Captain Tony Young is a charter fishing captain and ultramarathon runner who has found a way to balance running 100-mile races with managing a successful fishing guide business in the Florida Keys. In this conversation with Tom Rowland, Tony reveals the mental strategies that transfer between standing on a poling platform for 12 hours and grinding through mile 80 of an ultramarathon, why he thinks most people quit right before the breakthrough happens, and the surprising way his fishing clients react when they find out about his extreme running hobby. This is a masterclass in discipline, time management, and what it really takes to operate at a high level in two completely different pursuits.
How does a charter fishing captain train for 100-mile ultramarathons?
Captain Tony Young trains for 100-mile races while running a full-time charter fishing business by utilizing early morning hours before trips and strategic scheduling during his off-season. He balances standing on a poling platform for extended fishing trips with running 50-100 miles per week, finding that the mental toughness required for both pursuits directly transfers between the two disciplines.
Who is Captain Tony Young?
Captain Tony Young is a charter fishing captain based in the Florida Keys who specializes in guiding clients for tarpon, permit, and bonefish. He is also an accomplished ultramarathon runner who competes in 100-mile races, combining his passion for the outdoors with extreme endurance athletics while successfully managing his fishing guide business.
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The Mental Game That Connects Ultramarathons and Flats Fishing
There's a moment in every 100-mile race where your body wants to quit, and Tony explains that it's the exact same moment that happens on the poling platform when conditions are tough and the fish aren't cooperating. The conversation reveals how the discipline of pushing through physical discomfort in running has made him a better fishing guide, and how the patience required to pole for hours looking for one shot at a permit has improved his ability to handle the dark miles in an ultramarathon. What's fascinating is Tony's perspective on why most people quit right before they're about to break through to something special. Tony breaks down the mental parallels between running and guiding at the 15-minute mark.
How a Fishing Captain Finds Time to Run 100 Miles Per Week
Running a charter fishing business means unpredictable hours, client demands, and the physical toll of poling a skiff all day in the Florida heat. So how does Tony stack 50-100 mile training weeks on top of that schedule? He reveals the morning routine that most people would find impossible, the way he structures his calendar during peak tarpon season versus his training blocks, and the brutal honesty about what has to be sacrificed to operate at this level in two different worlds. There's also a surprising revelation about how his fishing clients react when they find out about his ultramarathon hobby—and why some of them think he's completely insane. The full training schedule breakdown starts at the 22-minute mark.
Hear Tony explain how he balances elite-level athletics with running a fishing business
What Happens at Mile 80 of a 100-Mile Race
Tony takes Tom inside the darkest moments of ultramarathon racing—the point where most people drop out, where your body is screaming at you to stop, and where the real race actually begins. He describes the physical breakdown that happens when you've been running for 18-20 hours straight, the hallucinations that can occur, and the mental techniques he uses to keep moving forward when every cell in his body wants to quit. There's a story about a specific race where everything went wrong at mile 80, and what he learned about himself in that moment that has transferred to every other area of his life. This isn't motivational poster content—this is the raw reality of what it takes to push beyond what most people think is possible. The mile 80 story unfolds at the 38-minute mark.
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SubscribeThe Business Side of Running a Charter Fishing Operation
Beyond the romance of life on the water, Tony opens up about the realities of managing a charter fishing business—the client relationships, the equipment maintenance, the marketing, and the seasonal cash flow challenges that most guides don't talk about publicly. He shares his approach to building repeat clients, how he handles the pressure of delivering results when people are paying premium rates, and the way he thinks about his business as a long-term asset rather than just a series of one-off trips. There's also an honest discussion about the physical toll of guiding and why having an athletic outlet like ultrarunning actually makes him better at his job rather than detracting from it. Tom and Tony dig into what separates the guides who build sustainable businesses from the ones who burn out. The business conversation starts at the 52-minute mark.
This conversation goes deep into discipline, endurance, and operating at a high level.
Don't miss this one.
