In a continuing collaboration with Scott over at Straight to the Bar, we will be writing about training and media influences throughout the month of August. I would like to start the discussion about how much the media colors our perceptions of athletes, specifically referencing Dean Karnazes.
Dean Karnazes is almost a household name.
He has inspired hundreds if not thousands of people to change their lives and become more fit. He wrote a humorous look at how an ordinary person can train himself to do extraordinary things in his book, Ultramarathon Man. He has raised a lot of money for various charities through his extreme feats of endurance. He is very personable, and a master at promoting both himself and his causes.
He also rubs a lot of people in the ultramarathon community the wrong way. His often blatant self-promotion gets on a lot of people’s nerves, and even Karnazes himself will be the first to admit that there are people out there that are much better than him at some (or even most) of the events that he competes in or stages.
He recently won an ESPY award for Best Outdoor Athlete for his accomplishments in 2006. A lot of people will mumble, mutter, or yell about how they aren’t very impressed. Dean may have run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, but Sam Thompson ran his 50 marathons months before Dean did and did it with less support and on a smaller budget. He may have won the Vermont 100 Trail Race, but Scott Jurek wins just about any endurance event that he competes in and regularly wipes the floor with Dean when they compete against each other.
Even Karnazes will admit that Scott Jurek is a better racer than him:
“Along with Ann Trason, Scott Jurek is one of the most dominant, competitive ultra-runners this country has ever seen,” Karnazes said in an e-mail to the News Tribune. “I’m a big fan of his and would surely include him in my top three picks with [Americans] Charlie Engle [adventure racer] and Laird Hamilton [surfer].”
Why does Dean Karnazes get the award rather than somebody else? Is it because he was considered for Time Magazine’s most influential people in the world last year? Is it because he will take any excuse to put his face in front of a microphone or camera? Is it because nobody has ever heard of somebody like Scott Jurek, while they see Karnazes’ face everywhere they go?
The media can influence the way that people think, and nobody can deny that Dean Karnazes is a master at getting and keeping attention. His public relations skills are second to none in the ultramarathon community. That is one of the main annoyances that the people that vilify him have. He seems to be the antithesis of the stereotypical endurance athlete that is out there to test their own limits in some measure of privacy and anonymity, where even the most accomplished athletes walk away with only a belt buckle as an award. They wonder why he can’t be humble enough to refuse a “best athlete” award and recommend it to those who are better than him.
I think that the media has it mostly right. Dean Karnazes inspires a lot of people, and he has a long list of amazing accomplishments that very few other people can match. He knows how to work the system and bring more attention to a sport that is now gaining in popularity more swiftly than it has in the past, and a lot of the reason for that is because of the attention that he has been able to bring to it.
I credit DK for helping me get into ultramarathoning. His book was a big influence on me and I found it incredibly inspirational. It’s obvious he’s a decent guy overall and I admire his philanthropic efforts. But as I got more into the sport, I learned that there were others who were accomplishing more on several fronts, and couldn’t help but wonder why are these folks only getting a fraction (at best) of the media attention? I really liked what Jurek had to say in his interview on DK. Thought he laid it out nicely, especially on DK’s blatant acceptance of awards that paint him as the number one guy in the sport, when he’s far from it. He’s in the upper echelon, but comparing his accomplishments to Jurek’s, it’s obvious who has more talent. I think it’d be more appropriate for him to not bow to the dollar and instead give props to those who deserve them more.
There are also a significant number of folks in the ultra community who prefer the sport stay underground, and DK is the antithesis of the philosophy while cashing in on it.
And there are those who are probably just jealous that someone can make a living at doing what they love most. I admit I’d be a fool to say I wouldn’t want that gig. But I also know I’d never accept some of the awards and titles based on my morale principals. If I thought money was important, I’d never have left my lucrative other job to become a teacher.
I agree its such a weird thing that someone can garner so much attention for himself (and the sport) but not be number 1. I know some sports writers who do everything they can to NOT talk about DK. Unfortunately, the MSM and sports media find it easier to do a story on someone who is self-promoting and willing to step in front of the camera. I bet if Scott started writing press releases and creating media kits and doing random stunts he’d be the Outdoor Athlete of the Year.
Aaarrgghh…I love you Jamie, buddy, but I have to disagree with you and all the other Dean skeptics, especially at it pertains to him “accepting awards blatant acceptance of awards that paint him as the number one guy in the sport, when he’s far from it.” The ESPY is for “Best Outdoor Athlete” and not for best runner, best ultramarathoner, or quickest of either. No doubt there are tons of more talented runners, and Scott Jurek stands heads and shoulders above them all. Dean is working the system less than it is working him, and he is just taking advantage of it. Give him credit for it. We would all do the same and if offered any award, I bet none of us would refuse. That would just be rude. Namaste.
The truth of the matter is, as Stephen says, Dean got the award for the best outdoor athlete. Simply put, although Dean accomplished the E50, he is an elite windsurfer, an accomplished rock climber, mountain biker, and swimmer, and his bulky body says enough about that (oh yeah, he’s also in his mid 40’s, nearly double Jurek’s age). Now sure, Scott Jurek is one of the most successful runners, if not number one, but he is not the most accomplished athlete. Dean may be, or at least he is up there with the best of them, because he is well rounded. I credit Stephen, Dean is taking advantage of the best way to promote healthy living: the media. If they want to cover his every move, it would be a complete waste for Dean to turn down any opportunity. We know he is not number one or by himself in the ultra endurance population, and he knows this as well. But he is damn good at expressing our sport and his experiences to get us “5k-ers” or “26-milers” to push our limits further.
Dean gets the credit he deserves. This elite stuff is just BS. He’s putting the sport on the map and he never claimed to be anything more than he is, plain and simple. If Scott Jurek wants coverage then get in front of a camera. If Scott doesn’t, then don’t blame Karnazes. Any of you run as far as Karnazes?
I would also like to add that Dean did not bad mouth Scott.
Dean may not be the most experienced or the fastest ultra-marathon runner there is out there, and he may well indulge in a bit too much self-promotion but hey, if I could get free gear or a bit of cash to follow my passion then bring it on.
Dean shares his love of running with a global audience and inspires people to get off their butts and start running and maybe even tempts one or two to give a 100 miler a go. That’s what makes him great – he holds nothing back to share a gift with anyone and everyone and if just one person has a better life for it then I think I am at least willing to endure a little Dean-o-mania knowing that there is one more sorry sole running through the night with a smile on their face because of it. It is a shame more ultra-marathon runners do not promote the sport, life and wonderful experiences that come with it.
….and remember , regardless of the bling, pom poms, book deals etc he actually does do the distance.