17: Matt Fox, the Sweat Elite founder who FINALLY broke 2:20

Matt Fox has been chasing a sub-2:20 marathon for the past few years, and after about eight attempts, he finally did it this year in Chicago, running 2:19:31. And after toiling so long to hit that mark, he managed to do it again four weeks later in Indianapolis where he ran another PB of 2:18:41!

In this conversation, we talk about some of the factors that led to these results, including speed work, nutrition, weight training and improved sleep. We also cover the recent women’s marathon world record which went down in Chicago, as well as doping and changes to the running media landscape since he started Sweat Elite. TW: We talk about diet and weight loss between 40-45 minutes so skip that part if that’s triggering for you.

Matt Fox founded media company Sweat Elite in late 2016 and has since interviewed and filmed training sessions of more than 250 professional athletes. You can check out those videos on the Sweat Elite YouTube channel.  

Matt has a background in middle-distance running, having competed at an international level in the 800m and 1500m in 2006-2013 before transitioning to the half marathon and marathon. He placed 5th in the Australian National Championships in the 800m on two occasions and 2nd at the Australian National Junior Championships. Matt debuted in the half marathon and marathon in late 2017- running 1:22 and 2:59 before gradually lowering his personal bests over the following years to 1:06 and 2:18. Matt continues has raced in 20+ marathons and has a goal of breaking 2:16 in the coming years.

Matt’s Instagram: @mattinglisfox

Sweat Elite Instagram: @sweatelite

Sweat Elite videos: YouTube

Matt’s gift for the listeners: Make it count video by Casey Neistat

Run With It Instagram: @runwithit.pod

Elise Beacom Instagram: @elisebeacom

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Intro and outro music by Dan Beacom

Graphic design by Kate Scheer