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Lead Stories: Monday, October 13, 2008

Running Film Festival to Premier During Olympic Trials; Support Ryan Shay Memorial Fund

Posted May 28th, 2008 at 9:30 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Announcements, Marathons, Cross Country, Track & Field, Resources, Olympics, Trail / Ultra

RFF Release: When nearly 200,000 athletes and fans converge on Eugene, Oregon, for the 2008 U.S. Track & Field Trials, there is no doubt they will enjoy the beautiful scenery and the competitive spirit of “Track Town USA.”

However, when they leave Hayward Field for some well-deserved down time, hundreds will head to the movies. That’s right! Hollywood comes to Eugene, as the city plays host to the first film festival ever devoted to the subjects of track & field, marathon running, and cross country: the Running Film Festival (RFF), scheduled for July 3 – 5 on the University of Oregon campus.

RFF is the brainchild of running enthusiasts and industry entrepreneurs, who formulated the idea after assessing the vast, yet underexposed, collection of celluloid devoted to the sport. The festival signed a title sponsor to join presenting sponsors TheFinalSprint.com and Running Times, and a great event was born. A portion of the proceeds from the RFF will be donated to the Ryan Shay Memorial Fund
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Podcast 83: DEAN KARNAZES on the ESPY, 24-hr record, and criticisms from Scott Jurek

Posted September 26th, 2007 at 6:17 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts, Trail / Ultra

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years BR Sportswear is closing out their line of high -quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

Episode 83 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with “Ultramarathon Man” DEAN KARNAZES: the recipient of the 2007 ESPY for “Best Outdoor Athlete”.

In the interview Dean talks about the ESPY award, raising money for charity and his attempt to break the 24-hr. running record in Times Square, and the North Face Ultra-Trail du Tour du Mont-Blanc.

Dean also responds to the critical comments made by Scott Jurek in a recent Endurance Planet interview. Jurek’s comments included: “I’m not winning races and performing, I shouldn’t be gracing the cover of magazines, getting a title, or even being okay with accepting a title such as Outside Magazine’s “America’s Best Outdoor Athlete”. I would feel ashamed to have that title.”

Download the podcast to hear Dean discusses these topics, as well as his continued to efforts to inspire others and hopefully increase exposure and available sponsorship money for trail and ultra running, the conflict between his desire to train/compete and a multitude of marketing and promotional obligations.

Listen In
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Host: Adam Jacobs | Guest: Dean Karnazes
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Musicians: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File Size: 12.5 MB | Length: 18:13 MIN

Episode sponsored by: Bill Rodgers Sportswear
After 21 years Bill Rodgers Sportswear is closing out their line of high-quality running apparel. Visit shopfest.com to take advantage of an unprecedented 50% discount on all in-stock items!

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Podcast 9: Interview with extreme ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes

Posted February 5th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Today’s podcast features my interview with Dean Karnazes, the “Ultramarathon Man”‘ who earned national acclaim (and became the target of skeptical critics) for completing the Northface Endurance 50 (Fifty marathons in fifty states in fifty consecutive days).

After the NYC Marathon, his 50th and final race, Dean decided to follow in the footsteps of Forrest Gump and “just kept running”; making it all the way from New York City to St. Charles, MO!

His resume also includes a myriad of impressive (and unique) feats, such as finishing the first marathon on the South Pole, winning the 2004 Badwater Marathon (135-mile race through Death Valley in 120-degree heat), swimming across San Fransisco Bay and running 350 miles in 80 hours and 44 minutes.

Download the podcast to hear Dean respond to all the critics and discuss his past achievements, un-orthodox training routine, source of motivation and plans for the future.

Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, select “save as”).
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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Dean Karnazes
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 20.1MB
Length: 00:29:23

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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Dean Karnazes, the Ultramarathon Man, runs in the footsteps of Forrest Gump

Posted November 16th, 2006 at 4:00 PM by Jenna Sumara

Section: News & Results, Marathons

How do you go through 5 pairs of shoes, 18 pairs of socks and 3 toenails? Well, if you’re Dean Karnazes (aka: the Ultramarathon Man) you do it by running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days. Karnazes has not only completed the feat, titled the Endurance 50, but is now also doing his best Forrest Gump impression; deciding to run home to San Francisco from New York City. Runnnn Deannnn, Runnnn!
forrest gump running beard.jpg
Karnazes, beleive it or not, is not the first person to pull off the 50 marathons in 50 days challenge. Although clearly uncommon, others (such as Sam Thompson) have done it as recently as a few months ago. However, no one has even come close to attaining the level of publicity and fanfare that Karnazes enjoyed over his 50 days. The Endurance 50 and Karnazes made countless headlines and received lucrative corporate sponsorships from Toyota, Northface and Runner’s World. These sponsorships helped him to raise more than $100,000 for Karno Kids; a foundation to benefit youth fitness programs that was founded by Karnezes. Read the rest of this entry »