excellence, actually "It's Never All Bad:" How to Suffer (with Matt Fitzgerald)
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Dec 11, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, endurance athlete and author Matt Fitzgerald shares his journey of mastering the art of suffering. After a long hiatus from running, he faced his fears of pain and developed mental toughness. Matt discusses his mantra, 'it's never all bad,' and how he reframes negative emotions into opportunities. He also reflects on the lessons learned while training through long COVID and the importance of being never satisfied in pursuit of growth. Tune in for valuable insights on resilience and self-acceptance!
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First Mile With Dad
- At 11 Matt Fitzgerald ran six miles the day after watching his dad finish the Boston Marathon and felt '10 feet tall.'
- That early experience seeded a lifelong love of running and shaped his return years later.
Burnout Ended His College Plan
- Matt quit competitive running after high school because fear of pain and racing overwhelmed him despite strong results.
- He later regretted not running in college and returned to running in his late 20s to address that unfinished business.
Intent Is Half The Battle
- Declaring intent to get mentally tougher does half the work because most athletes do nothing about it.
- Making mental toughness a concrete, repeated goal reliably produces improvement over time.
