The Power of Showing Up

Hey Team!

After a few conversations and texts this morning, I had one of those “aha!” moments that I needed to share about supporting an entrepreneur.

First off, I don’t blame anyone for missing this, not catching themselves in the moment, or glazing right past it. We’re all human, and a lot of people don’t fully understand what it’s like to build a company. Even those of us who do can overlook these things... myself included.

Like any race or challenge, getting to the start line of your own company is hard. It takes guts. It takes capital. It takes a lot... and a lot... of time. Once you’ve launched and you’re fully in it, sometimes you simply want to feel supported. You need the friend who passes you that first cup of water or the crew member who reminds you to drink your electrolytes. Business is no different.

When a friend launches something, do your best to support it. It’s easy to see a new product and think, “I don’t really need that right now.” But purchasing that $40 product might mean the world to the person behind it, even if you store it away for a couple of months. I shared this thought from the car this morning, and I’d genuinely love to hear what you think.

This Week’s Shift

It was a wild week for me. As I shared, I was accepted into both the Moab 240 and Cocodona 250. I’m still pinching myself that I’m actually committed to running these 200-plus-mile distances... and that I was selected for both.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling all the feels: pumped, scared, shocked, dumbfounded. But more than anything, grateful.

The irony is that I’ve been running pain-free for years, logging thousands of miles, and the day I received the Cocodona news, my legs completely blew up. I could barely walk properly, let alone run. It was the strangest thing.

Naturally, I started unpacking everything and retracing my steps... literally. How did this happen? Where did things go wrong? I was left with very few answers. Maybe my body was responding to the sudden weight of what I had committed to. Maybe it was accumulated fatigue finally catching up with me. Either way, it was telling me something.

So, I chose to take more than a week off running. It wasn’t directed by my coach or physical therapist. It was simply a decision I made for myself.

That was hard. It disrupted my routine, forced me to sit still, and went against the part of me that wants to persevere at all costs. But sometimes there is a much bigger cost at stake: turning something temporary into a long-term injury.

Right now, there is no high-stakes race or once-in-a-lifetime run around the corner. There are only months of training ahead. This is exactly when you need to make the call. What is the trade-off, and does the potential gain outweigh the loss?

In this case, it absolutely does. My hope is that one week away will serve me far more than I realize... leaving me rested, recovered, and ready for the training ahead.

From The Field

This is damn exciting to share... and I haven’t even announced it publicly yet.

I’m going on another run-club tour in July.

Last year, I ran with 45 run clubs in 30 days across New York, and it was absolutely unforgettable. This one will be a little different. This time, we’re on the move: 12 cities, six states, and 12 days.

The best part is that I’m not doing it alone. In fact, it wasn’t even my idea.

On July 8, Michael Chernow, Austin Johnson... the only videographer in the game that I’ve convinced to run with me... and I are hitting the road. We’ve got a motorhome lined up and will be travelling from city to city and state to state, with stops planned in San Diego, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, and then Florida.

We’ll be joining run clubs in every market along the way. The Kreatures of Habit Daily Bar recently secured nationwide distribution, so Michael and the team will be activating with these communities throughout the tour. As a bonus, it gives us an incredible early opportunity to introduce the new OPS RUN platform before its broader launch.

The moment Michael told me the idea, I was all-in. It brings everything full circle: friends supporting friends, creating something together, and finding a way to provide real value to the running community along the way.

I’m so stoked.

P.S. If there’s a run club in one of these cities that we need to connect with, shoot me a note. The more, the merrier.

Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is show up for someone else. Other times, it’s knowing when to step back so you can keep moving forward.

Catch you on the Start Line,
—Matty