I live in Durham, NC (US) and I have been Running since 2013. In early 2012, I was about 40 pounds heavier than I am now – 212 pounds and at 5′ 6″ I was a pretty round little dude. That year I began losing weight by eating better and exercising more, losing about 20 pounds. Going into 2013, I continued to lose weight and get in better shape physically. I started taking Bootcamp Classes (think Crossfit) at the local YMCA. That year a group of my fellow class members were training for an inaugural half-marathon in our town, but I initially did not know.

They always asked me to come to the track and train with them, so I did. That August 2013, I was talked into doing my first 5K. I continued to train and by that October I had signed up for my first Half-Marathon. That did it!  After that I was hooked. Between October 2013 to the present I have completed twenty-three 5Ks, four 8Ks, three 10Ks, two 10milers, 13 Half-Marathons and 3 Full Marathons.

I am the Captain for the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Chapter of Black Men Run and a member of The National Black Marathoners Association. Running has become something that is a part of my life. It has given me peace, it is my alone time, my social time, my therapy. I LOVE running, the training, shoes, meeting people, the races. All of it.

Running is life,

Matthew

Follow Matthew on Instagram @run_mlt if you want to know more.

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