Made In Venezuela food truck co-owner Miguel Navarro spent months training his body and mind to conquer one of the world’s toughest athletic challenges: the Ironman.
Long before he crossed the finish line at Ironman Texas, Miguel Navarro had already endured a different kind of endurance test — leaving Venezuela behind, rebuilding his life from scratch in coastal North Carolina and learning how to keep moving forward in the face of uncertainty and exhaustion.
A former journalist in Venezuela, Navarro immigrated to the United States in 2015 after increasing threats to journalism and freedom of expression under the regime of Nicolas Maduro made staying unsafe.
“I arrived in the United States in 2015 with a suitcase full of dreams, but also with uncertainty and fear,” Navarro says. “I went from covering the news to working as a server at Camino Real restaurant in Surf City.”
Navarro says he is deeply grateful to Camino Real proprietor Jorge Villasenor and his family for giving him that opportunity.
Today Navarro and his wife, Maryflor, also a Venezuela native, are best known locally as the proprietors of the Made In Venezuela food truck, which they opened in 2020.
Outside of work, Navarro’s passion is pushing himself to train and compete in Ironman competitions. After finishing two half Ironman competitions, Navarro knew he could fulfill his dream of finishing an event twice that distance.
“Completing two 70.3-mile races was a defining moment,” Navarro says. “It confirmed that I was ready to take the next step while also making it clear that the level of commitment and preparation for a full Ironman is on a completely different scale.”
An Ironman is a three-sport 140.6-mile competition that consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.
On April 18 he completed Texas Ironman in 13 hours, 13 minutes and 9 seconds after months of intense training.
Preparing for a half Iron competition typically takes almost six months. Navarro’s training for the full Ironman in Texas became a natural continuation of his half Ironman training. After finishing the North Carolina 70.3 in October 2025, he transitioned into a more demanding plan with Coach Erin Byrge.
They focused on building a strong base and gradually increased the intensity as the competition neared.
Navarro trained daily — swimming, cycling or running — accumulating 15 to 18 hours per week. He calls the training “deeply transformative” of the dream he carried for nearly 15 years.
Physical training and nutrition are important parts of the process. But, Navarro says, if there’s one defining factor, it’s the mind. He believes mental preparation is as demanding as the physical.
“I find motivation in the stories of other athletes, but even more in visualization: I see myself crossing the finish line, raising my arms, smiling, crying and thanking God for allowing me to live this experience,” he says.
On days when his body wants to rest and his mind doubts his abilities, Navarro calls on the phrase “Don’t think, just do it.”
“It’s a way to silence excuses and honor the commitment I’ve made to myself,” he says.
As Navarro’s coach, Byrge says there is a difference between a training plan and coaching.
“A plan tells you what to do,” she says. “Coaching helps you understand why you’re doing it, how to adjust when life gets in the way, and how to stay consistent over time. Athletes like Miguel Navarro are exactly why I coach.”
Both a coach and competitor, Byrge notes that Navarro came into this process willing to learn, trust the process and just keep showing up. “That’s what it takes,” she says.
An Ironman competitor herself, Byrge knows what she teaches this firsthand. She has competed nationally, won numerous competitions and worked with many athletes in her 13 years of coaching. She finished Ironman Texas in 14 hours and 43 seconds, coming in 24th of 44 contestants in her age group. Many runners, swimmers and cyclists know Byrge from local clubs and have benefitted from her coaching with Three Goals Multisport Training.
To prepare for the grueling elite event, Navarro’s days were full. He trained in the morning for three to four hours, then began his workday. Family support made his dream achievable.
“None of this would be possible without my family,” Navarro says. “I’m the one crossing the finish line, but this is a collective achievement. My wife has been a fundamental pillar, often taking on responsibilities in the business so I can stay committed to my training.”
The Made in Venezuela food truck was born from the family’s desire to share their culture through food.
“Today, we have more than customers, we have a community and people who have become family,” Navarro says.
Their food truck has twice been named Best Food Truck in the Topsail Magazine Topsail’s Top Choice awards.
“Every arepa we serve is a way of giving back,” Navarro says. “At every stop we find support, warmth and connection. That’s something you never forget.”
After years of rebuilding his life one step at a time, Navarro’s Ironman finish has been a personal victory as well as a celebration of perseverance, family and finding a new home here in southeastern North Carolina.
LEARN MORE
Find the Made in Venezuela food truck: madeinvenezuelanfood
Facebook: search Made In Venezuela in Sneads Ferry
To learn more about Erin Byrge’s training program, visit 3goalsmultisport.com.
Locals or visitors who want to train for triathlons in the Topsail area could join the Surf City Swimmers Facebook Group, the Salty Turtle Cycling Club or the Salty Turtle Run Club.
