Transitioning from Mile Races to Longer Distances

Matt Daniels is a professional athlete for Nike Trail Running who focuses on ultramarathon distances. He placed 7th in the NCAA 1500m, contributing to Adams State’s first ever 1st place team finish in the Outdoor NCAA Championships. He transitioned to ultra trail running ever since, most recently winning the Gorge Waterfalls 50k earlier this year and competing at UTMB this summer.

Matt and I discuss our shared love of the mile and how his college coach helped to shape him. 

We delve into:

• The events Matt ran in college and his experiences as a middle distance runner
• Matt’s unique comparison of the 3k and the 50 mile distances
• How his first trail race led him down the path to ultra running
• Typical training weeks for ultra races with different terrain and distances
• How Matt’s college coach had a long term impact on all of his relationships
• Learning to get comfortable with slower ultra paces
• Great options for a fun first 50k!

While Matt's success at a variety of distances is unique, his story of injury, recovery and learning how to get the best from himself is entirely relatable. Enjoy our conversation!

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Follow Matt on Instagram and Strava
• Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
• Watch From Sub-4 to States on YouTube
• Learn more about injury prevention

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