Endurance Icon Gordo Byrn: Going All-In On Training, Avoiding Burnout, How To Build a Coaching Business, 30 Years of Writing, And Much More... (#3)

In his late 20s, Gordo Byrn left a high-powered career in finance to go all-in on endurance training. By the age of 33, he had won the Ultraman World Championships.

Gordo is one of the most thoughtful voices in the world of endurance. He writes regularly on his two Substacks — Endurance Essentials and True Wealth. Both are well worth checking out.

We cover the “why” behind pursuing endurance training, what to do when training becomes compulsive, Gordo’s experience with over 100 training camps, how he ran his coaching business, and much more. 👇

Episode breakdown:

00:00 – introduction

00:18 – why is fitness worth pursuing?

05:04 – who should go all-in on training

07:27 – compulsion and the amateur athlete

12:51 – the cost of going fast

15:02 – motivation and the joy of the process

16:36 – from 50-minute 10k to 2.46 ironman marathon

20:26 – over 100 training camps: a lifestyle choice

22:43 – epic camp origins

25:10 – how to structure effective camps

26:58 – are you ready for a training camp?

30:38 – designing a life around endurance

37:23 – the importance of the big block

39:19 – a life of writing

41:39 – coaching and communicating through writing

43:43 – writing practice and publishing tips

45:57 – building an endurance audience

48:23 – endurance coaching as a business

50:44 – choosing the right coaching model

55:30 – curating attention in the digital age

57:57 – avoiding the trap of online dopamine

1:01:58 – anchoring your goals to your values

1:05:50 – integrity, openness, and recovery

1:07:40 – chasing an ironman record