Lessons From Another Lap Around the Sun

Hey Team!

Fall is here. I don’t know about you, but I love this season. The leaves turn amber, the air sharpens, and productivity feels at its peak. It’s also the perfect energy to go inward… to reflect, to reset, to realign. Maybe it’s because my birthday just passed (October 5th), but I’ve been feeling deeply connected to this season of change. There’s something about autumn that reminds me how much transformation is possible when you stay in motion.

A Mental Edge

Coming off my birthday weekend, at 44, it’s wild to think about how different life looks compared to a year ago. Eighteen months ago, things were heavy. But through time, discipline, and a lot of internal work, that energy shifted. A new season arrived, and with it, a new version of me.

Over the weekend, I was scrolling through my camera roll to make one of those “year in review” posts, and honestly, I was shocked by how much had unfolded. My ultramarathon to Whistler, 20+ podcasts, three HYROX competitions, a men’s retreat, multiple trips to NYC including the 30-day run club tour, and another ultra in Georgia a few weeks ago. Seeing it all laid out made me realize how many of those moments were physically or mentally challenging, or both.

Looking back, where I am today didn’t happen by accident. It happened because I kept getting on the start line. I kept putting myself out there and moving things into motion. Every time I did, the next step became a little clearer, and life aligned itself in ways I couldn’t have planned. But what stands out most from all of it isn’t the events themselves—it’s how grounded I’ve felt emotionally through it all.

This past year has been incredible in many ways, but also challenging. Still, I’ve found an ability to sit with the tough emotions—sadness, loneliness, frustration—and move through them without letting them define me. The key has been simple: keep moving forward.

When things get hard, the best thing you can do is take a step—physically or metaphorically. Every forward movement builds resilience and momentum. It’s what carries you through the storm.

On my birthday, I shared a quote that sums it up: “If you can see the path you’re on, you’re probably on someone else’s.”

Life rarely moves in a straight line. When you accept that, the setbacks hit softer, and the uncertainty feels less threatening. You start to see that each challenge is preparing you for what’s next. And you keep moving forward.

So this season, if you’re in reflection mode, ask yourself: Are you moving forward or standing still? Are you putting things in motion, or waiting for a sign? Because the truth is, the sign will only reveal itself once you’ve already started.

Tested This Week

I also want to share something I tested that really impressed me. I’m a loyal consumer when it comes to products and brands that align with my values. Over the years, I’ve supported small, founder-led brands like Monadic, a Japanese-inspired L.A. fashion label with real heart.

That same loyalty kicked in again when I recently discovered a new running shoe company called Veloci. They caught my attention after a collaboration with my friend Devon Levesque and Sweet Honey Farms, but I hadn’t tried the product until I arrived at Runningman Festival a few weeks ago.

I met the founder, Tyler, and his team, a young, passionate group fresh out of university, and immediately felt their energy. Before long, I had a pair of Veloci shoes on my feet for the 50K ultra I was about to run. Total faux pas. You’re never supposed to wear new shoes on race day, let alone during an ultramarathon. But I rolled the dice.

Fifty-five kilometers later, I was stunned. Wide toe box. Great stability. Solid cushion. My feet felt strong and surprisingly fresh. Not a single blister. It was one of those rare moments where everything just worked—a testament to the product, but also to the kind of energy that comes from a team building something from the ground up.

If you’re logging miles this fall, these might be worth checking out. There’s something powerful about supporting brands that are still in the early stages—the ones doing it for the right reasons. The ones who, like us, just keep showing up.

Quick Reminders Before You Start:

Interested in trying a new pair of shoes that will take you the distance? Here’s a small gesture from the young team at Veloci: $20 off with code MATTY20.

Fall’s the perfect time to reset and realign. Keep stacking the steps… one at a time.

Catch you on the Start Line,
—Matty