In this bonus episode of the Adaptive Athlete Podcast, I sit down with wheelchair athlete, coach, and new dad Mike Egan to unpack his 24-hour Guinness World Record attempt at Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio. Mike wheeled 152.36 miles on the same loop used for Event 1 of the 2024 Adaptive CrossFit Games, navigating more than 2,800 turns, a brutal overnight cold snap, and the mental strain of pushing through 24 hours with no sleep.
Mike walks through the “NASCAR-style” logistics behind the record: a dedicated pit crew tightening casters, managing equipment, and handling Guinness documentation; his coach George on headset guiding pacing and fueling; fellow athletes Tom Miazga and Andrea Wilson logging miles behind him as a relentless force keeping him moving; friend and athlete Brett Palser handling logistics; a massive community running with him.
Beyond the numbers, Mike reflects on a decade of living with disability, finding purpose through coaching and the adaptive community, and what it meant to finish the record surrounded by athletes, friends, and families. He shares the core message behind his effort—that pain is only a chapter, not the whole story—and hints at an even bigger, still-secret endurance goal on the horizon.
Follow Mike on Instagram: @mj_egan
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @TheAdaptiveAthletePod
