Ran 50 Marathons in 50 Days—Here’s How He Stays Fit at 60+

The Hard Way w/ Joe De Sena

Spartan Races

Fitness, Alternative Health, Health & Fitness, 792700

4.7 • 870 Ratings

🗓️ 10 June 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Joe De Sena sits down with Dean Karnazes, one of the world’s most relentless endurance athletes. Dean is an ultra-marathoner and is still competing hard at 60+.

From a spontaneous 30-mile run sparked by tequila to training like a Spartan with no gym, he shares powerful lessons on discipline, resilience, and building a body—and mindset—that doesn’t quit.

You’ll learn how micro workouts can transform your day, why breathing through your nose can upgrade your endurance, and how to push past your limits when your mind wants to give up.

If you’re looking for motivation to get moving, level up your habits, or stop making excuses, this is the episode you need.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:41 Dean’s Spartan Roots

01:47 Why People Hate Running

02:57 The Drunken Start of Dean’s Running Career

05:09 How He Stays Healthy Over 60

06:20 Nose Breathing and Ancient Spartan Tactics

06:56 Dean’s Hardest Challenge: 50 Marathons in 50 Days

07:55 The Power of Not Thinking

09:49 What’s Next: From Dead Sea to Everest

12:42 Advice for Regular People

16:49 The One Workout Everyone Should Do

17:11 Where to Find Dean

Connect to Dean:

Website: https://www.ultramarathonman.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultramarathon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deankarnazes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deankarnazes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UltramarathonDean

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DeanKarnazes

Transcript

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0:00.0	People ask me all the time, what do you think about when things get tough?
0:02.6	And I tell them, I don't.
0:03.8	You know, thinking is the problem.
0:05.3	I don't think just do.
0:07.1	Don't think about getting to the race start even this morning.
0:09.7	Just get out of bed.
0:10.7	Yeah, I mean, the hardest part is the first step, right?
0:13.2	It's just getting out the door.
0:14.8	So look at your life through the lens of being the best animal that you can be. Welcome to the Hardway podcast with Joe Ducena,
0:22.1	founder and CEO of Spartan races. We're teaching you how to overcome your obstacles in your life
0:28.1	the same way we teach our 10 million plus Spartans to overcome obstacles on the course. With
0:32.9	insight from the smartest, most accomplished experts from every corner of the world. Get ready to elevate your life today.
0:40.8	Joe Descenta CEO and founder of Spartan
0:43.0	and host of the Hardway podcast.
0:44.4	Got my good buddy, Dean Carnassiz on.
0:46.8	He's in Athens, not in a really exciting place in Athens,
0:51.3	apparently in a laundry room.
0:52.6	You're in a laundry room, Dean?
0:53.8	I don't take the easy way, Joe. I'm following your reading. Yeah, yeah.
0:57.5	For those listening or watching that don't know Dean, Dean is actually a Spartan. Like,
1:02.1	if we were to draw blood from Dean, we would see this guy's, you know, history comes from ancient
1:08.6	Sparta. So this could be, you could be Leonidasidas' great, great, great, great, great grandson.
	...

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