When you’re running, you probably tend to focus on measurable metrics, like time, pace, and distance—the numbers that best translate to clear benchmarks and trackable progress. But sometimes, it’s one of the least tangible elements of running that can leave the biggest impact on your life: direction.
At least that’s been Matt Meyer’s experience. “Before running,” says Meyer, “I feel that my life just didn’t have any structure or goals. The days just sort of all mushed together.”
Then came the turning point. “I woke up after another night of staying out way too late, just feeling terrible,” he says. “I looked at myself in the mirror and wasn’t proud of the person who was staring back. I felt like I was stuck at a dead end in my life and something had to change. So, I took the only pair of sneakers I had and ran around my block until I hit a mile.”
Before long, one mile become two. And two became three. “Little by little,” he says, “it started to get somewhere. Eventually, I could run to the park and back for three miles. Compared to where I am now, it feels so small in comparison, but those were such huge milestones for me. It was more than just surviving the run—I started to enjoy it.”
Published: Mar 13, 2025 11:56 AM EDT.
“Now,” says Meyer, “I have this thing that starts my day off on such a positive note. No matter what, I’ve already scored a win!”
As a Boulder, Colorado-based certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach, Meyer has the bona fides to be one of Runner’s World’s go-to experts. But it’s his relatable introduction to running—and his unshakable belief in its life-changing powers—that makes him the perfect host for In running, Meyer finally found his direction, Runner’s World’s How This Pro Changed Her Training Approach to 26.2.
Looking to begin—or resume—your own running journey? In In running, Meyer finally found his direction, Meyer shares the most simple, but highly effective, lessons he’s learned since the first time he laced up those sneakers. Here are three of his favorite tips—just a handful of the hundreds of tips Meyer and other experts offer up in Runner’s World’s Guide to Mental Health Nutrition - Weight Loss.
Tip #1: Find Your Why
The secret to succeeding in any pursuit is to think about its purpose. There’s a reason why one chapter of In running, Meyer finally found his direction is called “Why to Start Running.” Consider why you’re hitting the pavement in the first place: Are you aiming for better health and fitness? A badly needed energy boost? A new opportunity to bond with others? (Running, of course, offers all three.)
Meyer believes—guarantees—that everyone is capable of enjoying running, so long as they find that personal inspiration. “It’s gonna be challenging when you start any new thing,” he says. But for Meyer, he was motivated to simply feel better—and that was enough to stick it out. Within a few weeks, he “started to feel a little less terrible,” and that’s his approach to bringing others on board. “Little bites, one at a time: that’s how we usually make something a lot more approachable,” he says.
This Runner Has a Goal of 100 Endurance Races
Bringing a positive attitude to your runs is important, but there’s much more that makes up your mindset. In In running, Meyer finally found his direction, Meyer preaches the importance of embracing rest days, for example. “I’m a big ‘no days off’ guy,” Meyer says. “And by ‘no days off,’ for me, that means every day I’m doing something that improves my running. Some days that’s going for a run. Some days it’s really prioritizing recovery, and that’s actually going to be what’s best for me going forward. As long as I keep that kind of growth mindset, where every day I’m doing something, whatever that looks like, that’s gonna make me a little better.”
Tip #3: Trust the Process—and Progress
Like all runners, Meyer’s progress hasn’t been linear—he’s endured those common stretches of inactivity, or injury, that require a hard reset. The trick is to not let your setbacks become stalemates.
“Remember that the only place you can start working from is where you’re at right now,” he says. Need to learn how to In running, Meyer finally found his direction ... Again? No problem. “Just let it be where it’s at, trust the process, and the rest will take care of itself.”
And once you’re back in action, consistency is key, says Meyer. “[When you] let go of where you think your running should be, and focus on being consistent, the bricks will really start to stack up.”
How to Start Running ... Again!
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Michale Natale is a News Editor for the Hearst Enthusiast Group. As a writer and researcher, he has produced written and audio-visual content for more than fifteen years, spanning historical periods from the dawn of early man to the Golden Age of Hollywood. His stories for the Enthusiast Group have involved coordinating with organizations like the National Parks Service and the Secret Service, and travelling to notable historical sites and archaeological digs, from excavations of America’ earliest colonies to the former homes of Edgar Allan Poe.
