Summary
Gary Brecka interviews Andrew Glaze, an ultra-endurance athlete who runs approximately 100 miles per week. A former firefighter who struggled with PTSD, depression, and anxiety in his 20s, Glaze discovered that extreme endurance exercise provided the mental relief that nothing else could.
Glaze shares his journey from being overweight, smoking, and drinking heavily in his 20s to becoming one of the most dedicated ultra-runners in the world. He explains that during the most painful moments of ultramarathons—when your brain is screaming to stop—you feel most alive and present, with no room for PTSD or intrusive thoughts. The Moab 240 race, a brutal 240-mile event, became his personal proving ground after failing to finish twice before finally completing it.
The conversation dives deep into how Glaze biohacks his recovery to sustain 100+ mile weeks without injury, covering topics from red light therapy and cold exposure to nutrition, supplementation, and tracking biomarkers. For first responders and others dealing with mental health challenges, his story offers a powerful example of channeling pain into purpose.
Key Points
- Ultra-running provides mental presence that quiets PTSD and intrusive thoughts
- During extreme physical pain, the brain is too occupied to ruminate
- First responders have significantly higher suicide rates than the general population
- Running became therapy after traditional approaches (medication) didn't work
- 100+ miles weekly requires extensive biohacking to prevent injury
- The Moab 240 is one of the most brutal ultramarathons—240 miles of continuous running
- Training your brain to handle tough situations transfers to all of life
- Recovery protocols are as important as the training itself
Key Moments
Sauna and cold plunge for ultra-endurance recovery
Ultra-endurance athlete Andrew Glaze discusses his recovery routine of sauna, cold plunge, and red light therapy, with Gary Brecca noting how impressive it is that Glaze maintains elite performance with relatively minimal biohacking interventions.
"the usual like sauna and coal plunge. I have a small red light like bed that I use mostly on my feet just because, you know, you got to keep the feet pretty healthy."
Cold plunge as standard recovery for ultra-running
Glaze uses cold plunge as a core recovery modality alongside sauna and red light for his ultra-running training, which involves up to 300 miles per week.
"the usual like sauna and coal plunge. I have a small red light like bed that I use mostly on my feet just because, you know, you got to keep the feet pretty healthy."
Magnesium supplementation at night for ultra-endurance athletes
Glaze takes magnesium at night as part of his supplement stack, along with D3, K2, zinc, and algae-based omega-3s for his ultra-endurance training.
"I take magnesium at night."
Electrolyte management during ultra-endurance races
Brief discussion of electrolyte management as a critical component of ultra-endurance racing nutrition and hydration strategy.
"I got to feed myself. I got to make sure I'm taking enough water, electrolytes."
