Member Spotlight: Matt Fletcher
Matt Fletcher has been with Trail Roots since 2014 (when it all began!) and is a consistent and hardworking leader in the group. His speedy tribe, Hoka-Hey!, can be found running through trails all around Austin every Saturday morning, as well as Sunday road pace miles for the weekend double. Matt is a competitor, often taking a podium step at Capt'n Karl's ultras and Rogue Trail races, and is a perennial pacer for Austin Marathon, Decker, and 3M. He takes his competitive nature off the roads as well, ranking at the top of our leaderboard month after month. When he's not running or racing, he enjoys sipping fine whiskeys and craft cocktails, being very slow at house remodel efforts, and traveling with the family (sans COVID). Also, when Matt joined Trail Roots his goal was to BQ, and he has done so multiple times now with a sub 3 hr as well. Besides huge improvements over the years, Matt is a really welcoming dude. He reaches out to new members and makes sure everyone feels at home. We appreciate everything he does for Trail Roots and wanted to ask him a few questions about his journey with running and Trail Roots.
What inspired you to start running?
Originally, I was just tired of being a fat almost 40-year-old man, so I did a training program around the Army PFT, which scored points on sit ups, push ups, and a 2mile run, the latter giving me the best chance for improvement points in the short 8-week competition (of course). I got hooked when I saw my paces getting faster and the training was working amazingly well. The first time I ran 3.5 miles something clicked and running didn’t suck anymore! Ah ha! You runners aren’t crazy after all!
Favorite post-run snack?
A quick core-power protein/carb recovery drink, followed by Migas with Chorizo and avocado at El Tacorrido.
What’s your dream run?
Na’pali coast trail, Kawai’i. I love that island, but haven’t been back since I became a trail runner and it’s calling me! So pretty!
Race ritual?
I have a script for marathons… does that count? 2 days before is rest day, big dinner. 1 day before I do early 20 minutes run with strides to burn off some nerves (shut it down at 20, walk the rest if not home yet), Lunch is a fish-burger (Hop-Doddy, Sala&Betty, as this meal is running with me, so make it easily digestible protein, fat, carbs), Dinner usually chicken with fried rice and lots of soy sauce (salt!). Morning of, I get up early, pee, do a 12 minute jog, drop a deuce, eat a little something (½ cup granola with water), get to the start area, mill around, pray for the double-deuce! 20mins before the gun, jog plus strides to warm up.
Favorite Trail with TR?
Race Mantra?
Marathons: Trust your training, your body can do this.
Ultras: just keep moving, this mental and physiological rebellion will end… eventually
How have you motivated yourself to keep training during quarantine last year?
For a couple months when the groups dissolved, I went from 6-7 days a week to 2-3 and went into a depression. Thankfully some informal outside well-spaced mini-groups started running and praying the virus wouldn’t transfer, and it hasn’t so far. And my Strava yearly total was going to be an embarrassment! So Strava and my brave morning peeps saved my fitness!
How have you helped motivate your tribe?
Keep announcing runs, make dumb jokes on GroupMe, and keep showing up. Really there’s a few of the tribe who are pretty regular and keep ME motivated too.
How has training with a group helped you? How did your running change after beginning to train with Trail Roots?
Get a group. That’s the #1 thing I tell people who ask me for advice when they want to start running. Get TWO groups if you can, especially if you want to train more than 3-4 days a week. Running groups keep you showing up and that’s the only way to get better at it. All the training tactics, drills, long run vs tempo vs speed work ratios… none of that matters more than just consistently going out running. And a group will likely lead you to getting a coach which is the real #1 thing I want to tell people, but I know they won’t do it (at first).
Do you think the group has been helpful for you or your tribe right now during Covid to keep consistent and provide structure?
I PROVED it’s true. When the groups paused at the lock-down, my running completely fell apart. When we started mini-group running on the DL and my running came back. Some people can run solo and stay consistent, but I know I can’t, and I think happy-solo runners are uncommon. We’re herd animals!
Do you think the group has been helpful for you or your tribe right now during Covid to keep consistent and provide structure?
The group has definitely been helpful during Covid to provide structure and connection. I’ve really enjoyed seeing people who are normally quieter and less connected in our tribe become more engaged and contribute to weekly challenges. It’s also been good to see how people who have fallen off their routines are learning about what motivates them and figuring out how they can find ways to get back to it.
What’s next?
Maybe a few virtual marathons (blech), pacing a tribe-mate at Rocky 100, organizing a group for Grand Canyon R2R2R, and long-range radar, getting a group for summiting Kilimanjaro on my ½ century b-day on 2/22/2022!
Thanks Matt! You had an impressive run at the Bandera 100k this past weekend, all of that training has paid off! We love having you as a member and leader of Trail Roots.