Start Lines Over Finish Lines

Hey Team!

I’m still flying high from spending the weekend in Vancouver. Not only was the city buzzing from the BMO Marathon, but the Red Bull Wings For Life World Run took it up another notch. I jumped into that one.

Here’s the skinny: over 300,000 people worldwide hit the pavement at the exact same time—regardless of time zone, weather, or location. In Vancouver, that meant a 4:00 AM PST start. No finish line. Just you versus a virtual chase car. The faster you run, the longer you last.

It was wild. I met some incredible people and ran for those who can’t. No medals. No podium. Just pure purpose.

Bonus? I got a taste of the BMO Marathon, and it lit a fire. I’ll be on that start line next year with a goal in mind: sub-3 hour marathon. Let’s go.

A Mental Edge

Last week, I joined Greg Scheinman for a live podcast taping of The Midlife Male. It was a room full of men over 40—entrepreneurs, athletes, fathers—and I shared my full story. Childhood to now. No filters.

Near the end, someone asked me, “How did you stay motivated to train for your ultramarathon run while going through so much?” It was a heavy time in my life. Truthfully, one of the hardest.

I didn’t have to think twice: integrity.

Last year, I made a promise. One to my friend Krista, the two-time Olympian we raised money for—and another to myself. That mattered. I wasn’t chasing motivation. I was honoring a commitment. And when you do that—especially when it’s hard—you build something deeper than discipline. You build momentum.

The small window of only 90 days to train really tested me. But I stayed in it. Kept showing up. Kept doing the work. Why? Because I said I would.

That’s the muscle I want more people to build. Not motivation. Integrity.

And funny enough, back to this past weekend, when I realized I had to wake up at 2:45 AM for the Wings For Life run, I didn’t even blink. No resistance. No inner debate. Just go.

You keep your word long enough, and eventually, the hard stuff becomes easy.

This Week’s Shift

I spent a lot of time this weekend with the RunAsYouAre and RunReady crew. I can’t say enough good things about them. And weeks earlier, I went through their full performance assessment.

It was thorough—movement screens, gait mechanics, footwear recommendations, the works. And what they flagged for me was clear: I was leaking power at the hips.

Specifically, in movements that require “bounce” off the ground—my hip extension was the bottleneck. Too tight. Not efficient.

Sean, who’s a lead physiotherapist on their team (and also ran sub-3 in Boston), prescribed an exercise: specific hip-opening drills prior to a run, emphasizing pelvic tuck and hip flexor lengthening. Real cues. Real outcomes.

After just a few weeks, I feel the difference. My stride’s more efficient. Less quad-heavy. More power from my hips.

So, if you’re a runner who’s plateaued, or just feeling clunky off the ground, it might not be a strength or gait issue—it might be mobility. That was me.

If you’re curious about getting the most advanced running assessment, reply here and I’d be happy connect you with the team. Sean’s the real deal.

From The Field

Someone I mentor is doing a massive endurance event to raise money for a cause close to him. Thing is, he’s raised serious cash in the past for his business. But now—trying to hit $10,000 for charity—he’s stalled.

He came to me frustrated. “I don’t get it,” he said. “I know how to fundraise.”

But here’s the thing: raising money for a business and raising money for a cause are not the same game.

In business, it’s about vision. ROI. People want to know what they get back, and when.

In cause-based fundraising, the return is emotional. It’s connection. It’s belief. It’s meaning. You’re not selling equity. You’re asking someone to feel something.

I told him: you’re pitching facts, but your donors need a story.

Here’s an example I gave:

“I’m running 50 miles for my 4-year-old cousin Sarah, who was just diagnosed with cancer. Please donate.”

Okay. Clear. But it’s missing the heart.

Now try this:

“I’m a father. And the most powerful moment of my life was holding my baby girl for the first time in the brightly lit hospital room. Hearing her first cry. Saying her name. Four years later, imagine being told that child has cancer. That’s Sarah’s story. And I’m running 50 miles to fight for her future.”

That lands differently.

Not everyone has a Sarah. But a lot of people are parents. That’s how you connect. That’s how you move people.

So if you’re training for a cause and need help crafting your story, this is something that I’ve helped others do really well. Check out my performance mentorship and reach out if it speaks to you. I’d be honored to support.

Quick Reminders Before You Start:

Check out the hip flexors stretch I mentioned, it’s at the start of this reel.

My new favorite audiobook. Matthew Dicks teaches you how to tell a great story!

Got a question, win, or want to share a new challenge you’ve committed to? Reply to this email, and we’ll connect on it.

Thanks for showing up. Thanks for committing to something big. Let’s achieve the impossible. Together.

Catch you on the Start Line,
— Matty