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Matt is a Runner’s World+ member. Join him and thousands of others chasing their goals with day-by-day training plans, expert advice from editors and coaches, and unlimited digital access. We regularly feature members online and in print!
I have been an endurance athlete for most of my life. I started running in 2000 when I was living in Manhattan. I decided to try going for my first run, so I walked to Central Park and ran the 6-mile loop. I was sore for days after, but I was invigorated and simply in love with the simplicity of the sport. Since then, running has become my constant through life’s turmoil. After surgery on my back in 2006, I was told I would never run again. Less than a year later, I proved the surgeon wrong. Running is a crucial element of my mental wellness. Running helps me battle anxiety and depression. And yet, is can me that same depression that sometimes makes it near impossible to motivate my way out the door. That is why I usually need concrete goals to keep me moving.
I have been a regular subscriber to RW for years. I love the resources offered by RW+. I like to stay abreast of all the latest trends, gear, gadgets, training advice and news. I mostly run alone and RW+ helps me feel connected to the running community.
Running helps me cope with life’s challenges and is a key factor in emotional self-care. However, I have also always been drawn to pushing myself to the limit. The feeling of reaching goals I may have previously thought impossible drive me to push harder, dig deeper, and run farther than ever before. More than trying to edge out the competition at the finish line, my goals when running races is more about personal achievement.
Typically I run first thing in the morning on the weekends and in late afternoon/evening during the week. I always save long runs for the weekends and if/when I do speed work, that comes in middle of the week. I run roads and trails, but I always prefer the trails. I live close to the Des Plaines River Trail and that is always my favorite local spot for a long run. I can take the trail north or south from the closest access point, and each direction offers a unique experience. My favorite time to run the DPR Trail is at night when the trail is covered in snow and the moonlight helps to guide the way. It feels other-worldly to be in middle of a snowy forest at night, all alone.
Last summer I feel in love with Altra running shoes. It was my first season running beyond marathon distance and after a relentlessly undulating 50K at the Kettle 100, which included sun, heavy rain, thick, deep mud, and some short steep ups and downs, I did not have a single blister or black toenail. I am partial to the Altra Lone Peak on the trails and the Altra Torin Plush on the roads.
I applied for, and won a lottery spot for the 2020 Chicago Marathon. Chicago was my first marathon 18 years earlier, so it’ll be nice to return. But my real goal is to complete my first 50 miler. I was training for the 50 at the 2019 Hennepin Hundred, but some personal matters got in the way of my ability to complete my training and get to the start line. With Chicago falling too close to Hennepin, I’ll be looking for another 50 miler to set as my “A” goal for the upcoming season.