How Running Saved Me from Addiction — Matty Bell

Hello everybody. Welcome to PT Launch Lab episode 11. Today we're with Matty Bell. We're going through his journey from recovery all the way to being Pontifrack running coach. [Music] Are we ready? Right.

So obviously I've known you for a while now. So, I've known you from I say good times, bad times. I've had some good memories. Uh some uh some of the memories that led to where we are today. So, I just wanted just to start from beginning mate.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, how it all started. Um, >> so in 2021 just after co uh finished I u junk on bandwaging of um well most of your life I've been an addict basically. So, um, CO co hit and then obviously >> So, were you were you worse during CO? >> Is that what is that what triggered it off the most? Right. Right.

Right. >> But I bought I can look back now and see that I've had it come back. >> Yeah. And it but it just spiraled more from CO. Were you were you by yourself in CO than I? >> No. So I had I had partner and little girl but I didn't feel like I was doing anything wrong. >> Yeah. You tell yourself that don't you? >> So in my in my head I was I was thinking it will ride what I were doing. >> Yeah.

Well like I've I'm not I've never been like a huge huge drinker or been to a point where I felt like I need to to pull it back or anything like that. But like this year alone I thought I'm going to do six months. Told you didn't I we had that conversation before. I wanted to do six month sober. I did that mid I had my last drink at Ponty Races like a like must have been two month ago now when I and when I drunk I didn't really I didn't really enjoy it and then I've not drunk since and I don't know if I'll if I will now.

Did you have any did you have any breaks in it or did you like just go straight flat boom and then that were it or >> no breaks? >> No attempts >> because I've had a few of attempts. >> I Yeah. So like I did I did try because people were telling me to. So they're like you need you need to sort yourself out. You need to do this. You need to do that.

So I did go and like pretended that I were interested in getting recovered but >> Amy to the meeting. >> Um but this time in co I um so I moved back to my mom's and enough for enough >> that you accepted it yourself. that day that I accepted. Do you know it's a good conversation actually from um I mean this is nothing to do with the PT but I love like I love the topic anyway but what do you reckon to dry January right so here's here's my quick views right I think it's a great place for some people so I'll use my twin brother for example if he's watching it'll be laughing he does dry January every year but he has the worst February ever then so do do you think that creates you have one good month and then you have 11 terrible months because I feel like that February is even worse. >> If you can have a drink and enjoy it and it doesn't affect your family wise, then then >> yeah, >> it says anything you've got to have a balance. >> Yeah, I've I know quite a few quite a few friends to be honest um who follow that loop and they know that they shouldn't be doing as much. I think everyone will probably should dial it down a little bit no matter who they are. I think even the even the ones who were drinking a couple of times a week and it's just a couple of cans at night, it's no good for you. Like we all know that.

Like I'm not here to tell you not to do that, but I just feel like the dry jam thing sets you up on such a like you start set. So basically, right, you do dry jam because you want to stop the thing that's bothering you or you think it's a problem, right? But then you do it and you celebrate by having a drink. It's just madness. >> And then you do it more because you >> That's what I mean. >> So you're not getting any. >> Yeah. And and I feel like and I feel like that's the only month that seems acceptable when they do it. >> Do you know what I mean?

What's the other one? It's Stocktober, isn't it? >> Yes. Stober. >> So you got two months in year there. That leaves 10 months. >> I I think alcohol is one of the worst. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Absolutely. I think um I think if you put them all together, I think alcohol is probably worse.

They say it's the worst drug out of them all, don't they? >> Yeah. >> Another one. >> Yeah. Food in my eyes. >> Yeah. Do you uh Yeah. Well, we might as well go on to that, mate. Anyway, so obviously I've only just really found out that you were going more into nutrition side from the running, but let's um let's go back from end of end of COVID then.

So, when you started, what was the first thing you did? I know some people might do like couch to 5K. Were yours that small of a thing or were it >> something totally different, mate? So when when um I started with these meetings I did night meeting the night days and then at that point felt really lonely like I didn't have anybody around and there were no one but like literally there were everybody around but in my head I felt like I had no one. So this one day I started on bike started bike nothing to do with running.

I used to look at runners and think them And that sounded biking or biking and then it like okay fees and then it wouldn't went for a bike ride. He went and try and go on it. >> No. So next day got got bought a pair of running trainers started running and then used to cough on. >> So what at what point did you buy that treadmill that you never used? anybody watching. Uh, obviously I know Matt is into running and we needed a treadmill for Jim ended up selling me his treadmill because it he only I think to be fair when I went around I think there were a couple of coats on it. >> But you got another >> cuz I like to be out in open air and helps your mental and then so yeah I started running um I would do like running that park basically. Yeah, that's how it started.

