The ultramarathon legend who ran 350 miles nonstop says the key to doing hard things is simpler than most people think

For decades, scientists have tried to comprehend what separates group capable of extraordinary endurance from everyone else. Is it genetics? VO₂ max? Pain tolerance? Mental toughness?

Dean Karnazes has spent additional than 30 years giving them a notable case study.

He's run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 successive days, traversed Death Valley in the center of summer, and in 2005 set the document for the longest nonstop run — covering 350 miles in 80 hours and 44 minutes.

Even that wasn't enough.

"I really made it 350 miles, which was slightly of a letdown since I idea perchance I could run 500 miles," Karnazes told me. "That was benevolent of the supreme goal." His earth document motionless stands today, 21 years later.

After decades of ultrarunning, Karnazes says he's learned that doing difficult things comes downward to a fistful of uncomplicated habits that anyone can practice.

Don't create winning the goal

Karnazes has completed on the podium plentifulness of times, but he says that's never been what pulled him to the starting line.

"I do it for the adventure," he said. "Both the inner and the external adventure. I've never really stated I desire to win a race. I fair thought, be the finest Dean that Dean can be on competition day."

He says approaching races that way has changed how he defines success. The podium, if it comes, is fair the cherry on top.

That mindset, he says, has kept him motivated through hundreds of marathons and ultramarathons, lengthy following chasing trophies stopped being interesting.

Redefine what achievement looks like

When Karnazes gives direction to new ultrarunners, he doesn't commencement alongside mileage or pace.

"Just set your goal on finishing," he said. "Don't say I desire to do it in sub five hours or sub six hours. Just say, 'For me, achievement is reaching the complete line before the cutoff.'"

Karnazes says that method has a way of changing how you see your own limits.

"You'll demonstrate to yourself that you're improved than you think you are. And you can go additional than you think you could."

Keep moving, equal if you have to dilatory down

The direction appears simple, but following it is another story.

At several item during his 350-mile run, Karnazes stopped trusting what he was seeing.

After nearly three days without sleep, he stated he started hallucinating. He felt as although he had remaining his own build and was observing himself from above.

"When you're in these altered states, it's as although you don't have conscious authority of your mind," he said. "You're fighting your intellect to remain present, but your intellect gets distant from you."

Despite that, he kept running.

I asked Karnazes for his direction to aspiring ultrarunners who concern they'll hit a item anywhere the ache becomes too much.

"You stroll if you have to," he said. "You dilatory down, you shove through the pain, and you arrive out the another side, and you're rejuvenated."