Show Up Before You're Ready

Hey Team!

The universe works in funny ways... and it’s honestly hard to believe what I’m about to share with you. Let’s just say the lottery gods are looking at me right now and blessing me with challenges. In a good way.

You all know the story by now. I applied for the 2026 Moab 240, the iconic 240-mile race that starts on October 9th, 2026. I was fired up about applying, only to find myself 111th on the waitlist. A few weeks later, I got accepted into the NYC Marathon, which is already incredibly difficult to get into, so I figured everything was good in the hood. And then, as I shared last week, I got accepted into Moab.

Fast forward to about a month ago, I threw my hat in the ring for Cocodona 250. The other epic trail race I’ve been talking about recently. I like to call this one the new kid on the block. It’s getting a ton of attention, and rightfully so. Thousands of people apply, and only a few hundred are chosen. Last night, I was randomly selected to race Cocodona, the 250-miler in Arizona.

In a roundabout way, I’ve been accepted into three of the world’s most notable races. NYC Marathon. Moab 240. Cocodona 250. I’m feeling grateful, shocked, and very aware of what’s unfolding. Because less than six months ago, it felt like none of these races had a real chance of landing on my calendar. And now, here we are.

This Week’s Shift

This past weekend was also a wonderful reminder that choosing to do the right thing always wins.

Back in April, I was asked to speak at CITY SHRED, a fitness event that’s held in multiple markets, including Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Miami, and LA. It’s typically held on a large turf, a lot of it is HIIT-style training, and the leaders are local, industry-leading trainers tasked with taking the 1,000 to 3,000 attendees through a quick community-based workout. The understanding was that I had the option to speak at each event, talk about the new business, and lead a run club. Fairly straightforward on both sides, or so I thought. Nonetheless, there was a miscommunication, and it wasn’t exactly that. Close, but a few key details were missed.

This all came to light Thursday of last week, with the first CITY SHRED happening in Vancouver only days later on Sunday. I had told the founder, why don’t we just plan for the next one. I was still very excited to partner with them, but I wasn’t sure if it was worth the 12-hour commute in one day, especially when the plan wasn’t crystal clear.

And then I received the run of show.

I was the headline guest speaker. In fact, it was the only part of the document that was all caps and bold: SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: MATTY CHRISTOPHERSON. It was highlighted too, but that was probably just for my own reference. Upon seeing this, I told myself there was absolutely no way I was going to leave anyone hanging. Not to mention, break my commitment to the founder of CITY SHRED.

Sure, we both agreed it wasn’t perfectly clear and a bunch of apologies were shared. And I easily could have said no, and I’m confident she would have been okay with it. But that wasn’t the point. It wasn’t only about letting her and the team down. It was about my commitment. I had already committed to it, my schedule was clear, and when I really looked at it, why wouldn’t I follow through?

So I went. And guess what happened? I crushed the talk. I was so proud of the theme of believing, my delivery, and the overall energy I brought to the event. But most importantly, it was a gift to have the opportunity to stand in front of hundreds of athletes and share my story in hopes I could inspire even a fraction of the room. It was a true honor, and I feel very blessed that I was trusted to play such a big role this past weekend.

Next time you’re thinking the situation isn’t perfect, or the conditions weren’t exactly what you had in mind, think about what it’s costing you not to do it. Because sometimes the imperfect opportunity is the exact thing that gives you what you need.

From The Field

The speech I gave on Sunday felt like a powerful one. It connected with the audience, I felt relatable, and it tied together three stories: one of the past, one of the present, and my own. It was all centered around believing in what’s possible, the belief effect, which I’ve mentioned in the past, and the idea that we are all more capable of achieving big things than we often give ourselves credit for.

One very interesting takeaway for me was how little nerves I had. Many people in my life have shared with me that they feel I’m good at speaking, and I find this to be a funny assumption. Mostly because I haven’t done a lot of talks, so it’s a bit hard to make that statement. A lot of it is probably rooted in how I communicate in small rooms, on the phone, or maybe through social media. However, the truth of the matter is that I typically get very nervous in front of 40 people, let alone nearly a thousand.

So why now? Why did I feel very little nerves?

Originally, I thought it was all the reps I’ve got in on podcasts. But I don’t think that was the full reason because this talk was original and all new content. Then I said to myself, maybe it was because I was talking about something that was from the heart and something I truly meant. This felt closer, but again, not fully. I always try to talk from the heart, so that wasn’t exactly new either. Then it came to me: I believed that I belonged.

Over the past two years, I’ve met a lot of people. Many of which have very big followings, impressive platforms, and incredible careers. But the one thing that I’ve come to realize, and be reminded of every time, is that behind the phone is a human just like you or I. The people who I once adored, looked up to, or was even envious of, are all people with doubts, impostor syndrome, nerves, and insecurities. We are all human.

Now, when I get in the room and give a speech alongside some major industry leaders, I don’t feel intimidated in the same way. I don’t feel like I don’t belong, and I don’t feel like I need someone else to validate my place in the room. In fact, I feel like this is exactly where I belong.

Because I believe part of my mission in life is to inspire others to climb that next mountain, even when there’s an ocean in front of them. And this weekend reminded me that sometimes the first person you need to believe is yourself.

Quick Reminders Before You Start:

If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to follow our Instagram for OPS RUN, the platform we built for run clubs. We’re doing an official launch very soon, and any support when that time comes would mean a lot. I’m so excited for what’s ahead.

Maybe that’s the real shift: not waiting until the conditions are perfect, not waiting until someone gives you permission, and not waiting until you feel completely ready. Because once you decide to show up, you give yourself a chance to find out what was waiting on the other side.

Catch you on the Start Line,
—Matty