• A Runner’s High

  • My Life in Motion
  • By: Dean Karnazes
  • Narrated by: Andrew Eiden
  • Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (576 ratings)

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A Runner’s High  By  cover art

A Runner’s High

By: Dean Karnazes
Narrated by: Andrew Eiden
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Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author and ultramarathoning legend Dean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits, from running in the shoe-melting heat of Death Valley to the lung-freezing cold of the South Pole. He’s raced and competed across the globe and once ran 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days.

In A Runner’s High, Karnazes chronicles his extraordinary adventures leading up to his return to the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run in his mid-50s after first completing the race decades ago. The Western States, infamous for its rugged terrain and extreme temperatures, becomes the most demanding competition of Karnazes’s life, a physical and emotional reckoning and a battle to stay true to one’s purpose. Confronting his age, his career path, and his life choices, we see Karnazes as we never have before.

For Karnazes, the running experience is about the runner and the trail. It is not the sum of achievements but a story that continues to be told each day, with each step. A Runner’s High is at once an endorphin-fueled adventure and a love letter to the sport from one of its most celebrated ambassadors that will leave both casual and serious runners cheering.

©2021 Dean Karnazes (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about A Runner’s High

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Skip the Audible Version- Trust Me

This was my first experience with Dean, and while I’m sure he’s a great guy, as I finish this book I’m not a fan. That’s because the narrator is so bad that I’m struggling to separate Dean from the audio. Unless you like the idea of having Michael Keaton’s Batman (who often sounds like he’s from SoCal and that he’s high) read a book to you for over 7 hours, I strongly encourage you to skip this one.

As far as the writing goes, it’s just ok. It wasn’t until about chapter 8 or 9 that he actually starts to discuss Western States which is why I picked this one to listen to.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Almost couldn’t finish it

I am a big fan of Karno, but this was tough. The book seemed overly descriptive. If he had put the thesaurus away it could have shaved an hour or more off the read time with no elements of the story missing. The narrator was terrible. I prefer an audio book with no voices, like Andrew’s interpretation of Dean’s parents voices, etc. was brutal. He was so over the top, it took away from the already over the top story telling. Just eh.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The Book Is Amazing - Hold the Audio/Narration

The narration is abysmal, truly. Get the hard copy and pick another audiobook. Trust me on it!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Narrator ruins it.

The guy reading is annoying as hell with all the silly dramatic nonsense he adds to the reading.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Dean being transparent

Dean shares his successes and struggles. The struggles were relatable. The shenanigans made for interesting listening too. I liked learning a little more about his delightful family. Dean is really refining his skills as a writer.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

If you run you should be entertained

Dean is the man but I thought this book may just be a money grab, and it is, but it was very entertaining and I really enjoyed it. The narrator does a good job although I can tell he's not from California as he mispronounces many local names, i.e. Marin county, Manteca and Placer high school...all butchered. I just thought it was funny, but how does that get by Dean or the editors? Anyway, it's a great account of what it's like to run ultras, although I do not think anyone can really know what it's like until they do so (I have not, but have run a few marathons). I've never even considered doing an ultra although perhaps this book has put a very slight inspiration of maybe, someday, trying a "short" one.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

okay

Strange it seemed many times in the story the author just used eloquent words to fill dialog as a story that could of been told quicker. As for me sad Dean didn't read it because I rather enjoy his reading style but still a good book about entering the crossroads of a life once lived and one yet to be foretold.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ok

Not nearly as good as his first, Ultramarathon Man. Stories overly embellished and wordy versus the more authentic aspects of Ultramarathon Man.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Runners motivation and inspiration

I recommend this book to any runner looking for inspiration. I enjoyed Dean’s experiences with running and getting older and his views about the sport. I love his ending “running is forever “.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Mostly for runners I’d say

Pretty good. Nothing mind blowing but a fairly easy listen . Pretty well read as well

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