December 13, 2025
How Matt Shapiro Turned Pain Into Power Through Ultrarunning to Get Sober and Be the Best Version of Himself
Everyday UltraAbout this episode
In today’s episode, I sit down with Matt “Shapiro the Hero” — one of the most creative minds in endurance sports and one of the toughest, most resilient humans you’ll ever meet. You’ve seen his work everywhere: Black Canyon, Mammoth, Cocodona, Sally McRae, Max Jolliffe… but today, you get to hear the story behind the lens — the journey that turned Matt from a talented photographer into a 200-mile finisher and a pillar of the endurance community. We dive into: ✨ How documenting epic runners became a “cheat code” for his own ultra-running ✨ The moment he realized he could run 200 miles ✨ His wild 2024 triple — Ute 100 → Mogollon Monster → Mammoth 200 ✨ His powerful journey through alcoholism, relapse, therapy, and ultimately sobriety ✨ Why runners with “all-or-nothing” personalities must learn balance ✨ The unexpected pacer who changed the final miles of his 200 ✨ His philosophy for getting better one tiny step at a time This is one of the most raw, honest, and inspiring conversations we’ve had on the show. Matt’s story is a reminder that endurance isn’t just about races — it’s about rebuilding your life, choosing a healthier path, and believing you can do hard things even when your past tells you otherwise. If you need a spark of motivation or a reminder that you can turn things around, this is the episode. Huge thank you to Matt for being on the show! SHOW LINKS: Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.com Want to work with me to crush your next ultramarathon in our group coaching program? Sign up for our group coaching program here: https://www.theeverydayultra.com/group-coaching Want to be coached by me and my team to crush your next ultramarathon in our 1:1 coaching program? Book a free call here with one of our coaches to see if we are a good fit! Follow Joe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/joecorcione/ Everyday Ultra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUelKGeptWZivD6yRIDiupg Try CurraNZ to boost recovery and performance and get 15% off your first order with code EVERYDAYULTRAPOD at www.curranzusa.com Get your FREE TrainingPeaks account to track, plan, and analyze your training easier at trainingpeaks.com/everydayultra Try PlayOn Pain Relief Spray at playonrelief.com Try Bear Butt Wipes and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at bearbuttwipes.com Try Janji apparel and get 10% off your order with code EVERYDAYULTRA at Janji.com Follow Matt on IG: https://www.instagram.com/shapirothehero/?hl=en Matt's website: https://matthew-shapiro.com/