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Matt Fitzgerald is the bestselling author of more than 30 endurance-sport books, including 80/20 Running, How Bad Do You Want It?, and his captivating memoir Running the Dream. In this episode, we dive into what it means to go all-in on a bold running goal, why goal setting is such a deeply human instinct, and how the ability to “compete against ourselves” is a surprisingly recent development in the history of sport.

Matt also opens up about his own journey as a masters athlete, including training for the Javelina 100 miler just seven weeks before lining up at The Marathon Project, where he’s chasing a sub-3 marathon at age 54. We talk about his battle with long COVID, the book he’s currently writing on masters running, and his Dream Run Camps in Flagstaff, Arizona, which give everyday runners the chance to experience life as a “fake pro runner.”

If you’ve ever wondered why your running goals matter so much — even when no one’s paying you to chase them — you won’t want to miss this conversation.

Connect with Matt:

• Website: mattfitzgerald.org
• Dream Run Camp: dreamrun.com
• Instagram: @endurance_mastery
  
  

Resources & Related Episodes:

• Ben Rosario on Inspired Soles: The Marathon Project Returns in 2025
• Running the Dream
• Run Like a Pro (Even If You're Slow)

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