Why Even the Best Need a Coach

Hey Team!

I’ve landed back home in Tofino after a whirlwind stretch. Seven cities in twelve days, never in one spot for more than forty-eight hours. It gave me flashbacks to my late 20s when I’d stack business trips back to back without thinking twice. Funny how you forget how much you take on until it all catches up... for me, that looked like arriving home with a full sinus shutdown. But even with the congestion, I recognize something important: I can do this, and I get to do this. When everything is aligned and the wind is at your back, the job is to harness it and keep moving with intention.

What excites me most now is getting back into my routine. I manage my nutrition, training, and sleep fairly well on the road, but it’s never the same as being home. And since I left my WHOOP charger behind (dang it!), I wasn’t able to track a single sleep or recovery metric for the entire trip. No surprise: I came home a few pounds lighter in muscle. A few disciplined sessions will bring me back to baseline.

Side note: my InBody Composition Analyzer might be the most underrated tool I own. If you’re looking for something meaningful to kick off 2026, add it to your Santa list.

This Week’s Shift

I’ve always believed that even the best coaches need a coach. And even the most experienced mentors need a mentor. That belief is anchored in growth... not deficiency. If you want to stretch beyond where you’ve been, you need someone who can see what you can’t. After going most of this year without either, I made a commitment to engaging two key people: a running coach and a registered counsellor who specializes in Advanced Somatic Experiencing. One makes perfect sense on paper. The other might surprise you... but hang with me.

On the running side, the past eighteen months have been transformative. You get good at anything when you stay consistent and singularly focused. People still ask if I surf since I live in Canada’s most iconic surf town, and the answer is basically not really. Every hour in the water is an hour I’m not on the road. Maybe that philosophy has flaws, but it’s worked. And right now, I believe I’m in position to run a sub-3 marathon. In the running world, anytime that starts with a “2” is elite... and I genuinely feel I have it in me.

But I don’t have the experience to build that plan alone. So I asked a few NYC friends who they trusted. The answer was unanimous: Tom Black. One friend shaved over twenty minutes off his marathon last year with Tom’s help, running a 2:49. That was my sign. And get this: Tom charges $150 a month for fully personalized programming, four to five sessions a week. That investment was a no-brainer.

The second coach is Julie, the counsellor who supported me during my separation. In twenty-five sessions, I learned something profound every single time. Sometimes a theory. Sometimes something about myself. She specializes in trauma and relationship work... two things that may not feel front-and-center in this season, but I know the inner work will continue sharpening how I show up across my life... my mentorship offering included. A session every month or two will help me stay aligned and more aware of the blindspots.

Curious to hear from you: who’s coaching you right now? And what impact has it had?

In The Field

Coming off The Running Event (TRE), the biggest gathering in the running industry, it only feels right to share what stood out. The strongest trend by far: the rise of gravel and door-to-trail shoes and gear. What does that actually mean? It’s simple. Marathon participation is exploding. More runners are pushing beyond road marathons into longer distances... and that pushes them toward the trail.

Ultramarathons overwhelmingly take place on trails. So as more people go long, brands are adapting. Adidas, Salomon, Arc’teryx, Norda, Coast to Mountain and others are building products that take you from your front door to the backcountry. Think of it like running two miles of pavement before hitting forest singletrack. You need footwear and apparel that can perform in both environments.

Everyone who’d attended TRE before said this was the biggest year they’ve ever seen. And honestly, I’m not surprised. Running is having a real moment right now. It’s accessible, low barrier to entry, and with the explosion of run clubs, it’s becoming a primary place for community. I don’t see a “bubble” on the horizon at all.

Quick Reminders Before You Start:

If you’re hunting for clean, great-tasting protein bars, Equip’s Prime Bar and KOH’s Daily Bar are my top picks. Perfect stocking ideas.

And if you need something to listen to this week: the recent Rich Roll episode with Gregg Renfrew is a must. She sold her business for a billion dollars... then found herself fired, untethered, and rebuilding her identity from scratch. A powerful reminder that success doesn’t always look like the highlight reel.

If there’s one thing this week reinforced: even at our best, having someone in our corner sharpens everything we’re trying to become.

Catch you on the Start Line,
—Matty