But God, I I couldn't run. >> I think I think that's how every every person in Pontif starts is by running right race course in it. And that's that's the test of I'm going to run so much and then they start doing it by f furong, don't they? And they start doing that see how long they can do. I've even done it with clients, you know, who wanted to get into running but want I used to meet one of them three times a week and we used to keep getting further and further until we could get all the way. Well, that that's how it starts.

And um so stopping and starting and then I saw a race, do a pont fat race. >> Yeah. >> I like all the end of that. >> And do you think do you think all this ties in with addictive personality? >> Yes, definitely. So it's like some soon as I enjoy something, I'll do it. >> That's it 100%. >> Like I say, you've got to have a balance. >> Were you ever like as a kid? Like did you um were you ever into sports as a kid and get mad addicted to what did what was that? >> So at at school um I did all sports every single sports um but with me I think like I'm type 1 diabetic and and I think it was from being bit different and that's how it's come to where I was cuz I had a good upbringing and good family around me. So I think that's and then finding about wrong P >> and that's what just stage you wrong direction. direction. Uh but it's only now since I've got into recovery.

Uh that that concentring traits that I ask but yeah so going back to me running um I didn't have a clue. Oh, mate. It's like any anybody anybody does >> there. I think there's a there's a lot more to it than people think in there. >> And until I think until you start running cuz like you've just said there good good way of putting it that you always want the next thing right. It's a race, right?

What else can I do? How else can I How do I go further? How do I go faster? And then all of a sudden, you start you realize the zones and everything and and I feel like it's it's more depth than the zones as well. There's so much more depth to it, isn't there? >> Oh, there's a a lot.

It's not just a case of just getting up and running, is it? >> So, into the into the coaching side then, mate. So, we'll start we'll we'll start more from beginning. So what made you want to start doing it then or was that the next thing from like right I've done the races how can I now help other people was it like >> so that's obviously part of me recovery as well is a lot of helping others whereas I I had to part of the recovery is helping others and then I started at running started helping others just like on with the running basically as a run lead um and then I were getting better and better so I looking at ways that I could get even better. And I still do it to this side. >> After every run, I'll go home. I'll look at all the data.

I like, how can I improve to get to that point? >> And that's where I got to where I have. Um, and then from that, I like what next? Yeah. >> Basically, and then I got put through me coach fitness. >> Didn't have a clue like >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> I did the course.

Oh, oh, I had anxiety or worried about can I do it wrong? And it's same same with the PT as well. Like >> I want everybody to be the same as me and help them to get to that point. >> Yeah, I like I um I love how I love your story like a million other people have got different stories. Every I think everyone likes like a comeback story, you know, like obviously coming from recovery and I think people appreciate it more. So, how many years have you been sober now?

So Christmas it'll be fine yours. >> That's crazy. Is it? When did I when did I do that run with you then? That must have been cuz I'm sure you were only two and a half years at that point. Is that how long ago it was? >> I'm not racing you now then.

God at any pace. >> And what's what's the furthest you've run now? >> So I've done all marathons marathons but at the minute I'm concentrating on the shortest stuff. >> Right. So when I when I first started chatting to you obviously I think the it was sub sub 20 for your 5k I think you might have already done that anybody 10k sub 40 was it right so what are your times now >> so so obviously like everybody everybody's got golf the same with coaching it's like when I go to coach somebody like what's your goals well my goals were sub 25k sub 40 10k sub 130 marath >> and sub free marathon. So after cuz your wedding journey is not straight up. It's it spiral went down and eventually got the sub 25k 10k. >> Could I? >> Yeah, I can remember you doing it for ages. Like >> I couldn't get it and then February last year I knew I were in a good place and yeah finally got it.

And now >> did you uh did you sort of design your own program to do them then or did you have you have you had a coach or >> Yeah. So that's another thing like I were doing bits and I thought I need to go to that next level. So I was like I need a coach right >> to show me that way. >> Yeah. >> So then I got coach got me lactate testing done. Um and then he gave me some and he writt me a plan and I like this is just a basic plan. >> Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. >> But now I understand why ro that plan see but I >> stick to that plan. >> Right. Right. Right. Yeah. >> So then I stuck to the plan and I I did get better but then I burn more speed cuz I'm an addict. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And cuz I liked it issues but that didn't that didn't get me better.

