David Goggins is the former Navy SEAL most known for his ultramarathon performances, motivational speaking, and pull-ups—he set the world record in 2013 by doing 4,030 pull-ups in 17 hours!
But Goggins wasn’t always a physical specimen and powerhouse. He was once overweight, and it took him three tries to become a Navy SEAL and three attempts to break the pull-up record.
In this article, we reveal who David Goggins is, who he was, what makes him famous, what drives him, what he eats, and…what his feet look like.
Who is David Goggins?
David Goggins is known today as the man who wins ultramarathon races, conquers ultra-distance marathons and triathlons, can do countless pull-ups, and is a motivational speaker.
He served 20 years in the US military—including as a Navy SEAL chief and on deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the only known member of the armed forces to complete BUD/S, including the infamous “hell week,” three times in one year, and the only person to complete BUD/S, U.S. Army Ranger School, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training. The Navy’s magazine named him the “Toughest Man Alive.”
He also has completed more than 60 ultra-endurance events to date.
Was David Goggins overweight?
Yes, David Goggins was once overweight. When Goggins joined the military, he weighed 297 pounds—and that wasn’t mostly muscle.
Through sheer mental fortitude and commitment, Goggins shed 106 pounds in only three months to become a Navy SEAL—and the only person to complete three of the SEALs hell weeks in a single year.
Did David Goggins have a tough time becoming a SEAL?
David Goggins failed at becoming a Navy SEAL two times.
Goggins initially applied to join the U.S. Air Force Pararescue and was accepted into training after failing his entry exam twice. However, he was removed from training after being diagnosed with a sickle cell trait. He was later given the choice to restart training but he chose not to.
Then, Goggins completed US Air Force Tactical Air Control Party training, serving in that role from 1994 to 1999. Then he left the Air Force and attempted to become a Navy SEAL.
After three attempts, Goggins graduated BUD/S training with class 235. He was assigned to SEAL Team 5 and served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Then, in 2004, Goggins graduated from Army Ranger School and received the “Top Enlisted Man” award.
How old, tall, and how much does he weigh now?
- Age: As of mid-2025, David Goggins is 50 years old, born February 17, 1975.
- Height: Approximately 6 ft 2 in.
- Weight: Around 190 lb.
Personal Life & Background
- Where he grew up? Raised in Williamsville, NY (near Buffalo), with his parents Trunnis and Jackie Goggins and brother Trunnis Jr.
- Married? Goggins married Aleeza Goggins in 2005; they are now divorced.
- Children? He does not have any children.
Was David Goggins abused as a child?
Yes, David Goggins was abused by his father as a child. Goggins writes about this experience in his 2018 autobiography, Can’t Hurt Me.
In the book, Goggins shares that his father worked him to work long hours at the family business, a skate park called Skateland. Goggins was sleep-deprived from working nights and began struggling at school.
He was also chronically stressed as a child because if anything was out of place like a missing pair of skates, Goggins’ father would beat him at home with a belt. His father would also abuse his mother and brother, according to a Shortform article.
At the age of 8, Goggins’ mother took Goggins and his brother back to her hometown of Brazil, Indiana—although Goggins brother soon returned to his father in New York.
Did David Goggins have special needs?
Goggins had fallen so behind academically, his mother was told he would need to go to a “special school with special needs.”
His anxiety and stress had also led him to develop a stutter and lose patches of hair.
His mother protested another school, and Goggins was allowed to stay in the traditional school if he went to group therapy.
Related: Who is Dean Karnazes: An Inside Look at the Ultramarathon Man
Why is Goggins famous?
He’s famous for:
- His military accolades and indomitable grit.
- The 2013 Guinness world record (later surpassed).
- Placing in iconic races like Badwater-135 and Moab 240.
- Motivating millions through books (Can’t Hurt Me, Never Finished), speeches, and social media—elevating the concept of mental toughness via his “40% Rule”: when you think you’re done, you’ve only tapped into 40% of your potential.
Entrepreneur Jesse Itzler famously invited Goggins to live with him for a month, resulting in the bestselling book Living with a SEAL.
What is the story of David Goggins?
David Goggins’ memoir, Can’t Hurt Me, a New York Times bestseller tells the story of Goggins and serves to motivate others, no matter their situation:
“For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare — poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights.
But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes…”
What motivates David Goggins?
In Can’t Hurt Me, Goggins shares his belief that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities, calling it The 40% Rule.
“A lot of us don’t know about another world that exists for us because it’s on the other side of suffering. That’s the real growth in life,” Goggins has said.
