David Goggins

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 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. 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. Goggins 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 FS Jones, FS Nair and Pte Noble, when he left the United States Air Force. In 2004, he graduated from Army Ranger School and earned the "Enlisted Honor Man" award, receiving a 100% peer evaluation. 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.

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, Goggins entered the HURT 100 in Hawaii. He was invited to the 2006 Badwater-135, where he finished 5th overall.

In 2006, Goggins 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).

In 2007, Goggins placed third overall in the Badwater-135. He competed in the Badwater-135 again in 2008 and did not finish the race. He competed in the Badwater-135 in 2013 and finished 18th, after a break from the event since 2008. He competed in the Badwater-135 again in 2014 and did not finish the race. Goggins competed in the Hellgate 100k ultramarathon in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in December 2010, 2013 and 2015, finishing in fifth place with a time 11 hours, 56 minutes and 2 seconds in the latter, a marked improvement upon 14 hours, 48 minutes and 33 seconds in 2010.

In 2016, he won the Infinitus 88k in 12 hours. That same year, Goggins won the Music City Ultra 50k, and Strolling Jim 40 Miler. In 2020, he 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. In August 2025, Goggins completed the Bigfoot 200 mountain run in Washington state in a time of 66 hours, 4 minutes and 17 seconds, 23rd overall.

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 called

Honors and awards Military decorations

Special Warfare insigniaMeritorious Service MedalNavy and Marine Corps Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with 2 5/16 inch starsArmy Achievement MedalAir Force Achievement MedalCombat Action RibbonNavy Good Conduct Medal with 4 Service StarsNational Defense Service Medal with 1 Service starIraq Campaign Medal with 1 Service starGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalMilitary Outstanding Volunteer Service MedalNavy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 Service starRifle Marksmanship Medal with Expert DevicePistol Marksmanship Medal with Expert DeviceNavy and Marine Corps Parachutist BadgeRanger Tab

Works

Goggins wrote the New York Times Bestseller memoir, Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, and published it 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 titled Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within was published on December 4, 2022.