So I backed. So I went back to and got another test and I like some more middle ground. So I brought middle ground into it and then I just Hello there. Hope you're enjoying the podcast. Whether you're just starting out and thinking about becoming a personal trainer or you're already qualified and just need help getting your business off the ground, that's exactly what PT Launch Lab is here for.

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Well, I can remember right this is one just one that stuck with me as well from when I run the when I run the half marathon and I train I only trained for four weeks for it and I can remember I was training with John Wat at the time who were who were actually coaching me through it and we were supposed to be doing a 12week plan and it got to four weeks and I said mate like can I just go run one like next week and you were like oh you'll be fine just run it steady and then soon as I'd run it it were like two hours and three minutes and I rung you and you were like you just need to get to two hours now and and I said, "Yeah, but then I've just like for me again there like I've really got no interest in speed aspect at all." Me, so I'd want to go a full marathon and then I want to do like an ultra. The speed don't interest me, which is weird how you can be addicted to different things, but like I think my fastest 5k is about 22 minutes. I've just got tiny legs though. Yeah, >> but without training you would get to that like I did all these like I would doing races every two every couple of weeks and like now back how doing all it was just a sense of completing and that's probably where what you're saying. So I completed all them like I need some more. >> Yeah.

And I think same I'm like I'm as I'm as bad as you I'm as bad as anyone who's uh got that addictive personality. So once I'd done the half marathon then I looked into triathlons and but how I wanted to do it because I know what I'm like right how I tried to do it mate I tried to go me and me my dad were going to do a duathlon which is bike run right I thought right we'll do that so I've done the half manathon I'll do the biking run then I'll do a sprint triathlon then I'll do a full triathlon then I'll do Olympic triathlon then I'll look at I and I like and I and I base it because I knew I'd get a sense of achievement after doing one extra rather than some people have started training rate I'm doing marathon when they had done halfs where I feel like >> it's sense of achievement and >> that's what I'm I just like completing stuff. >> But you will come like I class myself as mentally strong because I've overcome obviously alcohol% you've got to do >> everything smoking smoking I've become b I can overcome anything and in in my mind I believe I can do anything. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's what you need. >> I don't know if I can do anything. >> You think that's helped your coaching then for >> Yes, definitely. But I have to like look at where they come from. >> Yeah. >> And that's part of coaching. >> And that's and this is what I'm struggling with at minute.

Like obviously this podcast about you, not me, but that's what I'm struggling at the minute with because I'm I'm fighting next week and there's no excuses. There's not like with the diet wise and stuff like that. Like I'm just 150% every session, every day regimented like a robot, mate. There's I don't eat for taste and I'm just eating because it's the job needs to be done. I don't.

And that's and so I I really strugg struggle to listen to people's perspective when it sounds like excuses to me. But what what I've got to realize is not everyone's you. Not everyone's built the same. They're not all programmed the same. People want to do this as an achievement or for some fun.

It's not always that level. And I used to lose clients off that. >> Well, that's part coaching. It's part questionnaire when they fill it in. And you need to you need to look at where they've come from and try and get the best out of them. Not everybody thinks like you and I. >> So on the your point coming from recovery, have you had any people who've signed up with you now who who like a drink at weekends and then they might miss a run and then they've got to have that conversation with someone who's come through that.

Is it that it that won't be awkward I guess would it or but but what's your approach to that? >> I can only advise him. out of the house in >> 35 years. >> Yeah, I can't I can't do that. But when they do, it's like are you hydrating? It's just like excuses. But I can only give them the information. It's same with with the recovery mate.

I can only give them information. If they don't want to do it, they're not going to do it. >> But I do feel that when people are paying for plans, they're more accountable and they'll want to do it. >> Yeah. Because I've had it before where I've wring clanged out and they don't end up following it. >> Have you ever give a free plan away just for people to test it and they never do it because people are people want to pay. They want to get their money's worth. >> It's it's good that we come from a tight area in that way. if I've ever give anyone. We used to do one at Christmas for ultimate shred every year and we did a free two week plan and I mean obviously Christmas is a bit but um that were the worst like everyone after no one had even message you back like but then come come January and stuff it were like different breed >> if if everybody did follow I I I don't mind doing it for free because it's helping them but what I find is that like you just said don't follow it. >> You know what though? you put you'll put the free hours in without realizing for the ones that are committed.

