How Matt Shapiro Turned Pain Into Power Through Ultrarunning to Get Sober and Be the Best Version of Himself
Everyday Ultra13 Joulu 2025

How Matt Shapiro Turned Pain Into Power Through Ultrarunning to Get Sober and Be the Best Version of Himself

In today’s episode, I sit down with Matt “Shapiro the Hero” — one of the most creative minds in endurance sports and one of the toughest, most resilient humans you’ll ever meet.

You’ve seen his work everywhere: Black Canyon, Mammoth, Cocodona, Sally McRae, Max Jolliffe… but today, you get to hear the story behind the lens — the journey that turned Matt from a talented photographer into a 200-mile finisher and a pillar of the endurance community.

We dive into:

✨ How documenting epic runners became a “cheat code” for his own ultra-running

✨ The moment he realized he could run 200 miles

✨ His wild 2024 triple — Ute 100 → Mogollon Monster → Mammoth 200

✨ His powerful journey through alcoholism, relapse, therapy, and ultimately sobriety

✨ Why runners with “all-or-nothing” personalities must learn balance

✨ The unexpected pacer who changed the final miles of his 200

✨ His philosophy for getting better one tiny step at a time

This is one of the most raw, honest, and inspiring conversations we’ve had on the show. Matt’s story is a reminder that endurance isn’t just about races — it’s about rebuilding your life, choosing a healthier path, and believing you can do hard things even when your past tells you otherwise.

If you need a spark of motivation or a reminder that you can turn things around, this is the episode.

Huge thank you to Matt for being on the show!


SHOW LINKS:

Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠desertpeakultra.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Book a free call here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit!

Follow Joe on IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Try CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at ⁠⁠⁠www.curranzusa.com⁠⁠⁠

Get your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultra

Try PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠playonrelief.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Try Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.com

Try Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.com

Follow Matt on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shapirothehero/?hl=en

Matt's website: https://matthew-shapiro.com/

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(426)

How to Finish a 100 Mile Ultramarathon Strong with Kareem Afzal

How to Finish a 100 Mile Ultramarathon Strong with Kareem Afzal

Kareem Afzal’s journey to the Leadville 100 is anything but ordinary. After a life-threatening illness, major lifestyle changes, years of endurance racing, and multiple failed attempts at 100 miles, K...

12 Syys 59min

Ashley Paulson on Her Ultra Training, Recovery, and Mindset Protocol to Break World Records

Ashley Paulson on Her Ultra Training, Recovery, and Mindset Protocol to Break World Records

Ashley Paulson has built an extraordinary career in ultra running, pushing the limits of what’s possible while chasing world records and learning exactly what it takes to perform at the highest level....

9 Syys 47min

Phil Gore on Backyard Ultra Tips and How He Ran Over 600 Miles in Over 6 Days

Phil Gore on Backyard Ultra Tips and How He Ran Over 600 Miles in Over 6 Days

Phil Gore knows what it takes to push the limits of the backyard ultra. As the official Backyard Ultra World Record holder, Phil has spent years learning how to manage his body, mindset, pacing, sleep...

8 Syys 46min

How to Pick Your Next Ultramarathon: Choose the Right Race, Goal, and Training Process

How to Pick Your Next Ultramarathon: Choose the Right Race, Goal, and Training Process

Finished your last ultra and wondering what’s next?Maybe you feel like you’re supposed to go farther. Run faster. Tackle a harder course. Chase a bigger race.But the truth? Your next ultramarathon sho...

3 Syys 51min

How to Make Your Training Less Stressful to Run Better with Tommy Lewis

How to Make Your Training Less Stressful to Run Better with Tommy Lewis

Ultra running has a funny way of exposing the difference between what you think makes you better and what actually does.Tommy Lewis gets into the less obvious parts of becoming a better ultra runner—f...

31 Elo 1h 14min

The Journey To Nailing A First 100K with Trent Frahn

The Journey To Nailing A First 100K with Trent Frahn

What does it take to go from running your first marathon to lining up for your first 100K—and actually racing at the front of your age group? From committing to a demanding 22-week training block to l...

28 Elo 1h 1min

How to Build Confidence Through Hard Things, Stop Comparing Yourself, and Run for the Love of It with Natalya Platonova

How to Build Confidence Through Hard Things, Stop Comparing Yourself, and Run for the Love of It with Natalya Platonova

Natalia's journey into ultrarunning is anything but ordinary. After winning The Circle and serving in the British Army, she found herself taking on some of the world’s toughest stage races—including M...

24 Elo 1h 2min

How to Not Let Problems Derail Your Training and Racing

How to Not Let Problems Derail Your Training and Racing

When life throws a wrench into your training, your race, or your plans, it’s easy to let one inconvenience spiral into “my whole race is ruined.” In ultrarunning, things will go wrong. The real skill ...

20 Elo 1h 6min

Suosittua kategoriassa Urheilu

hockey-night-podcast
rss-piippuhylly
rss-kalju-corner
urheilun-varjoissa
havuja-kengissa
kaiken-takana
junnut-pelissa
rss-latkapodi
rss-kiuas
rss-moottoriturvat
rss-ylilyonti
suomen-f1-podcast
rss-235-podcast
rss-kuninkuusluokka-f1-podcast
rss-yla-v-cheercast
rss-perusmatka
rss-pallo-keskelle-2
kimanttia
rss-padelpodi
rss-kuudes-pelaaja