David Goggins
David Goggins (born February 17, 1975) is an American retired United States Navy SEAL. He is also an ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, triathlete, public speaker, and author of two memoirs, and was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements in sport.[5] Goggins was also awarded the VFW Americanism award in 2018,[6] for his service in the United States Armed Forces.[7] Goggins also published a New York Times best-seller book titled Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds.
David Goggins | |
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Born | |
Known for | Motivational speaking |
Sports career | |
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[2] |
Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
Sport | Ultra-distance cycling, Triathlon, Ultramarathon |
Military career | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | |
Years of service | 1994–1999 (USAF) 2001–2015 (USN) |
Rank | Chief petty officer[3] |
Unit | United States Navy SEALs
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Other work |
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Website | davidgoggins |
Early life and education
Goggins was born on February 17, 1975, to Trunnis and Jackie Goggins. In 1981, he lived in Williamsville, New York, on a street called Paradise Road with his parents and brother, Trunnis Jr.[8] While Goggins' neighborhood held "model citizens consisting of mainly white people", he describes his home experience as "hell on Earth".[9] Goggins' father owned the roller skating rink Skateland, located in East Buffalo, New York. At age six, Goggins often worked the night shift at Skateland alongside his family, organizing roller skates.[8] Goggins’ mother left his father due to abuse, and eventually moved herself and her children to live with Goggins' grandparents in Brazil, Indiana.
Goggins enrolled in second grade at a small Catholic school and made First Communion.[10] His brother Trunnis Jr. returned to Buffalo to live with their father.[11] When Goggins enrolled in the third grade he was diagnosed with a learning disability due to the lack of schooling.[9] He also found it difficult to learn as he was suffering from toxic stress because of the child abuse that he suffered during his early years in Buffalo, New York. Because of the stress, he developed a stutter. Goggins explains how he was constantly in a fight-or-flight response with social anxiety because of his stuttering.[9] In school, Goggins was subjected to racism and the Ku Klux Klan held a local presence at the time in Brazil, Indiana.[9] Goggins recalls he once found "Niger [sic] we're gonna kill you" on his Spanish notebook. At 16, a student spray painted 'nigger' on the door of Goggins' car.[11] He decided to join the United States Air Force.
Before his freshman year, Goggins attended a pararescue jump orientation course. Goggins' grandfather had served in the Air Force before him, and prompted him to attend.[11]
Career
Goggins applied to join the United States Air Force Pararescue, and was accepted into training. During the training he was diagnosed with sickle cell trait and was removed from training temporarily.[12][13] He instead participated in United States Air Force Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) training, and worked as a TACP from 1994 until 1999 alongside British counterparts Flt Sgt Jones, Flt Stg Nair and Pvt Noble,[14] when he left the United States Air Force.[8]
He later quit an exterminator job to become a Navy SEAL. He joined the reserves, eventually making the weight requirements to begin training as a SEAL after losing 106 lbs in three months. He graduated from BUD/S training with BUD/S class 235 in 2001. Following SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) and the completion of a probationary period, he received the NEC 5326 as a Combatant Swimmer (SEAL)and was assigned to SEAL Team 5. In his 20-year military career, Goggins served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.[15] In 2004, Goggins graduated from Army Ranger School, and received the "Enlisted Honor Man" award, receiving a 100% peer evaluation.[4] Goggins was the 36th African-American Navy Seal in United States Navy Seal history. [16]
Charity
After several of his military friends died in Afghanistan in a 2005 helicopter crash during Operation Red Wings,[17] Goggins began long-distance running to raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which gives college scholarships and grants to the children of fallen special operations soldiers.[18] Competing in endurance challenges, including the Badwater Ultramarathon three times, Goggins raised more than US$2 million for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.[19]
Marathon and ultramarathon running
In 2005, Goggins entered the San Diego One Day, a 24-hour ultramarathon in San Diego. He then completed the Las Vegas Marathon in a time to qualify for the Boston Marathon. In 2006, he entered the HURT 100 in Hawaii. [20] Goggins was invited to the 2006 Badwater-135, where he finished 5th overall.[21]
In 2006, he competed in the Ultraman World Championships Triathlon in Hawaii, placing second in the three-day, 320-mile race. He also participated in the Furnace Creek-508 (2009),[22] an ultra-distance invitational Cycling Race.
