William Goodge: The Atypical Ultra-Runner Who Ran Across America In Style | The Rich Roll Podcast

Intro

In this episode of “The Rich Roll Podcast,” host Rich Roll interviews William Goodge, an atypical ultra-runner who ran across America in honor of his mother who passed away from cancer. Goodge’s running efforts are not only a personal challenge but also a campaign to raise funds for cancer research. Throughout the interview, Goodge shares his unique perspective on life, his mental strength, and his passion for pushing his limits.

Main Takeaways

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• Seed’s DSO-1 daily symbiotic is a solid, science-based probiotic and prebiotic combination.

William Goodge: An Atypical Ultra-Runner

• William Goodge is an atypical ultra-runner who is always authentically himself.
• Gooch ran across the entire United States in 55+ days and completed 50 marathons in 50 days.
• Gooch’s running efforts are in honor of his mother who passed away from cancer, and every event is a campaign to raise funds for cancer research.
• Gooch allowed himself space to enjoy things after the big effort and feels very free and fortunate to be in that headspace.
• Gooch lives a beyond the velvet rope type of lifestyle and brings a freshness to the ultra-running subculture.
• Gooch’s mental space is his biggest asset, and he’s ready to go when things get tough.
• Gooch’s approach to life comes from a big loss in his family, and he tries to squeeze as much out of life through experience, travel, eating nice food, and seeing interesting things as he can.
• Gooch’s mom battled cancer three times before passing away four and a half years ago, which imprinted the idea of fighting through tough times in his brain.
• He always tries to take an extra step in honor of his mom’s memory and make her death mean something more than just a sad story.
• Gooch’s mom was the best version of everything and always put others before herself, making her a significant presence in his life even after her passing.
• Losing his mom at 23 was a bad time and caused confusion, grief, and a desire to numb it out with drugs and alcohol.
• Running became a healthier outlet for Gooch to make sense of his loss and persevere in honor of his mom’s memory.
• Gooch’s running started as a healthier outlet than drugs and alcohol.
• Gooch had a fortunate upbringing with a happy childhood.
• Gooch’s older brother is in construction and they get along well despite their different paths.
• Gooch’s father has had difficulty understanding why he runs but has grown in confidence as Gooch continues to achieve success.
• Running has become a celebration and has given Gooch confidence to be more competitive in races and try new things.
• Running used to be a punishment for Gooch when he played rugby.
• Gooch started running when he was in Santa Monica waiting for his girlfriend.
• The first long run Gooch did was about 8 miles.
• Gooch’s girlfriend passed away from cancer a few months after he started running.
• Gooch found himself running as a coping mechanism for dealing with challenging emotions.
• After his mother passed away, Gooch decided to run his first marathon on Christmas day to raise money for McMillan Cancer Support, a charity that supported his family during his mother’s treatment.
• Gooch’s positive experience with fundraising for McMillan Cancer Support solidified his desire to do something bigger and better.
• Gooch decided to run the length of the UK from top to bottom, despite not knowing anyone who had done it before and having little knowledge of the event.
• Gooch’s decision to run the length of the UK was concerning to his family and friends, but he received help from a family friend who works in event marketing, and eventually met Robbie along the journey.
• Gooch discovered Robbie Belanger’s journey of running across the US on Instagram and became obsessed with his story.
• Belanger became Gooch’s anchor and source of knowledge on endurance running.
• Gooch reached out to Belanger for advice and Belanger was willing to help.
• Belanger took Gooch on a 10-mile trail run in Colorado despite Gooch having no experience with altitude.
• Belanger has been a constant support and has shown up for Gooch throughout his challenges.
• Gooch and Belanger have a unique understanding of each other.
• Belanger showed up to support Gooch during his challenges, including helping him plan his run.
• Gooch learned not to take codeine during his first big challenge.
• Gooch had a history of being naive and not accepting help.
• Gooch’s crew knew he was taking codeine during his run.
• Gooch’s crew noticed he was taking codeine during his run.
• Gooch experienced hallucinations and dreamed while awake due to the codeine.
• Gooch’s mother messaged the crew concerned about his drug use.
• Gooch’s brother told him to stop taking codeine and he improved immediately.
• Gooch used running as a form of acceptable self-harm and leaned on his athletic background to push himself to run over 60 miles a day.
• Running allowed Gooch to hide his pain behind a great feat.
• Strength training has always been a key component in Gooch’s preparation and contributes to his durability and injury resistance.
• Gooch is trying to bulk up and increase muscle mass for durability and injury resistance.
• The functional strength gym routine is done three times a week and includes legs, upper body, and core training.
• Modeling was a fun part of Gooch’s life, but it was another thing that looked better than it was to the outside world.
• Model work looks amazing on the outside, but it can be financially challenging.
• Completing the John O’Groats run cemented Gooch’s enthusiasm for pushing his limits.
• Gooch planned to run a marathon in every country in Europe, but COVID-19 made him change his plans.
• Gooch ran 48 marathons in 48 counties in England in 30 days and made a documentary about it.
• Gooch achieved his personal best time at the London Marathon, which was his 48th marathon in 30 days.
• Gooch finished the Transcon run feeling like he hadn’t approximated the extent of his capabilities.
• Gooch made the Transcon run look breezy and positive, but there were low moments.
• Gooch had no idea what he was capable of when starting the run across America.
• Gooch built up his mileage gradually and did some elevation training leading up to the run across America.
• The idea was to run 50 miles a day across the US in 64 days.
• Gooch got stronger as he went along, and his team played a significant role in his success.
• His team initially held him back, which allowed him to build a cushion and push himself further.
• Gooch gained more self-confidence and learned more about himself through the experience.
• Gooch completed a daily schedule breakdown of running 30 miles, taking a break, napping, and then finishing with an easier 20 miles.
• He celebrated each day by doing a beer mile with the crew to disconnect from running and feel a sense of normality.
• The beer mile was good for morale and mental health, allowing Gooch to reboot and stay fresh day after day.
• Having moments of levity and feeling connected to the crew members paid great dividends in staying motivated.
• Gooch had a day where he did the beer mile but felt good and wanted to run more, showing his mental and physical strength.
• Nutrition is a big part of endurance challenges, and scratch is a good source of calories.
• Whole foods provide good energy and make you feel good during endurance challenges.
• Negative comments from others can affect mental and emotional strength during challenges.
• Mental strength is important during endurance challenges, especially during low moments.
• Low moments are a part of epic adventures, and bouncing back from them is what makes the journey worthwhile.
• Enjoying the little things in life makes it easier to deal with big challenges.
