Today we are talking to a very inspirational guest.
Matt Long is the author of
The Long Run
. Some of you may already know his story: In short, he was hit by a bus, spent six weeks in a medically induced coma in the ICU, and was told that he would be lucky to walk with a cane.
Matt was extremely determined and never gave up when it came to getting back on his feet and back into his regular life.
Astoundingly, he ran in the New York Marathon after fully recuperating from his terrible accident. Today’s podcast highlights his story of determination and how he managed to get back into shape after such a tremendous setback.
Some of the topics we talk about include:
- Matt’s background prior to his accident.
- Details about what happened on that day in 2005.
- The factors that Matt credits for his success.
- How he has changed since the accident.
- What he’s been up to since running the New York Marathon.
- His favorite pre-workout routine, the best advice he’s ever received, and what you’ll find on his feet in our Final Kick segment.
Questions Matt is asked:
2:40: Can you share your running background prior to 2005?
5:50: Can you share what happened in 2005 for our listeners who don’t know the story of your accident?
9:40: Why do you think the psychological effects of your accident were worse than the physical effects?
12:15: Why do you think you survived the accident?
13:45: Do you think that part of the reason your body pulled through is because you had already put yourself through the tough training that came with running?
15:45: After the accident, when was the first time that you thought about running again?
18:30: How did you make it through those moments when your personality was different from your physical manifestation?
21:00: What physical things were you doing to prepare for surgeries and increase your strength?
22:30: Did you struggle with being dependent on others?
25:30: Can you share your journey from your recovery to running the marathon in 2008?
29:20: How did it feel to cross that finish line?
30:45: What was the significance of choosing the New York Marathon?
33:50: Did you get overwhelmed with the media attention you were getting?
36:55: Can you tell us about your book,
The Long Run
?
40:00: Do you ever go through periods where you slip back into an old mindset, or do you appreciate every run you do?
44:00: Can you tell us about the I Will Foundation?
[bctt tweet=”Matt Long has an incredible story of bravery, strength, and determination. A MUST listen! #inspiration” username=”Runners_Connect”]
Quotes by Matt:
“Running, for me, was always an accessory…. I ran to stay in shape for basketball.”
“Me and the bicycle became one, and the rest is history…. The first thing I remember is being woken up six weeks later.”
“One thing I’ve learned is how powerful the mind really is. I blacked out and lost memory…. When I got hit, my mind said that I didn’t need to remember the accident.”
“I thought, why was I the guy who was hit by a 40,000-pound bus and lived, when they should be having a memorial for me? I just couldn’t get over that.”
“I believe that I survived because surviving the accident would give people hope.”
“The mental training for marathons and for Ironman is what got me through the dark days.”
“I took it day by day. I was still having setbacks and surgeries. What went on in my head and my daily routine was to prepare myself for my next surgery, to get as strong as I could so I could handle it.”
“I didn’t have a problem asking for help. I had a problem with the little steps toward success and having my care team getting excited; they saw the big picture, but I had been doing six-minute miles [previously]. I should have taken and accepted the milestones.”
“I did not want the bus to define me as a former runner…. Crossing that finish line was a thank-you to the doctors, the physical therapists, my mom and dad, my brothers and sisters and the fire department for not letting me quit.”
“I knew that my story needed to be told, that people would get hope and inspiration from my story.”
“My book is not one that will help you be a better runner…. There are no training programs in the book. The book illuminates my personality and sets you up to know me…. It’s a book about life, about obstacles, and that will bring laughter and tears.”
“If you treat your body right, there’s no reason why you can’t have a long, healthy running life.”
“There’s nothing like lacing up your sneakers and going out for a run.”
Take a Listen on Your Next Run
Want more awesome interviews and advice? Subscribe to our iTunes channel
Links and Resources:
Last week’s episode with Scott Welle
Clip of Matt on the Daily Show
Thank you so much for tuning in. Remember you can always email me tina@runnersconnect.net if you have any suggestions, feedback, or guests you would like to hear from.
Can I ask you a HUGE favor please? Would you be able to review the podcast on iTunes to help Run to the Top move up the rankings…..so we can bring on more of those running celebrities and influencers?
It can be confusing. Here is a video for the computer
As for the iPhone…..
- Go onto the podcast app
- Search for the Runners Connect podcast in the search bar (bottom right)
- Select the podcast
- There will be 3 tabs, the middle one says Reviews, click that
- It will say “Write a Review”
Thank you SO much!
Next week, we will be talking about some unique events. I don’t want to give away any more than that, but trust me: You’re going to want to check it out!