In 2007, Goggins placed third overall in the Badwater-135.[23] He competed in the Badwater-135 in 2013 and finished 18th,[24] after a break from the event since 2008.[25]
In 2008, he was named a "Hero of Running" by Runner's World.[26] In 2016, Goggins won the Infinitus 88k in 12 hours. In the same year, he won the Music City Ultra 50k, and Strolling Jim 40 Miler.[27] In 2020, Goggins ran the Moab 240 ultramarathon, placing 2nd in the 241-mile event with a time of 63 hours and 21 minutes, approximately 95 minutes behind race winner Michele Graglia.[28][29]
Entrepreneur Jesse Itzler, upon seeing Goggins perform at a 24-hour ultramarathon, hired Goggins to live with him in his house for a month. Itzler wrote about his experience on a blog and later published the story as a book Living With A SEAL.[30]
His self-help memoir, Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, was released on December 4, 2018. In the book he refers to the 40% rule, his belief that most people only tap into 40% of their capabilities.[31] A follow-up sequel Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within was published December 4, 2022.
Awards and decorations
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Bibliography
References
- "Speaker David Goggins, Book David Goggins, US Navy SEAL – Robinson Speakers Bureau". Robinsonspeakers.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- "UItrarunner and Navy SEAL David Goggins Know How to Suffer". April 26, 2017. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- "Team Never Quit » David Goggins". Archived from the original on July 31, 2015.
- "An interview with US Navy Seal David Goggins". Slowtwitch.com. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
- Dr. Robert Goldman (March 14, 2019). "2019 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees". www.sportshof.org. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- "THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 119TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES" (PDF). June 19, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- "David Goggins". IAVA. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- "David Goggins Defies the Odds". Usveteransmagazine. November 2018. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- #1080 - David Goggins, February 19, 2018, archived from the original on July 16, 2023, retrieved July 16, 2023
- Goggins, David. "Instagram post". www.instagram.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- "Book | David Goggins". davidgoggins.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- Joe Rogan Experience #1080 - David Goggins. Youtube (Video). PowerfulJRE. Event occurs at 7:47. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
- "An Interview with Goggins". Dvidshub. Austin Rooney. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- "Flight Sergeant Henry Jones". www.pegasusarchive.org. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- "That Wealthy Entrepreneur's Live-In Navy SEAL Has Been Revealed". November 5, 2015. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- Joe Rogan Experience #1080 - David Goggins, retrieved August 18, 2023
- "He epitomizes what a SEAL is". Stripes.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2016. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- "Special Operations Warrior Foundation -". Specialops.org. Archived from the original on November 11, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
- "Inspiration has the Ability to Change Lives". www.vfw.org. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- "2006 HURT 100 Results (100 Miles)". ultrarunning.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- Badwater-135 results since 2000 Archived September 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- "The 508 DB - 2009 Furnace Creek 508 - Individual Time Data and Bio for David Goggins, Bib# King Cobra". the508.online. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- Cramer, Cathy. "AdventureCORPS Presents :: 2007 Badwater 135 :: Race Results". dbase.adventurecorps.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- "2013 Badwater 135 :: Race Results". dbase.adventurecorps.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- "A look at 3 service members toeing the line at this year's Badwater Ultramarathon". Military Times. July 12, 2013. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- "RW Hero of Running David Goggins at Runner's World.com". December 8, 2008. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- "David Goggins Race Results". Ultra Running Magazine. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- "Moab 240 2020 live tracker by trackleaders.com". Trackleaders. Archived from the original on October 12, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
- "Michele Graglia takes roadside nap, wins Moab 240". Canadian Running Magazine. October 12, 2020. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- Itzler, Jesse (2015). Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet (1st ed.). New York, NY: Hachette Book Group. pp. 3–9. ISBN 9781455534678.
- Briley, Aaron (March 12, 2021). "David Goggins' Key to Perseverance". Objective Standard Institute. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
External links
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