• Setting a goal to beat a record helped motivate the speaker during the adventure.
• A running historian caused controversy by questioning the legitimacy of the record.
• The speaker’s friend had a zero tolerance policy for anything that wasn’t in integrity.
• The arrival of the running historian caused bitterness and choice words to be shared.
• A running historian showed up during a 60-70 mile day.
• He was concerned about the runner’s heart rate data being inaccurate.
• The runner did not wear a GPS tracker but had heart rate data from a Garmin watch and a Whoop.
• The historian called all of the heart rate data “bullshit”.
• The runner spoke to the historian and learned that he had a similar story about his mother passing away, but with a different perspective.
• The runner and historian had similar stories about losing their mothers, but with different perspectives.
• Momentus is a supplement company that offers scientifically-backed and tested products designed by industry experts.
• Momentus’ plant-based protein blend has replaced all competitors in the runner’s cupboard due to its complete amino acid profile and great taste.
• Roca offers stylish and functional prescription eyewear and sunglasses with patented no-slip technology.
• The runner’s approach to promoting the brand Newcom was through branded content, making it integral to the whole journey and seamless with the effort itself.
• The runner used branded content to promote the brand Newcom, which was integral to his journey and seamless with his effort.
• Newcom is a neurocoustics software that helps bring down brain frequency and induce a meditative state with binaural beats and darkness.
• The runner had a good experience with Newcom during his 4830 journey and used it during his run across America as well.
• Newcom’s technology is patented and always evolving to maintain its efficacy.
• The runner strategically used Newcom during his stops to maximize his time and energy.
• The runner uses a tool called Newcom to hit the reset button and feel calm during his long runs.
• The runner’s ability to connect with audiences outside of the ultra-running community makes him a powerful and interesting figure.
• The runner enjoys seeing others achieve things they never thought they could through running.
• The runner had 50 people waiting to run with him at the finish line, creating a shared emotional experience.
• The runner feels uncomfortable with receiving compliments and doesn’t think too highly of himself all the time.
• The Navajo nation was an incredibly beautiful and welcoming place for the runner, with people running with him and giving big waves of acknowledgement.
• Finishing the run in Central Park was a surreal experience, with a release of emotion and a lot of people cheering him on.
• The runner’s pace was around 12 minutes per mile, with a goal of 5 miles per hour, and he was very focused on time, distance, and splits.
• The runner believes that we don’t give ourselves enough credit to push ourselves to our limits and find out what’s possible, even outside of endurance activities.
• Emotion is energy that can be channeled towards a positive output.
• Going through self-destruction helped the speaker find purpose in life.
• Purpose is the best thing on planet earth to achieve anything.
• Finding the line and crossing it helps in self-discovery.
• The worst physical times are the speaker’s favorite times for growth.
• Accomplishments can make you an outlier and less relatable to others.
• Doing too much can take away from being a source of aspiration to being a source of inspiration.
• The process of growth starts at day one and anyone can achieve their goals.
• Mindset is everything and pushing physical limits can make everything else in life seem more manageable.
• It’s important to have a ballast in your life that lives outside of physical feats.
• Running is not the only thing the speaker loves, and they do not wake up every morning excited to run.
• While running is currently their vehicle for pushing themselves, they do not believe it will always be the case.
• The speaker has other areas of life they enjoy and can push themselves in, outside of running.
• They have considered attempting to break the record for running across Australia, but also have a fantasy of running from Istanbul to Lisbon.
• The speaker enjoys running in new countries without a route or prior knowledge.
• Ultra running can be more about experiencing places rather than just trying to cover long distances.
• Running across different countries provides an opportunity to experience different cultures and scenery.
• Sharing the experience through storytelling can be a necessary evil for the speaker.
• The speaker’s friend Robbie Ballinger is a special person who gives him confidence to pursue his goals and has helped him in various challenges.
• The speaker feels humbled to be a positive influence for people who are inspired by his challenges.
• Robbie Ballinger has had a positive influence on the speaker’s life and is a rock star who does things for other people.
• Robbie Ballinger is punk rock and channels Hunter S. Thompson and Willie Nelson.
• The speaker helped Robbie Ballinger during the Tesla challenge (240 miles in 77 hours) and the Speed Project (Los Angeles to Las Vegas).
• Short, aggressive distances are necessary to reach upper limitations in running, while longer distances with time schedules are risk-averse and manage efficiency.
• The speaker wants to do 200+ mile races and the Moab 240 race is next on the list.
• The speaker is planning to do 200+ mile races in the future.
• The next race on the speaker’s list is the Moab 240 race.
• The speaker will be participating in the Berlin Marathon.
• The speaker advises people to stop procrastinating and just do what they want to do.
• Taking the first step can lead to many more opportunities.
• Taking risks can lead to personal growth and new opportunities.
• Learning from the experiences of others, such as family members, can shape our decisions.
• Growing up with a sense of safety and security can lead to a desire to take risks.
• Investing in experiences can be valuable, especially when there are no dependencies.
• A supportive and empowering parent can instill a sense of self-confidence and belief in one’s abilities.
• Supportive parents can instill self-confidence and belief in one’s abilities.
• Parenting styles can differ from generation to generation.
• Feeling supported can lead to a sense of purpose and a desire to help others.
• Service and giving back can be a fulfilling experience.
• “If I can, I will” – a mantra for pushing oneself to achieve goals.
• The Speed Project is a 340-mile relay race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
• Racers can encounter unexpected challenges and competitors during the race.
• The race is mentally challenging due to the lack of knowledge about competitors’ positions.
• “If I can, I will” is a mantra for pushing oneself to achieve goals.
• Robbie, a racer in the Speed Project, exemplified incredible perseverance and determination during the race.
• “If I can, I will” is a powerful mindset that can help you persevere.
• Will is raising money for cancer support charities in the UK and US.
• McMillan Cancer Support and American Cancer Society are two amazing charities doing great work.
• Will’s run across America was inspired by his mom’s battle with cancer.
• Will’s accomplishments are extraordinary and inspiring, and his reporting from the front lines is insightful.
• Will Grant, a BBC correspondent, reports from the front lines in Latin America.
• He has covered stories such as the Venezuelan crisis and the impact of COVID-19 in the region.
• Will’s reporting highlights the human impact of these events, giving a voice to those affected.
• His fluency in Spanish allows him to connect with locals and gain unique insights.
• Will’s accomplishments are extraordinary and inspiring.

