly start running like him if we did this too), so we asked Dean 5 things that he couldn't run without. Keep reading to see what they are!

A good Audio Book

I love to read but when you’re training sometimes eight hours a day or more there’s not much time left. That’s why I love audio books; I’ve got over 500 on my playlist. My favorites are adventure stories, like: Into Thin Air and The Worst Journey in the World, but I also listen to business titles and other non-fiction. With audio books, the reader makes a difference. A good reader can really bring a story to life, so I always read the reviews before downloading. And literary publications, like The New York Times Book Review, have started to include audio books in their rankings. This is a good place to go for recommendations.

Muir Energy gels

I recently discovered this little company that makes the greatest energy gels, all with simple and natural ingredients, in an incredible variety of unique flavors, like Blackberry Thyme, Sweet Potato Oregano and Cashew Lemon. It’s great energy and great tasting. Most energy gels are overly sweetened and sugary. Muir Energy has nut butter blends that have very low sugar and are a nice flavor change, plus nut butter tends to be more satiating so you don’t need to eat as often. Having less in your gut during endurance racing is a good thing.

My Fitbit Ionic

I track everything on it. My runs. My cross-training. My sleep. It’s a great device and it’s become part of my life. One thing it’s helped me to improve is sleep quality. What I’ve learned is that over-training is very disruptive to goo quality sleep. Now I do a better job of staying within my training parameters to avoid over-training. Ultimately it’s allowed me to reduce the load without compromising performance. And I just feel better throughout the day after a restful night’s sleep.

 Zensah UV Protective cooling arm sleeves

I wear them every time the sun’s out.  Not only do they protect my skin from damaging UV rays, they also help keep me cool. Plus, they’re quite stylish and have a motivational quote from this guy I know. During a recent race in the foothills of the Sierra’s the sun came out earlier than expected and it was nearly 90 degrees by 9:00 AM. Thankfully I’d stashed a pair of my Zensah arm sleeve in the pocket of my hydration pack (they’re lightweight and scrunch down nicely). They were a lifesaver.

Squirrel’s Nut Butter anti-chafe stick

Easy to apply and made with all-natural ingredients. I use it everywhere to prevent chaffing, and on my feet to help prevent blisters. Because, let’s face it, chaffing and blisters really suck. I also use it after showering, especially when racing and being outdoors in hot and dry climates, which can strip your skin of moisture. And the stick applicator keeps my hands from getting all greasy.

Post written by: Dean Karnazes

Named by TIME magazine as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in the World", Dean Karnazes is an ultra marathoner that has accomplished the seemingly impossible.