Podcast: Episode 199 with Ben Rosario and Matt Fitzgerald

Mario Fraioli | April 4, 2022

“I think [that] a champion, they just want to answer that question, they just want to see how good they can be. They don’t get caught up in arbitrary times, or what other people think—or in amateur runner terms, what the Boston qualifier is for their particular age-group—they just don’t think that way. And a lot of people do, and a lot of people are wired that way, but a champion just wants to get the most out of themselves and they enjoy the hardest parts of training and racing. That’s really a champion.”

This week on the podcast I had an awesome conversation with Ben Rosario, head coach of HOKA Northern Arizona Elite, and Matt Fitzgerald, co-founder of 80/20 Endurance and prolific author of endurance sports titles, about their new book, Run Like A Pro (Even If You’re Slow), which was recently published. This was more of a Coaches Corner discussion than my typical interview-style show and in it we discussed what amateur runners can learn from their professional counterparts while covering topics like training volume, recovery, nutrition, having a champion’s mindset, and a lot more.

Ben Rosario: Book | HOKA Northern Arizona Elite | Instagram | Twitter

Matt Fitzgerald: Book | 80/20 Endurance | Instagram | Twitter

the morning shakeout: Instagram | Twitter

Mario Fraioli: Website | Strava

This episode is brought to you by:

— Tracksmith. Tracksmith crafts performance running apparel, inspiring publications, and distinct experiences that allow runners to indulge in the sport’s rich culture. When you shop at tracksmith.com and use the code Mario22 when you check out, you’ll get free shipping on your order and 5% of your purchase will go to the Tracksmith Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to give more people the opportunity to participate in Track & Field.

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— The WineShine Half Marathon & 3.9-Miler. The inaugural event, which starts and finishes at the Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, will be held on July 16, 2022. Not only will you run by some of Napa Valley’s most storied vineyards along the Silverado Trail, you’ll also get the chance to sample some of the area’s best varietals at the post-race festival. Registration is now open at wineshinehalfmarathon.org. Use the code MARIO when you check out and save $15 on your registration fee.

Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford.