The Matt King Show 042: Terrence Ogden | Why Avoiding Rock Bottom Is More Dangerous Than Hitting It | The Matt King Show
Jan 13, 2026
Terrence Ogden, a former addict turned endurance athlete and founder of Project Grit, shares his gripping journey from addiction to triumph. He talks about hitting rock bottom and the three paths addiction can take. Terrence emphasizes why avoiding pain can be more detrimental than facing it head-on. His incredible feats, like a solo 1,000-mile ruck across Texas, reveal how suffering can forge purpose. He advocates for brotherhood, asking for help, and the transformative power of discipline over motivation.
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From Jail Sickness To The Last Hit
- Terrence describes hitting physical rock bottom in jail while withdrawing from heroin and dropping to 135 pounds.
- He beat the charges, relapsed once, then stole a tire to get a ride to detox and finally got clean on March 6, 2002.
Kenny: The Unlikely Mentor
- After leaving rehab early, Terrence wandered into an AA meeting and met Kenny, a tattooed ex-prisoner who became his mentor.
- They boxed, trained, and built a brotherhood that anchored his recovery and purpose.
The 75-Mile Ruck That Created Project Grit
- Terrence and Keith did a 75-mile ruck from Gonzales to the Alamo to honor the Immortal 32 with no training and many unexpected signs.
- At mile ~42, Terrence refused to leave his partner behind, revived him, and formed Project Grit from that act of brotherhood.