The Goal That Actually Scares Me

Hey Team!

We are officially ground running in 2026… how’s it feeling for you? I can genuinely share I’m feeling excited, focused, a tad anxious, and all the feels. It’s interesting how almost everything can be aligned in life with a clear vision, and yet the second the first day of the new year hits, this unexpected pressure lands on our shoulders.

For me, it’s a gentle reminder of two things: first, I’ve committed to big things this year and a bit of pressure is often just the signal that I’m getting close to the edge. Second, it’s my cue to reflect inward and remember that whatever happens this year, I am still worthy. Whether we crush goals or fail miserably, it’s all part of the process… and it doesn’t define who we are. So if you’re feeling that same tightness right now, don’t walk away from the start line you’re stepping onto… lean in. As they say: shoot your shot.

This feels like one of my most exciting newsletters to date. I’m sharing a few things that haven’t left my lips yet… and there’s no better time than the first newsletter of the year.

A Mental Edge

Y’all know by now I announced a goal of running a sub-3 marathon this year: 26.2 miles under 3 hours. Huge accomplishment, and a time that would put me in a new category of running. But over the past week I caught myself asking a question that mattered more than the time itself: Does this scare me at all? The honest answer is no… not really. It’s hard, and it will require real discipline, but it’s also a performance-based goal inside an event I’m extremely confident I can complete.

So then I asked the better question: what’s the mountain I’m climbing this year that puts me on the edge of growth, regardless of outcome? You heard it here first: I’m throwing my hat in the ring for Moab 240 . Even writing that makes me cringe a bit, which is exactly how I know it matters. It’s 240 miles through Utah terrain with serious swings in conditions, and a 112-hour cutoff (i.e. up to a 4.5 day race). Wild.

This one scares me. For context, it’s roughly 3x the length of Vancouver to Whistler, and the conditions are a different league. I asked my run coach what he thought about attempting a sub-3 marathon and a 240 miler in one year, and he laughed. He told me I can always do the longer one in the future. But the truth is, none of us know what “future” looks like. Right now I’m single and I can commit to these things fully, and life can change fast. So if this is a window, I want to respect it. Before the end of the week, I’m applying. I’m shooting my shot.

From The Field

I mentioned that tad of anxiousness, and it’s true. It didn’t exist a week ago. If you’re feeling it too, know you’re not alone. A lot of it comes from the pressure we put on ourselves to “have a great year,” which is easier said than done when life gets messy and unpredictable. I’ve found that anxiety often shows up when we’re committing to something outside our comfort zone… which means it’s also a cue to pause, get honest about the root, and give ourselves a bit of grace. The world puts enough pressure on us. We don’t need to add more by turning growth into a judgment of our worth.

The best antidote to anxiousness is movement. That can be physical movement: get back into your body and let the noise settle. Or it can be progress movement: one task at a time, one decision, one conversation that breaks the loop. The worst thing we can do is freeze, because paralysis stunts momentum and then everything compounds from there. Keep moving, even if it’s small, and you’ll start to feel some of that weight lift.

Quick Reminders Before You Start:

I’m super excited to share that I’ve been quietly working on something for the better half of the last year: an app called OPS RUN . Simply put, it’s the OpenTable of run clubs. I haven’t spoken about this publicly yet and we’re still pre-launch, but the early behind-the-scenes response has been incredible.

We’re planning an official launch in February and I won’t be directing attention to it until then, but I wanted all of you to know first. If you want to support from the sidelines right now, I’d be grateful if you followed our Instagram page as we build quietly in the background. More to come soon… and truly, thank you. Many of you have had a bigger impact on how I’ve gotten here than you probably realize.

If you’re feeling pressure right now, don’t label it as a problem… label it as proof you’re stepping into something that matters. Choose the edge. Keep moving. And if you’ve been waiting for a sign to take your shot this year, let this be it.

Catch you on the Start Line in 2026,
—Matty