The Rambling Runner

Matt Fitzgerald has been running (and writing about running) for most of his adult life. Like many passionate amateur runners, he never felt he  quite fulfilled his potential. In his mid-forties, Matt convinced Ben Rosario, head coach of Northern Arizona Elite, to let him train with a roster of national champions and Olympic hopefuls in the running mecca of Flagstaff, Arizona. These runners included Scott Fauble, Kellyn Taylor, Stephanie and Ben Bruce, Matt Llano, Tim Ritchie, and several others. Matt's mission: Run the race of his life at the Chicago Marathon by preparing exactly like a professional runner.  Matt’s gripping account of his “fake pro runner” experience allows us to partake in his dream of fulfilling his potential. Matt also details this process through the eyes of the pro's who live that life year round, year after year. Running the Dream pulls us into the rarefied world of professional running in a way we can all relate to, regardless of speed, and to take away pieces of one man’s amazing jo