Ageless Athlete - Longevity Insights From Adventure Sports Legends - #62 One Mile at a Time: The Healing Power of Movement and How Adventure Can Fight Alzheimer’s

#62 One Mile at a Time: The Healing Power of Movement and How Adventure Can Fight Alzheimer’s

02/25/25 • 106 min

Ageless Athlete - Longevity Insights From Adventure Sports Legends

“Get people outside. Let them walk, let them move. And if they can’t, do it in a wheelchair. Fresh air and movement—at any level—still have the power to bring joy, connection, and even a little bit of who they once were.”

In this episode of The Ageless Athlete Podcast, I sit down with ultra-endurance athlete, coach, and bestselling author Travis Macy to explore one of the most powerful and personal lessons from his life: how movement, the outdoors, and adventure are helping his father, Mark Macy, live well despite an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Travis has competed in some of the toughest endurance races on the planet, including The Eco-Challenge—where he and his father raced together in Fiji, pushing past limits that most would have thought impossible. But now, he’s applying that same endurance mindset to something even more profound: keeping his father active, engaged, and thriving for as long as possible.

Through this conversation, we uncover why exercise isn’t just about performance—it’s about healthspan, and how movement, human connection, and time spent outside can be game-changers for those facing cognitive decline.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🏃‍♂️ How movement and outdoor activity have helped extend his father’s healthspan despite Alzheimer’s

"Has being active outside enhanced his healthspan? Hell yeah. Number one is human connection, and number two is moving outside."

🧠 Why exercise can temporarily boost cognition, even in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s

“When my dad exercises, you can see his cognition go up. He remembers more, cracks jokes—it brings something back.”

🌲 The power of nature to bring back connection and identity

“Even as Alzheimer’s progresses, the essence of who someone is can still come out. When we get out hiking, even if it’s slow, even if I have to hold his hand, you see the spark—it’s still there.”

🚀 Why pushing boundaries—whether in adventure or illness—matters more than ever

“For the last six years, we’ve been pushing up against the boundaries of what’s possible, finding ways for him to stay active and engaged.”

References Mentioned in the Episode

📖 Books by Travis Macy:

The Ultra Mindset: An Endurance Champion’s 8 Core Principles for Success in Business, Sports, and Life
A Mile at a Time (with Mark Macy)

🎧 The Travis Macy Show

📺 Eco-Challenge: The World’s Toughest Race → Watch on Amazon Prime

Physivantage offers supplements designed by outdoor athletes for recovery, hydration, and peak performance. If you're serious about reaching your goals, use code AGELESS15 at checkout for a special discount!
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What You’ll Learn in This Episode

🏃‍♂️ How movement and outdoor activity have helped extend his father’s healthspan despite Alzheimer’s

"Has being active outside enhanced his healthspan? Hell yeah. Number one is human connection, and number two is moving outside."

🧠 Why exercise can temporarily boost cognition, even in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s

“When my dad exercises, you can see his cognition go up. He remembers more, cracks jokes—it brings something back.”

🌲 The power of nature to bring back connection and identity

“Even as Alzheimer’s progresses, the essence of who someone is can still come out. When we get out hiking, even if it’s slow, even if I have to hold his hand, you see the spark—it’s still there.”

🚀 Why pushing boundaries—whether in adventure or illness—matters more than ever

“For the last six years, we’ve been pushing up against the boundaries of what’s possible, finding ways for him to stay active and engaged.”

References Mentioned in the Episode

📖 Books by Travis Macy:

The Ultra Mindset: An Endurance Champion’s 8 Core Principles for Success in Business, Sports, and Life
A Mile at a Time (with Mark Macy)

🎧 The Travis Macy Show

📺 Eco-Challenge: The World’s Toughest Race → Watch on Amazon Prime

Previous Episode

#61 Chris Bertish Is All In: Paddling the Atlantic Solo, and Fear, Failure & Finding Strength in the Unknown

At 50, Chris Bertish has built his life on pushing the boundaries of human endurance. From conquering Mavericks with no sleep and borrowed gear to paddling 4,600 miles across the Atlantic solo, his story is proof that commitment, mindset, and resilience can rewrite what we think is possible.

In this storytelling episode, Chris takes us inside his biggest challenges—the brutal storms, the mental battles, and the moments of absolute clarity that only come from pushing beyond fear.

