392: Dean Karnazes on What It Really Takes to Break Through Your Limits (And Live Fully Alive)

 “Take your next footstep to the best of your ability. I don’t think about the future, I don’t think how much further I’ve got to go. I don’t reflect on the past.” 

What does it really take to break free from the life you “should” live and chase the one your soul is screaming for?

In this electrifying episode of SoulTalk, I sit down with legendary ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes, who traded a cushy corporate life for blistered feet, spiritual awakenings, and the most physically and mentally grueling races on Earth.

Dean shares the story of the spontaneous 30-mile run that changed everything, what he learned from pushing his body to the edge of collapse, and why real transformation begins the moment you step into the unknown.

This conversation is about so much more than running—it’s about the human spirit, the courage to leap, and the truth that your limits are often just illusions waiting to be shattered.

Timestamps: 

• (00:03:59) – The moment Dean walked away from a corporate job
• (00:07:08) – The 30-mile birthday run that changed everything
• (00:11:11) – How Dean prepares for extreme endurance
• (00:15:39) – The power of presence, mindset, and moment-to-moment discipline
• (00:25:28) – How to handle fear, fatigue, and the inner voice of doubt
• (00:27:18) – Tapping into purpose through intention
• (00:30:39) – Flow states, meditation, and the spiritual side of running
• (00:40:44) – Dean’s advice for aspiring runners (and soulful dreamers)

Some Questions I Ask:

• What triggered your first ultra-distance run—and what did it awaken in you?

• What internal battles show up during a 50-mile race?

• How do you stay disciplined when no one is watching or pushing you?

• How can someone know when it’s time to leave the life they’ve outgrown?

• What does running teach you about the soul?

• Is there a deeper reason you run, beyond the sport?

In This Episode You Will Learn:

•     How to break out of a comfort zone that’s suffocating your soul

• Why pain, when faced with presence, becomes a portal to awakening

• Mental techniques for mastering fatigue, fear, and internal resistance

• The deeper spiritual connection between endurance and self-realization

• How to find purpose in motion and fulfillment in the unknown

• Tools to live with radical courage, presence, and no regrets

Links & Resources:

🌐 Dean Karnazes’ Website: www.ultramarathon.com 🎁 Free 8 Levels of Gratitude Course: www.8levelsofgratitude.com 📩 Email: kuteblackson@kuteblackson.com 📱 Instagram + Social: @kuteblackson 🌍 Website: www.kuteblackson.com

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