Pain is often seen as something to overcome, but for William Goodge, it became the driving force behind his greatest achievements. After losing his mother, William turned to running—not just as an escape, but as a way to transform grief into purpose. What started as a coping mechanism became an obsession, pushing him to complete ultra-endurance challenges that test the limits of human resilience.
In this episode, William shares how loss shaped his mindset, why suffering can be a tool for growth, and the mental battle of running thousands of miles. From his first marathon on Christmas Day to running across entire countries, he explains how endurance sports became his way of finding meaning in hardship. Tune in to hear how turning pain into fuel can unlock an entirely new level of drive, focus, and achievement.
Timestamps:
00:00 William and his nomad spirit
02:34 Early modelling days and industry reality
03:51 Finding running on Santa Monica beach
07:02 Running barefoot through blood blisters
08:49 Dealing with loss through movement
10:32 Using exercise to process emotions
14:51 Mental strength in endurance sports
18:14 Pushing through pain with codeine
21:49 Turning suffering into strength
24:38 Making marathons accessible for everyone
26:12 Finding beauty in earned pain
28:37 Breaking down major running achievements
31:06 The Africa run possibility
35:06 Balancing extremes: trails to fashion shows
38:22 Life lessons from Hollister days
42:01 Having freedom to explore in your twenties
46:19 How Australia shaped his outlook
50:06 Going for the cross-country record
54:23 Training data and recovery secrets
56:08 The special meaning behind Japan
58:13 Why Cape Town feels like home
1:00:01 Making adventures sustainable
1:05:46 Living simply while dreaming big
1:25:04 Finding peace in a simpler life
Links:
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Follow William:
YouTube: @goodge
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williamgoodge/?hl=en
Website: https://tinyurl.com/4vy6pvn5