The Detour Did Its Job

Hey Team!

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks, and honestly, it feels like an eternity since I last dropped in here. There’s so much to share I almost don’t know where to start. We went from Toronto to Atlanta for the Publix Atlanta Marathon, then straight back to the west coast for the Los Angeles Marathon. Planes, trains, and Ubers... a modern-day version of the movie title. I didn’t run either marathon, but we supported clubs, grew our community, and cheered hard... and it was amazing.

Here’s the shocker. This past weekend, LA decided to give medals to runners who completed 18 miles instead of the full 26.2 because of the predicted heat. There’s been a lot of controversy online, and I’m genuinely curious where you land on it. I fully support anyone making the call to stop if the conditions feel unsafe. No question. But receiving a marathon medal without finishing the marathon? That part I don’t really get. I’d be proud of anyone who ran 5K, 10K, or 18 miles in tough conditions... I’m just not sure it needs to be recognized with a 26.2 medal. I’d love to hear your take.

A Mental Edge

This past week in LA tested my patience and my belief that things really do unfold the way they’re supposed to... if you stay in the game long enough. When we first arrived, Austin and I only had a couple of meetings and two shakeout runs lined up. For a full week in market, that didn’t feel like much. But Austin said something that stuck with me: “Whenever we get in market, things open up for us.” Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened. More meetings started booking, run club friends reached out, and the week began filling in fast. Best of all, I had two long runs lined up with Eli Wehbe... someone I’ve followed for a while and deeply respect for the way he shows up in ultra-endurance.

Then the plans fell apart. Tuesday got cancelled. Wednesday’s six-hour run got cancelled too. Just like that, the part of the week I was most excited about disappeared. It would’ve been easy to get frustrated, question the value of the trip, or feel like the momentum had slipped. But we stayed the course. We adjusted. We stayed open. And in the end, that’s exactly what made room for something better.

A random conversation at the hotel coffee shop turned into two morning runs with new people. Darren approached me after being curious how far I’d run the day before, and one conversation led to another. Turns out he’s close with Rich Roll... whose podcast I’ve been manifesting my way onto for a long time. Wild. Then Friday came around and the long run with Eli finally happened... except it became even better than expected. What started as one run turned into a crew of seriously impressive endurance athletes, including runners preparing for Monster 300 and Mammoth 200, plus another who had just come off a 100-mile race in the desert. It was one of those reminders that when something doesn’t go to plan, it isn’t necessarily going wrong. Sometimes it means something bolder is around the corner.

From The Field

Friday morning, I drove to the base of the hills in LA at 6:30am ready to run 17 miles with a group I barely knew. Truthfully, there was a lot I didn’t know going in. Pace, distance, energy, terrain, and even the group dynamic were all up in the air. But I showed up because I wanted to learn, test myself, and get trail work in that I simply can’t get in Tofino. One by one, the crew rolled in. Ryan Keeping showed up... a Canadian ultra runner who has run across Canada and Iceland. Nick Pelletier pulled up... an endurance athlete and adventurer whose “SINK or SWIM” documentary had just dropped. Then Brad Kraut arrived, fresh off completing 100 miles in the Vegas desert.

With that group, plus Eli’s resume, I knew I was about to get a real benchmark. And that’s exactly why I was excited. I was ready for the heat, the hills, the distance, the speed... whatever the morning asked for. What I found was simple: I was exactly where I needed to be. We ran strong, kept a solid pace, took a few breaks, walked the steep climbs, and had a ton of fun. I felt good the whole way. No real pain, no major dip, and I could hold a conversation almost the entire time. That kind of run doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from consistency... the miles, the strength work, the recovery, and the decision to keep showing up before the big moment arrives.

That’s the beauty of days like that. They build proof. And proof builds confidence. When a hard effort feels smooth, it feeds the flywheel. It reminds you that your training is working, your standards are serving you, and you’re more ready than you think. Anything can happen on any given day, of course. But Friday was one of those mornings that reinforced a simple truth: a lot can open up for you when you just keep stepping onto the start line.

Quick Reminders Before You Start:

Nick Pelletier’s recently released documentary, SINK or SWIM. Should be a gripping one... I can’t wait to watch.

Brad Kraut’s The NELK Ultramarathon documentary on his journey across the Vegas desert. Live on NELK YouTube at 8:30pm EST tonight.

There’s something powerful about staying in it long enough to see what opens up. Keep showing up, keep trusting the process, and let the unexpected remind you that momentum often meets you in motion.

Catch you on the Start Line,
—Matty