Key Moments
#17 – Mike Trevino: life-lessons from ultra-endurance, mindset, hard work, and removing limitations
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Key Moments
Ultra-endurance athlete Mike Trevino shares life lessons from extreme challenges like Race Across America, proving that mindset and removing perceived limitations are key to achieving extraordinary feats.
Key Insights
Mike Trevino's birthday tradition involves running a number of miles equal to his new age, culminating in a 43-mile run with no calories, relying only on two crystal light packets and potential emergency cash.
Trevino transitioned from a 200-pound football player to an endurance athlete, losing approximately 50-60 pounds, by embracing trail running in Germany after playing rugby.
During the Race Across America (RAAM), Trevino slept only about 10.5 hours over the entire eight-and-a-half-day race and experienced significant hallucinations and delusional states due to sleep deprivation.
Trevino discovered the benefits of fat adaptation through experimentation, finding carb-loading to be detrimental to his performance and feeling better and cleaner with a more ketogenic approach.
A significant factor in Trevino's ultra-endurance success, particularly in RAAM, was meticulous planning and a diverse crew, highlighting the critical role of logistics and team management.
Trevino believes the most significant lessons for everyday life from endurance sports are to challenge self-imposed limitations, work hard, and persevere through adversity, applicable to personal goals like running a marathon.
The 'no calories' birthday run: adapting to extreme endurance
Mike Trevino's unique birthday tradition of running his age in miles, with his 43rd birthday involving a 43-mile run fueled only by hydration packets and emergency cash, highlights his extraordinary physiological and mental adaptation. This self-supported, 'no calories' approach demonstrates a profound understanding of his body's ability to utilize fat stores for energy over extended periods, a concept he learned through experimentation rather than traditional endurance training advice. He managed hydration by strategically refilling at drinking fountains, showcasing meticulous planning even in self-imposed challenges. This event, and similar feats like running a 50-mile run to end at Peter Attia's house, underscore his ability to push beyond conventional limits by optimizing his metabolic efficiency, a key takeaway for anyone looking to advance their own physical endurance.
From football player to ultra-endurance machine
Trevino's athletic journey began not with endurance sports, but as a 200-pound offensive lineman and linebacker, dreaming of playing college football at Notre Dame. The transition was unplanned, stemming from a shift in focus during college and a subsequent move to Germany for a startup. There, he discovered trail running through rugby practices, which naturally led to weight loss and a different kind of athleticism. This metamorphosis involved losing approximately 50-60 pounds, fundamentally reshaping his physique and capabilities. His philosophy views the body as a utility to achieve outcomes, leading him to engineer his physiology for endurance rather than power, a stark contrast to his initial athletic pursuits. This transformation illustrates that significant shifts in physical capacity are possible with a change in focus and intentional training.
The brutal reality of Race Across America (RAAM)
Race Across America, a 3,000-mile non-stop cycling race, represents one of the pinnacles of Trevino's ultra-endurance career. He recounts the immense logistical and mental challenges, including an eight-and-a-half-day race where he slept minimally—only about 10.5 hours in total—and experienced profound hallucinations and delusional states as a result of extreme sleep deprivation. One critical moment involved mistaking his crew's van for spies and attempting to flee, only to end up in a cemetery. This experience highlights the extreme edges of human endurance and the psychological toll of prolonged exertion. Trevino emphasizes that RAAM is as much about crew management and strategy as it is about individual cycling prowess, with crew dynamics often being the deciding factor in success or failure. The race also exposed him to the harsh realities of the sport, including the death of fellow competitors like Bob Breedlove and Wolfgang Fasching, underscoring the inherent risks involved.
Engineering performance: fat adaptation and fasting
Trevino's exploration into optimal performance led him to embrace fat adaptation, a departure from the conventional carb-loading strategy. He found that relying heavily on carbohydrates resulted in bloating and slower recovery, whereas reducing carbs and increasing fat intake improved his energy levels and overall well-being. This discovery was partly accidental, stemming from experimentation and observations from mountaineering literature, which suggested fat was a more efficient fuel source at altitude. His 10-day fast, undertaken to combat parasites contracted in Tibet, further solidified his understanding of the body's capacity for self-cleansing and enhanced performance through periods of caloric restriction. He realized that when coupled with proper nutrition and hydration, particularly with a focus on salt and trace minerals, the body could achieve remarkable endurance feats without relying on sugar, challenging common assumptions about human physiology.
