About
Mike McCastle is an American endurance athlete, mulriple world record holder, globally acclaimed performance coach, award-winning blog writer and motivational speaker. While serving 11 years in the U.S. Navy, McCastle founded Twelve Labors Project, a charitable initiative driven by a purposeful mission to redefine the limits of human potential while inspiring others to elevate beyond their perceived capacity for greatness.
With over a decade of experience in the field, high-achievers from various professional sectors have enlisted McCastle's expertise with the aim of improving performance, mental strength, leadership and team cohesion.
In addition to training novice to elite level athletes, Mike's clientele have included top teams from Fortune 500 companies, the FBI and U.S. Military. Acclaimed polar explorer, Colin O’Brady sought McCastle’s help in training for his historic solo, unassisted and unsupported trek across Antarctica and man powered row across the Drake Passage. Mike’s charitable efforts and expertise in mental strength and physical conditioning have been featured in over 100 media outlets.
When Mike isn’t training for his Labors, he remains actively involved in a number charitable efforts centered around veteran mental health issues and Parkinson's Disease.
Like the mythological '12 labors of Hercules’, McCastle’s incredible challenges test his physical and mental limits with the ultimate goal of inspiring others to live with purpose, stand for a cause greater than themselves and be relentless in the pursuit of their goals.
Michael’s Charitable Labors have included:
A 50k run for Cancer Research (wearing a 40lb vest).
A 13-mile, 250-pound tire flip for wounded veterans; he flipped the tire 137 spans along a 500-foot paved street over the course of 10 grueling hours. (WR)
A Rope Climb that equaled the height of Mount Everest, a full 29,029 feet in 27 hours for Parkinson's Disease Research--a cause that hits close to home following the death of his father who suffered from the disease. (WR)
On September 27th, 2015, Mike shattered the Guinness World Record for 'Most Pull-ups in 24 hours' after completing 5,804 pull-ups, all while wearing a 30 pound pack to represent the heavy burden of the wounded warrior. The event benefitted Operation Enduring Warrior, a veteran run organization that hosts adaptive athletic events for wounded veterans. (WR)
On May 22nd, Mike pulled a 2016 Ford F-150 pickup truck for 22 miles in 19 hours across Death Valley to raise awareness for Veteran Suicide. (WR)
On April 11th, 2017, Mike began running 20 miles per day for 100 consecutive days to, again, heighten awareness of the Veteran Suicide epidemic. He completed this Labor on July 11, 2017.
On Sept. 14th, 2021, Mike pull a full size pick up truck for 10 miles through the Arctic Circle.
On January 25th, 2021, after 2 hours and 40 minutes, Mike broke the world record for the longest full body submersion in ice. (WR)
WR = World Record
