The Running Public Episode 504: Matt Fitzgerald - Chasing Mastery
21 snips
Feb 21, 2025 
Matt Fitzgerald, an endurance athlete and author of "Chasing Mastery," discusses his incredible journey from battling Long COVID to competing in ultramarathons. He shares the challenges he faced, adapting his training to new physical realities. The conversation highlights the mental resilience required to reclaim running and the significance of mastery in sports. Fitzgerald also touches on the nuances of the coach-athlete relationship, emphasizing growth through honest feedback and individual differences in athletic progress.
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Fueling Challenges
- Long COVID impacted Matt's gut health, making fueling during the ultramarathon difficult.
- He consumed no calories for a significant portion of the race due to these issues.
Disqualification
- Despite finishing, Matt was disqualified from the race for alleged rude conduct towards volunteers or park staff.
- He believes it may have been someone in his crew and not him, as he has no recollection of such behavior.
Suffering and Strength
- Matt believes suffering can lead to mental strength and uses it to his advantage as an athlete.
- He views his long COVID journey as a testament to this, finding he has greater mental fortitude now.
