#1: How to Overcome Challenges in Training, Racing and Life - with Charlie Engle

Charlie Engle is an endurance athlete, a father and a husband. He has completed several extreme endurance adventures, including a run across the Sahara Desert in Africa, 2 marathons a day for 111 days straight in extreme temperatures.

In this episode of the Extramilest Podcast we discuss:

• ways to overcome mental challenges in training, racing and life
• breaking the Sub 3 Hour Marathon barrier
• his next adventure run and much more

Charlie and I have a lot of passions in common from Running to Storm Chasing and many areas in between. His excitement for life is contagious and I hope you enjoy our conversation!

SHOWNOTES

• Charlie does a lot of cross training to limit risk of injury. He focuses on overall fitness and health (3:12).
• How Charlie was able to run across the Sahara, 4500 miles in extreme temperatures (4:15)
• Words said to us by a stranger can be the thing that changes our life, if you really pay attention (5:38)
• The worst pitch that convinced Matt Damon to make the documentary Running The Sahara (6:30)
• The first few days of the Sahara run were a slow descent into hell, dealing with unbelievable amount of problems (9:10)
• The mantra “one day at the time” works for sobriety and massive projects (11:00)
• Overcoming tough spots in a race by breaking down the distance in smaller parts (11:45)
• How Charlie trains for long ultra runs, both mentally and physically (16:00)
• Importance of training enough miles in race condition, with your race gear in the same terrain (20:35)
• Perceived risk vs. actual risk. Your mind limiting you and how you can overwrite this. (23:05)
• The type of person Charlie wants on his crew during his races (24:20)
• Charlie’s failed attempt to break the record to run across the United States. (24:50)
• Important role of the mind and the right mentality. Lessons learned from the Barkley Marathon (27:12)
• Charlie’s Mantra and tattoo for when things get tough: “No Big Deal” (29:47)
• How Charlie has overcome his lows, such as addiction and going to jail (33:22)
• It doesn’t matters what happens to you in life, all that matters is what you do about it. (37:10)
• Attraction vs promotion in jail. How Charlie’s daily runs and yoga sessions inspired others in jail to start working out. (39:55)
• Your happiness and fulfillment is completely up to you and not up to anybody else no matter what the situation is (43:45)
• What Charlie is up to these days (46:50)
• His upcoming adventure run of 5000 miles from the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, to the highest point on earth Mt Everest (48:50)
• Matt Damon and Charlie founded H2oAfrica and raised $6 million, then it became Water.org (53:35)
• How Charlie broke the Sub 3 Hour Marathon barrier after many failed attempts (58:00)
• Importance of slowing down, rest days and having fun to progress in running. (1:01:00)
• Dr Phil Maffetone’s approach to listen to your body, focus on the right nutrition, and reducing stress (1:03:15)
• Charlie’s book The Running Man and a giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book (1:04:30)

LINKS

• Documentary Running the Sahara
• Documentary Running Across America
• Charlie in the Media
• Barkley Marathon
• Floris 100 mile run
• Running Man Book
• Charlie’s website
• Dr Phil Maffetone interview
• H2oAfrica / Water.org
• Extramilest website

PEOPLE MENTIONED

• Joe de Sena, Founder Spartan Races
• James Moll, Oscar Winning Director
• Matt Damon, Actor and Film Producer
• Andy Walsh, Director of High Performance, Red Bull
• Ray Zahab, team mate Sahara Run
• Kevin Lin, team mate Sahara Run
• Jeff Peterson, Medical Specialist
• Ryan Immegart, Volcom
• Gary White, Water.org
• Phil Maffetone, Endurance Coach