Find your Race, Create a Plan, Take One Step at a Time — Ultramarathon Runner & Badwater 135 Finisher, Nick Cerbone

Episode SummaryUltramarathon runner Nick Cerbone joins Mark Glicini after completing the legendary Badwater 135, known as one of the world's toughest footraces. Nick takes Mark inside the physical and mental battle of running 135 miles through Death Valley. He shares his experience with 117-degree heat, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, stomach issues, and the brutal final climb toward Mount Whitney.Nick shares how staying composed became one of his greatest tools. Instead of panicking when something went wrong, he learned to slow down, solve the immediate problem, and keep moving. His experience reveals a powerful principle for endurance and life. You do not always need to move faster. You need to avoid stopping.This episode is about much more than ultrarunning. It is a conversation about doing difficult things, breaking massive goals into manageable steps, surrounding yourself with the right people, and continuing forward when your mind tells you to stop.Chapters00:00 — intro trailer00:54 — Introduction to Nick Cerbone and Badwater 13502:02 — The Hardest Part of Running 135 Miles03:22 — Sleep Deprivation and Hallucinations05:39 — Staying Mentally Focused During Extreme Challenges07:47 — Finding Hope When Your Mind Starts Breaking Down09:52 — Hydration and Nutrition in 117-Degree Heat12:20 — Ultramarathons as Continuous Problem Solving14:06 — How Nick Discovered Ultramarunning16:29 — Building From 10 Miles to His First Ultramarathon18:08 — Becoming a More Well-Rounded Person20:50 — Why Progress Became Addictive23:27 — The Evolution of Nick's Running Journey24:49 — Finding Accountability Through the Right People28:00 — Why Nick's Badwater Crew Was Essential31:24 — What Motivates Nick Today34:07 — Developing Composure Under Pressure35:02 — Riding the Highs and Lows Without Stopping40:37 — Quiet Confidence and the "Silent Assassin"42:02 — How to Start Doing Difficult Things44:40 — Nick's Biggest Lessons From Badwater46:44 — Setting Bigger Goals After 135 Miles48:23 — Preparing for the Moab 24050:20 — Finding Role Models 50:46 — What Nick Learned From Harvey Lewis53:36 — Building Mental Toughness Through Small Wins56:30 — Quick Hitters: Mindset, Crew, and Consistency57:16 — Why Extraordinary Goals Take Time59:04 — From Fear of Failure to Love01:00:26 — Why Some Fear Can Make You Better01:02:04 — What Nick Learned at Rock Bottom01:02:34 — Breaking 135 Miles Into Smaller Checkpoints01:03:54 — Final ReflectionsKey TakeawaysMental toughness grows through repeated small wins.Extreme challenges become manageable through smaller checkpoints.Composure matters when your body or mind begins to struggle.Slowing down is different from stopping.About Nick CerboneNick Cerbone is an ultramarathon runner who recently completed the Badwater 135, a 135-mile race through Death Valley that is widely regarded as one of the world's toughest footraces.Nick began running while attending Florida State University. His journey started with a desire to become a more disciplined and well-rounded individual. Small milestones eventually grew into ultramarathons, 100-mile races, and the goal of qualifying for Badwater.His approach centers on consistency, composure, problem solving, community, and continuous improvement. After completing Badwater, Nick is setting his sights even higher with the Moab 240.This episode is sponsored by:WHOOP — FREE BAND + FREE 1ST-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION: https://join.whoop.com/mgppTHORNE — 25% OFF ALL SUPPLEMENTS: https://www.thorne.com/u/markgliciniOther Ways to Listen and Watch🎧 Listen/Watch on youtube: https://youtu.be/YynHqn-7KQ8🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grateful-and-full-of-greatness-with-mark-glicini/id1498665905?uo=4🌐 Visit Mark Glicini's Website: https://www.markglicini.com/