Key Takeaways
- • The mental toughness required to push through mile 80 of a 100-mile race is the same discipline that makes you a better fishing guide when conditions are brutal
- • Most people quit right before they break through to something special—Tony explains why that moment is where the real growth happens
- • Running 50-100 miles per week while running a full-time charter business requires a morning routine and scheduling discipline that most people would find impossible
- • The physical and mental strategies that work at mile 80 of an ultramarathon directly transfer to the poling platform when you're searching for fish in tough conditions
- • Building a sustainable charter fishing business requires thinking long-term about client relationships and managing your body as an asset
- • Having an extreme athletic outlet like ultrarunning can actually make you better at your primary job rather than detracting from it
- • The discipline to wake up at 4 AM to train before a full day of guiding creates a competitive advantage in both pursuits
Final Thoughts from Tom
I've talked to a lot of high-performers over the years, but there's something different about Tony's approach to managing these two completely different worlds. What struck me most in this conversation wasn't just the physical accomplishment of running 100 miles—it's the way he's figured out how to structure his life so that each pursuit makes him better at the other one. Most people think you have to choose, but Tony's proof that when you're disciplined enough, you can actually use the demands of one thing to sharpen your edge in another.
The mental strategies he talks about—particularly around mile 80 of a race when everything hurts and your brain is telling you to quit—those same principles apply whether you're on a poling platform in tough conditions or facing any kind of challenge in business or life. This isn't abstract motivation. Tony's living it every single day, and the specifics of how he does it are incredibly valuable.
If you're trying to operate at a high level in any pursuit, or if you're wondering whether it's possible to be great at more than one thing at a time, this conversation is worth your time. Tony's got it figured out in a way that most people never will, and he breaks it all down in detail. Listen to the whole thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you train for a 100-mile ultramarathon while working full-time?
Captain Tony Young trains for 100-mile races by utilizing early morning hours before his charter fishing trips and strategically planning his training blocks during his off-season. He runs 50-100 miles per week by waking up at 4 AM and structuring his schedule to accommodate both his guiding business and his athletic training. The key is discipline and treating both pursuits with equal seriousness.
What happens at mile 80 of a 100-mile race?
Mile 80 of a 100-mile ultramarathon is where most runners face complete physical and mental breakdown after running for 18-20 hours straight. Tony Young describes this as the point where your body is screaming to stop and the real mental race begins. It's where the discipline and mental toughness strategies become essential for pushing through to the finish.
How does ultramarathon running make you a better fishing guide?
The mental toughness and discipline required to push through the dark miles of an ultramarathon directly transfers to the patience and focus needed on the poling platform during difficult fishing conditions. Tony explains that learning to manage physical discomfort and maintain focus for 20+ hours in a race improves his ability to stay sharp and positive during long, tough days on the water with clients.
What does it take to run a successful charter fishing business in the Florida Keys?
Running a successful charter fishing business requires managing client relationships, maintaining equipment, handling marketing, and navigating seasonal cash flow challenges. Captain Tony Young emphasizes building repeat clients, delivering consistent results, and thinking about the business as a long-term asset rather than just a series of one-off trips. Physical fitness and mental discipline are also essential for sustaining the demanding schedule.
Can you excel at multiple high-level pursuits simultaneously?
Tony Young's experience as both a charter fishing captain and 100-mile ultramarathon runner demonstrates that it's possible to operate at a high level in multiple pursuits when you're disciplined enough. The key is using the demands of one pursuit to sharpen your edge in the other, rather than viewing them as competing priorities. Strict time management and early morning training routines are essential.
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About this Guest
Captain Tony Young
Captain Tony Young is a charter fishing captain based in the Florida Keys who specializes in guiding clients for tarpon, permit, and bonefish. He is also an accomplished ultramarathon runner who competes in 100-mile races. Tony has found a unique balance between managing a successful fishing guide business and competing in extreme endurance events, using the mental and physical disciplines from each pursuit to enhance the other. His approach to time management, training, and maintaining peak performance in two demanding fields provides valuable insights for anyone looking to operate at a high level in multiple areas of life.
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