#17 – Mike Trevino: life-lessons from ultra-endurance, mindset, hard work, and removing limitations

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Mentioned as a mountain with an even worse death rate than Everest, around one in three.

A film character whose long-distance running journey is compared to Mike Trevino's experience of realizing he was 'done' with extreme endurance 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.