The mental game: overcoming adversity and self-imposed limits
A recurring theme in Trevino's narrative is the importance of mindset and the conscious dismantling of self-imposed limitations. He firmly believes that everyone possesses the innate ability to achieve great things, often held back by preconceived notions of what is possible. His advice to listeners is to question their assumptions and to embrace the idea that perceived limits are often constructs. This philosophy is crucial for anyone aspiring to push their boundaries, whether in sports or other life endeavors. Trevino's own example, from transforming from a football player to an ultra-endurance athlete, to completing extreme races while working demanding jobs, demonstrates this principle in action. He sees these challenges not as sacrifices, but as privileges that allow him to explore his capabilities and work through personal issues.
The profound impact of family and shifting priorities
While Trevino achieved remarkable feats in ultra-endurance sports, his priorities have significantly shifted with the establishment of his family. Meeting his wife, an electrical engineer, marked a pivotal moment, leading to an earlier marriage and a re-evaluation of his extreme pursuits. He contrasts his past laser-focus, which involved saying 'no' to many social invitations, with his current commitment to family. While he still values exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the relentless pursuit of world-record-breaking has given way to being present for his children and leading by example. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, perseverance, and showing his children that nothing is beneath them, whether it's cutting down a tree or fixing a faucet, fostering a similar work ethic and sense of accomplishment in them.
Lessons for everyday endurance and continuous learning
Trevino's insights extend beyond elite athletics to actionable advice for individuals aiming for personal goals, such as running a marathon or completing an Ironman. He stresses that the principles learned from extreme endurance—perseverance, hard work, and challenging limitations—are universally applicable. His approach to training and life is characterized by a voracious appetite for information and a cross-functional approach to problem-solving, drawing parallels to Richard Feynman's methods. He advocates for being objective, training smart rather than just hard, and understanding when to push and when to back off, a balance he achieved through experience and careful observation of his body's signals. Ultimately, his philosophy encourages a continuous pursuit of self-improvement, viewing challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for growth and learning.
The pursuit of 'normalcy' and finding 'home' in endurance
Reflecting on his motivations, Trevino reveals a desire for 'normalcy' through ultra-endurance activities, a concept that sounds paradoxical given the extreme nature of his pursuits. He explains that a demanding lifestyle, including living with friends who partied heavily while he was recovering from a layoff, initially drove him to running as an 'escape' and a way to establish a foundation for himself. Later, he found that the meditative and challenging aspects of long-distance running allowed him to 'work through stuff' and feel 'normal' in a way that conventional life did not. This perspective suggests that for some, extreme endurance provides a structured environment to process life's complexities and achieve a sense of self-mastery that conventional activities cannot offer.
Mentioned in This Episode
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Common Questions
Mike Trevino employs a unique nutritional strategy, often running long distances with no calorie intake, relying on fat adaptation. For his 43-mile birthday run, he fasted from 5 PM the night before, had a beer, and then ran with only water (and some Crystal Light packets for flavor) and $20 for emergencies, successfully completing the run without needing to eat.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A location in San Diego where Mike refilled his water during his 43-mile birthday run.
A training location in San Diego where Peter Atia and Mike Trevino once did a tough cycling workout, with Mike keeping up after a year off the bike.
The San Diego neighborhood where Mike Trevino lived, and where he would often run to Peter Atia's house, turning it into a 50-mile run.
The destination of the Badwater Ultramarathon (ending at Whitney Portals), and a mountain Mike attempted to rock climb in harsh conditions.
Mike spent a couple of months there in 2002, eating yak meat and experiencing challenges with cooking at altitude.
Mentioned as a location where Mike spent time and where the death rate was 1 in 8 people at the time he did it.
A mountain known for its challenging time trial, compared to Alps d'Huez in terms of grade and switchbacks.
The location where Peter Atia attempted a long distance swim in 2007, which turned into a mentally difficult experience due to a drunk boat captain.
A location in California that Mike was riding towards when his bike seat delaminated due to extreme desert heat.
Mike spent a couple of months there in 2002, eating yak meat and experiencing challenges with cooking at altitude.
A mountain mentioned in the context of people returning with parasites after climbing it.
Mike Trevino lived and worked here after college, learning German and discovering his love for trail running.
Mike Trevino started running the New York Marathon as an 'escape' and a way to establish a healthier lifestyle after moving back from Europe.
A race official for RAAM who was apologetic to Mike Trevino and protected his team from accusations of cheating, becoming a friend.
An accomplished amateur ultra-endurance athlete, known for setting world records in running and cycling, and Peter Atia's close friend.
A researcher who has talked about fasting and its benefits for at least five years.
A CFO at a biotech company and an amazing cyclist who won the Mount Palomar time trial multiple times, tragically killed by a distracted driver while cycling.