Summary

Gut Health and Probiotics

Gut health plays a critical role in whole-body health. Seed’s DSO-1 daily symbiotic is a solid, science-based probiotic and prebiotic combination that can support gut health.

William Goodge: An Atypical Ultra-Runner

William Goodge is an atypical ultra-runner who runs across countries and continents in honor of his mother who passed away from cancer. His running efforts are not only a personal challenge but also a campaign to raise funds for cancer research. Despite facing personal loss and struggles with drugs and alcohol, running became a healthier outlet for Goodge to make sense of his loss and persevere in honor of his mom’s memory. Goodge’s mental strength, unique approach to life, and ability to find joy in the little things make him a refreshing figure in the ultra-running subculture. With the support of his team and the guidance of Robbie Belanger, Goodge has pushed his limits and achieved remarkable feats, including running across the United States. Along the way, he has learned the importance of accepting help, the power of mindset, and the value of enjoying life’s experiences. Goodge’s story serves as an inspiration to others to push their limits and find purpose in their own lives.

Conclusion

William Goodge’s journey as an ultra-runner is a testament to the power of perseverance, mental strength, and finding purpose in the face of adversity. His dedication to honoring his mother’s memory and raising funds for cancer research is commendable. Through his running adventures, Goodge continues to inspire others to push their limits and embrace life’s experiences. Whether it’s running across continents or pursuing other personal goals, Goodge’s story reminds us to embrace challenges, find joy in the journey, and never underestimate our own capabilities.