Welcome to Mastering 40.  I just completed the worst athletic year of my life. One beset by injuries and a 25 lb. weight gain. Finally, I decided enough was enough.  With the help of a professional coach - James McKirdy, sports registered dietitian - Starla Garcia, and sports psychologist - Adrienne Langelier, I am determined to have the best athletic year of my life. One that will end, hopefully, with a sub-40:00 10k. This is a huge stretch goal and I am determined to get it done. Over the course of this year I will also be turning 40 years old and become a masters runner. Hence the “Mastering 40.” I will be documenting the journey with two blog posts a week at www.mastering40.com and a podcast every three weeks. The podcasts, like this one, will include calls with the experts I will be leaning on, and learning from, throughout the process.  I hope you enjoy and learn from my year of reclaiming my fitness and pursuing an entirely new level of performance while trying to maximize my schedule as a dedicated amateur runner.  Sponsors: Previnex is a supplement brand that I trust, use, and have greatly benefited from. Their Nourify Plus is my go-to protein shake after every run. It's convenient, tasty, and loaded with quality nutrients. They source the highest quality ingredients in the most clinically effective and beneficial forms. Previnex manufactures to the highest standards possible, testing every ingredient, every step of production and every finished product. Visit www.previnex.com and use coupon code Runner15 to save 15% on your first order. Generation UCAN is a running nutrition brand that I have trusted for years. Endurance athletes all over the world are drawn to UCAN for its ability to provide long-lasting energy, without sugar, that's easy on the stomach, and to improve your body's ability to burn fat as fuel. I'm a huge fan of UCAN Hydrate that I love to use before and during my morning runs. Use code RRUCAN to save 15% off anytime on anything at www.ucan.co Follow Matt: Instagram - @rambling_runner Twitter - @rambling_runner Get exclusive podcasts with popular past guests by joining our Patreon community at www.patreon.com/ramblingrunner. https://www.theramblingrunner.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices