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. Goggins was also awarded the VFW Americanism award in 2018, for his service in the United States Armed Forces. Goggins also published a New York Times best-seller book titled Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds.
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. While Goggins' neighborhood held "model citizens consisting of mainly white people", he describes his home experience as "hell on Earth". 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.
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. His brother Trunnis Jr. returned to Buffalo to live with their father. When Goggins enrolled in the third grade he was diagnosed with a learning disability due to the lack of schooling. 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. In school, Goggins was subjected to racism and the Ku Klux Klan held a local presence at the time in Brazil, Indiana. Goggins recalls he once found "Niger we're gonna kill you" on his Spanish notebook. At 16, a student spray painted 'nigger' on the door of Goggins' car. 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.
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. 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, when he left the United States Air Force.
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. In 2004, Goggins graduated from Army Ranger School, and received the "Enlisted Honor Man" award, receiving a 100% peer evaluation. Goggins was the 36th African-American Navy Seal in United States Navy Seal history.
Charity
After several of his military friends died in Afghanistan in a 2005 helicopter crash during Operation Red Wings, 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. Competing in endurance challenges, including the Badwater Ultramarathon three times, Goggins raised more than million for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
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. Goggins was invited to the 2006 Badwater-135, where he finished 5th overall.
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), an ultra-distance invitational Cycling Race.
In 2007, Goggins placed third overall in the Badwater-135. He competed in the Badwater-135 in 2013 and finished 18th, after a break from the event since 2008.
In 2008, he was named a "Hero of Running" by Runner's World. 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. 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.
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
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, even with considerable effort, only tap into 40% of their capabilities. A follow-up sequel Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within was published December 4, 2022.
Awards and decorations
Bibliography
References
External links
Goggins' International Trailrunning Association (ITRA) Race Results
Living people
1975 births
21st-century American military personnel
African-American United States Navy personnel
American male ultramarathon runners
American memoirists
Track and field athletes from Buffalo, New York
United States Air Force airmen
United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
United States Navy SEALs personnel
United States Navy sailors
African-American Catholics
Ultra-distance cyclists
American male triathletes
American public speakers