Goggins’ personal story shows that anyone can change the trajectory of their life to reach their full potential.
What is a “David Goggins Foot”?
Speaking of tough, David Goggins’ feet bear the brunt of his feet. Goggins’s fiance posted a picture of his feet in 2020 on Instagram, and it got a lot of attention. In it, you see Goggins’ feet are inhabited by bunions, gnarled broken toenails and cracking callouses:
How much does David Goggins workout a day?
According to David Goggins’ fiancé, Goggins is extremely structured, committed, and meticulous about his workouts and diet.
His alarm goes off every morning for him to run no less than 10 miles a day.
He also hits the gym and does two hours of stretching. His fiance Jennifer Kish says he work-outs anywhere from 4 to 6 hours a day.
How much does Goggins run every day?
David Goggins runs every day, anywhere from 10 to 25 miles in a single day.
What does David Goggins eat in a day?
According to Men’s Health, a diet of 800 calories was all David Goggins ate a day to lose over a hundred pounds to become a Navy SEAL.
This diet looked like:
- A banana to fuel a long swim
- 9 ounces of boneless skinless chicken breast, three quarters of a cup of rice, and a cup of steamed broccoli before a gym session and run.
- Then a protein shake.
Today, according to his book, he eats more, but not much, to fuel his athletic endeavors:
- He doesn’t eat breakfast until 11am to complete 16 hours of fasting. He will eat 2 fried eggs and drink bulletproof coffee.
- For lunch he will eat a salad bowl with eggs, ground turkey, cheese, and an avocado.
- For dinner, he eats a steak or pork chop with steamed veggies, bringing his total caloric intake to just 2,000 calories.
In his book, Goggins does mention that he will occasionally have snacks during the day such as yogurt or granola.
Related: Essential Guide for Running Your First 100k
What are David Goggins’ race results?
2005
- San Diego One Day (24-hour ultramarathon) – One of his earliest endurance events.
2006
- Badwater 135 – 5th overall.
- Ultraman World Championships (320 mi triathlon) – 2nd place.
2007
- Badwater 135 – 3rd overall.
- McNaughton Park Trail Runs, 150 mi – Strong performance leading into 2008 record.
2008
- McNaughton 150 Miler – 1st place, course record (~33:36:20).
2013
- Badwater 135 – 18th place.
2015
- Hellgate 100k – 5th place, 11:56:02.
2016
- Strolling Jim 40 Miler – 1st place.
- Infinitus 88k – 1st place.
- Music City Ultra 50k – 1st place.
- Zane Grey 50-Mile – 13th overall, 11:23:29.
- JFK 50-Mile – 34th overall, 7:30:36.
2019
- Leadville Trail 100 – 35th overall, 22:55:48.
2020
- Moab 240 (241 mi) – 2nd place, ~63:21.
- JFK 50-Mile – 25th overall, 7:08:26.
2025
- Bigfoot 200 (200 mi) – 23rd place, 66:04:17.
- Moving pace ~4.1 mph, 20+ hours at aid stations.
Summary Table
| Year | Race/Event | Distance/Type | Placement | Time/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | San Diego One Day | 24-hour ultramarathon | — | Participation noted |
| 2006 | Badwater 135 | 135 mi desert | 5th | — |
| 2006 | Ultraman World Championships | 320 mi triathlon | 2nd | — |
| 2007 | Badwater 135 | 135 mi desert | 3rd | — |
| 2008 | McNaughton 150 mi (trail) | 150 mi trail loop | 1st (course record) | ~33:36:20 |
| 2013 | Badwater 135 | 135 mi desert | 18th | — |
| 2015 | Hellgate 100k | 100 km trail | 5th | 11:56:02 |
| 2016 | Strolling Jim 40 Miler | 40 mi | 1st | — |
| 2016 | Infinitus 88k | 88 km | 1st | — |
| 2016 | Music City Ultra 50k | 50 km | 1st | — |
| 2016 | Zane Grey 50 mi | 50 mi | 13th | 11:23:29 |
| 2016 | JFK 50 mi | 50 mi | 34th | 7:30:36 |
| 2019 | Leadville Trail 100 | 100 mi | 35th | 22:55:48 |
| 2020 | Moab 240 (~241 mi) | 241 mi desert | 2nd | ~63:21 |
| 2020 | JFK 50 mi | 50 mi | 25th | 7:08:26 |
| 2025 | Bigfoot 200 (~200 mi) | 200 mi mountain trail | 23rd | 66:04:17; ~20 h stopped; 4.1 mph pace |