🔥 In this episode, we cover:
✅ What it’s really like to paddle across an ocean alone for 93 days—the exhaustion, the fear, and the breakthroughs.
✅ A masterclass on visualization—how Chris mentally “blueprints” success before it happens.
✅ The fine line between courage and recklessness—and how to know when to push forward or step back.
✅ How fear is actually a guidepost, not a roadblock.
✅ The “all in” philosophy—what it means to truly commit to something bigger than yourself.

📚 Learn More About His Journey

Chris has shared his life and lessons through books and films that capture his record-breaking expeditions. The've been a huge inspiration to me!

📖 All In – Chris’s latest book, revealing the mindset, discipline, and commitment that fueled his Atlantic crossing.

🎥 Ocean Driven – A powerful documentary about Chris’s journey to winning Mavericks, overcoming self-doubt, and proving the impossible is possible.

🎥 Last Known Coordinates – A behind-the-scenes look at his solo Atlantic crossing, capturing the grit, solitude, and triumph of one of the most daring expeditions ever attempted.

🎙️ Connect with Chris Bertish

🌎 Website: ChrisBertish.co
📸 Instagram: @ChrisBertish
📘 Facebook: Official Chris Bertish
🎥 YouTube: Chris Bertish Official

If you want to support Chris’s future expeditions or bring his powerful message to your event, visit ChrisBertish.com or reach out directly at [email protected].

Next Episode

undefined - #63 Beyond Two Guinness Surfing Records: How Shawn Dollar Overcame Traumatic Brain Injury—and Why You Must Advocate for Your Own Health

#63 Beyond Two Guinness Surfing Records: How Shawn Dollar Overcame Traumatic Brain Injury—and Why You Must Advocate for Your Own Health

“Fear doesn’t have to destroy you—it can become rocket fuel if you learn to harness it. That mindset carried me through big waves and even bigger challenges on land.”

In this episode, we dive deep with Shawn Dollar, a big-wave surfer known for paddling into massive 60-foot waves—twice—earning him two Guinness World Records. As awe-inspiring as those rides were, Shawn opens up about an even more daunting challenge: a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that threatened to derail his life entirely. He shares how he became his own best advocate, seeking out cutting-edge treatments and refusing to accept “standard” medical advice as the only option.

Topics Discussed

Big-Wave Mindset: Why surfing colossal waves is as much a mental feat as a physical one, and how that mindset can help in everyday challenges.
TBI Diagnosis & Recovery: The reality of sustaining a life-altering injury and the critical steps Shawn took to regain full brain function.
Self-Advocacy in Healthcare: How to research, ask tough questions, and stay proactive when you’re not getting all the answers you need.
Resilience & Family: Balancing personal ambition and recovery with the responsibilities of work and fatherhood.
Lifestyle & Longevity: Tips on daily routines, nutrition, and simple habits that can lead to better overall health—physical and mental.

Key Takeaways

Harness Fear as Fuel: Fear doesn’t have to paralyze you; it can become your driving force for growth if you learn to channel it.
Create a Vision for Recovery: Even in the darkest moments, having a clear mental picture of a better future can keep you motivated.
Be Your Own Advocate: Standard medical advice can be limited. Explore options, do your research, and don’t be afraid to push for more.
Small Steps, Big Wins: Significant progress often comes from consistent, incremental changes over time—both in surfing and in healing.
Family Matters: Recognize that your personal health journey affects those around you. Involve loved ones in decision-making for more holistic support.

References

Shawn Dollar's Website
Shawn on Instagram
Shawn Dollar’s Guinness World Records for paddling into the largest wave (twice)

Ageless Athlete - Longevity Insights From Adventure Sports Legends - #62 One Mile at a Time: The Healing Power of Movement and How Adventure Can Fight Alzheimer’s

Transcript

Ageless Athlete - Travis Macy
===
Kush: [00:00:00] Travis, I've been reading your book, one mile at a time over the last month. You know, I like to read books like kind of old fashioned, you know, back to back, like cover to cover and it, it, it almost feels like, uh, you know, I have been, um, Sitting in this living room with you, hearing you, uh, share your stories.
And now you are here in person with me. So it kind of feels a bit like a dream.
Travis: Oh, well, thanks, man. Than