A physicist admired by Peter Atia and Mike Trevino, mentioned in the context of cross-functional problem-solving, specifically the Challenger investigation.
A world-class Austrian endurance athlete and Seven Summits climber who competed against Mike Trevino in RAAM.
A Slovenian cyclist who was a five-time RAAM champion and competed against Mike Trevino in 2004, later dying in a cycling accident.
A former nuclear engineer and transcontinental speed record holder in cycling, known for his unique sleep and nutrition strategies for ultra-endurance.
A 'batshit crazy mountaineer' from the 90s, whose work influenced Mike's understanding of fat metabolism at altitude.
A scientist who has discussed the efficacy of fasting coupled with chemotherapy.
A surgeon from Des Moines, Iowa, who died in RAAM in 2005; Mike learned about RAAM through him as a kid.
A marathon coach mentioned whose training plans are used by a friend of Mike's.
A San Diego-based cyclist who held the transcontinental speed record for a long time and taught Mike Trevino much about sleep, nutrition, and race strategy for ultra-endurance events.
A well-known marathon coach whose training plans dictate specific mileage, mentioned in the context of adjusting a training run due to unexpected climbing.
A shake that Peter Atia makes by mixing it with heavy cream and almond milk, which he describes as a recovery meal.
A flavored drink mix Mike brought for hydration during his 43-mile fasted birthday run.
A resistance trainer that Mike Trevino broke twice, and Peter Atia considered getting rid of his.
A device Mike used to track his heart rate during his Trans Iowa ride, amazed by the numbers.
A strong Belgian quad beer from The Lost Abbey brewery, considered by Peter Atia to be '80% as good' as his favorite high-end beer and the 'greatest mass production beer in the history of civilization'.
Another strong Belgian quad beer mentioned as being similar to Judgment Day, but not as preferred.
A handheld cassette player Mike used for music during his 24-hour track run in 2001, experiencing issues with newer technologies like CDs and mini-discs.
An ingredient Mike used in his recovery smoothies, and also discussed as something mountaineers would take in a Nalgene vial at altitude for energy density.
A university Mike Trevino dreamed of playing football for, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
The organization that recognizes record attempts, for which Mike needed an official to record his Trans Iowa attempt.
A non-profit organization that Mike raised money for with a 275-mile run from Gaviota State Beach to San Diego.
Mentioned as an organization that likely bans modafinil.
Mentioned as an organization that likely bans modafinil.
Mike Trevino once ran a 300-mile race down the coast from Gaviota State Beach to San Diego to raise money for this foundation.
Mike Trevino's childhood dream was to play football for Notre Dame, following his father and grandfather's alma mater.
The U.S. national anti-doping organization, also mentioned in the context of banned substances.
The international agency responsible for regulating anti-doping policies in sports, referred to in the context of banned substances like Modafinil.
Mike Trevino participated in studies with Navy SEALs testing different performance-enhancing substances and strategies, including various cocktails for transit and readiness.
A convenience store chain mentioned as a place Mike would stop to buy a banana or granola bar during long runs, though he avoided calories on one particular birthday run.
A software company where Mike Trevino worked 60 hours a week as an engineer during his ultra-endurance career.
A San Marcos, California brewery, producer of Judgment Day beer, which Peter Atia considers the 'second best beer of all time.'
A liquor store chain where Peter Atia tried to buy Judgment Day beer but was informed they were no longer carrying it due to profitability.
A former nuclear power plant where Pete Penseyres worked as a nuclear engineer.
A San Marcos, California-based brewery that produces 'Judgment Day,' a strong Belgian quadrupel beer considered by Peter Attia to be the second-best mass-produced beer.
An ingredient Mike used in his recovery smoothies while working at Qualcomm and training.
A type of salt with trace minerals and elements that Mike fell in love with for electrolyte balance during ultra-endurance events.
An ingredient Mike used in his recovery smoothies while working at Qualcomm and training.
An ingredient Mike used in his recovery smoothies while working at Qualcomm and training.
A stimulant drug mentioned in the context of its use for mental clarity, which Peter Atia has never tried, and Mike observed used by software programmers.
A non-stimulant drug approved for narcolepsy, used by Peter Atia during residency to stay awake, and mentioned as a potentially useful drug for military special forces.
A book mentioned by Mike Trevino that discusses mountaineering strategies for metabolizing one's body at altitude and using fat for energy.
A mountaineering book that introduced Mike Trevino to concepts of fat adaptation and different metabolic strategies for performance at altitude, including consuming olive oil.
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