Defining Your Finish Line Journey | Guest: Dean Karnazes
Finding Meaning Beyond the Miles
What defines your finish line? For most endurance athletes, it’s not the medal, the time, or the place on a leaderboard but something much deeper. It’s the quiet sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you gave your all, bet on yourself, and took a chance on the unknown.
In the latest episode of Beyond The Finish Line, hosted by Joe Hardin, ultra running legend Dean Karnazes joins the conversation to explore exactly that…how everyday athletes can discover their own definition of success by daring to take risks and embracing the journey itself.
Dean, known to many as the Ultra Marathon Man, has built a career (and a life philosophy) around pushing boundaries. Running 350 miles non-stop, completing a marathon at the South Pole, finishing the legendary Spartathlon across Greece. His list of accomplishments reads like a playbook for perseverance. But as this conversation reveals, Dean’s story isn’t only about distance. It’s about discovery.
Betting on Yourself
When Dean turned 30, he made a choice that would change the course of his life. Instead of celebrating with friends at a bar, he decided, spontaneously, to run 30 miles through the night. That impulsive decision became the spark that reignited his passion for running after years away from the sport.
For Joe, that moment is a reminder to bet on yourself, even when logic says otherwise. “There’s no perfect time,” he says. “There’s just the moment you decide to go.”
Dean’s message to everyday athletes is simple: take the first step, even when you’re unsure. Whether it’s signing up for your first 5K, joining a local trail run, or training for your first ultra, the act of committing to something bigger than yourself is what transforms ordinary effort into extraordinary growth.
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The Mindset of Endurance
Throughout the episode, Dean and Joe dive into the mental side of ultra running. You know, the part that keeps you moving when your body says stop. Dean explains that endurance isn’t just built through miles; it’s forged through moments of discomfort.
He calls it “embracing the suck.” Every tough run, every climb, every DNF teaches you something about who you are. Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s part of the process. Dean’s candid stories about not finishing races remind us that endurance isn’t measured in medals but in how we respond when things don’t go as planned.
Running as a Mirror
As the miles add up, Dean sees running as a mirror. That mirror is reflecting back the truth of who we are. It reveals patience, courage, self-discipline, and sometimes the parts of ourselves we’d rather ignore. But in that reflection lies transformation.
“Running strips away the noise,” Dean says. “It’s just you, your breath, and your thoughts. You find yourself out there.”
This mindset is at the heart of the Run Tri Bike community, which is a belief that endurance sports aren’t just about athletic performance, but about becoming. For the everyday athlete balancing work, family, and training, Dean offers a powerful reminder that showing up is victory enough.
A Changing Landscape
Joe and Dean also explore how ultra running has evolved over the years. What was once a niche sport for a handful of extreme athletes has become a global movement. Today, runners from all backgrounds, identities, and abilities are finding their place on the trails.
Dean celebrates this shift, noting how diversity has strengthened the community. “We’re all chasing something personal,” he says. “It doesn’t matter how fast you go, what matters is that you go.”
That ethos is what Run Tri Bike stands for: a space where endurance is inclusive, supportive, and deeply human.
The Adventure Continues
Dean’s passion for exploration shines through when he talks about run touring. This is traveling the world on foot to experience new places at a human pace. His runs through the villages of Greece, where he connects with locals and landscapes alike, reveal a sense of joy that’s hard to find anywhere else.
As the episode wraps, Dean shares his next goal. An ambitious run from the Dead Sea (the lowest point on Earth) to Mount Everest (the highest). It’s a fitting metaphor for the human spirit, rising from the depths to reach new heights.
Redefine Your Finish Line
This episode is a reminder that every race, every mile, every decision to start again is an act of courage. Your finish line doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
The real victory isn’t in crossing the line. It’s in believing you can.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of Beyond The Finish Line with Dean Karnazes here on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or your favorite podcast platform
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