So the ones that pay the use it ones like you said are a bit more dedicated they're willing to put that money up front or the least willing to give it a big try. There is a sense of responsibility then where you you have to hold on to them because again you know what it's like at beginning it's like rolling a snowball down a hill mate. You get that snowball effect. You get that momentum you're buzzing and then all of a sudden they have they do have a slip up or a weekend or they've done everything too fast. So they've they've started this running and then they've started eating well and then they've started do not doing this and not doing that and then all of a sudden there's too many rules and then when they have some rubbish to eat and they feel like I missed a run and then I bet rubbish and then again the snowball goes the other way. >> So when when they come to me like for coaching I always say like have you got what's your goal?

Can we book a race so you've got something to train towards? Yeah. Cuz I don't train for nothing. You well you you're not training for nothing. You're just training to keep fit, aren't you?

But if they've got something to train towards, then it makes it easier. >> And is it that intimidation factor of >> same like I can't tell it tell my lads enough when they're boxing like you do know that you're going to fight someone like it's not you you can't skip corners, you'll get found out there. Obviously, they're racing for someone that is their boxing event. Do you know what I mean? Like it don't matter what scale we're on, what sport we're doing. If you sign up and you go into someone who might have struggled with anxiety or whatever and never really put the self out there like that and then they're running a big mate, how busy are races now.

You got to >> I know >> look at 25k or whatever. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's that's where my PBS is. >> The park runs. That's what I meant to say that they still they're busy. >> It's really busy. Yeah. >> What were the what were the club that you were running from before?

You you cuz you are >> I'm still at the that club. >> You're a leader leader there. Is it? >> No, I'm coach there as well. Our running coach there. uh sab party. Uh well, I'll never leave that club cuz that's so basically when going back to being sober when I said I felt lonely and like we're on the old I joined the club and I like these are normal people I wear these could be. So that's what I think has helped me to get to where I am today because there's some real nice people there.

I mean >> and it's sense of community and like-minded people in it like we we mate we must have spoke about this on phone. >> We spoke world about it. >> This is why we knew this podcast would be easy mate cuz the amount of conversation we've had same thing like it's weird soon as you come out with a circle of drinking and stuff then you realize which which pals are close or you ain't got as much >> relatable as you thought. you attract. They said right now I attract people who want to get better about runners. >> Yeah. >> Whereas before it was >> and never I think good thing about running community I think I mean I very rarely see as many especially negative comments like everyone wants everyone to do well and even if someone puts a time on that's not good. I thought loads pop up on mine all the time on me Facebook and stuff like these running clubs and people putting their times and there's thousands of people just been like patting them on back. I don't know if there's a closer community me than than running. >> Yeah. >> Everybody wants everybody to do well. I want everybody to f that's how I >> and I and it's very hard to knock in it.

It's very hard to knock. You know, the people who were who I've seen recent, I've only seen two I think. I can't remember the names. their actual runners really known well known for running but then taking digs at other people running now as if it's took the limelight away which I just think's a bit mad because that's what's given their full lifestyle you know what I mean and it's kind of been bitten everyone else is on and now everyone's doing it kind of like when someone listens to a new band and I I used to listen to him before they were famous like no one cares mate we all like them now it's kind of that's what I feel like >> yeah I how I look is like everybody's got to start somewhere I know I was that person one like starting out um never thought anything would come of it. Um but then when once I got the coaching I like I went I went to a couple of gins I wanted some strength for running. Yeah.

But I couldn't find it around this area basically going through out and then that where lead me today with this PT. What's what what's more rewarding to I mean they're all equally as rewarding but would you rather someone who's never run before right to be able to do like runs 5k or whatever or someone who's already into running and get them like an unbelievable marathon time. >> I like him both. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Both completely different achievements. Is that >> a couple of runners at the minute and and just from me changing the way that this person runs just from like easy days and he's changing that is like messaging PB. >> Yeah. Yeah.

Some feeling that Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> It's like I just I love anything that but then I'm helping others that are just starting out and that's they're going to get to their goal. But what I find with that is they're not mentally strong enough. >> Yeah. But how would you >> Yeah, it's there's there's there's lots you can be doing.

There's different approaches you can be doing. They've got to be very accountable. The only problem that's the only problem for me, right, is the online stuff. That's the online especially ones that you when you've never met them at all. I mean, we've done loads of podcasts on that before.

When you when you're not interacting, you're not building that connection straight away. It's very hard because if if we were talking, I'd let you down for a run and then I see you, I'd be like, mate, and you'd be like, "Come on, let's sort it out." And it's you know that I've got best interest but when I do online programs uh with like with a shred a lot of them I'll put welcome everybody next four weeks I'll be I'll be coaching you and guiding you any questions please ask me right you'll get [\h__\h] I don't know you'll get 20 people messages straight away or put in group can't wait everybody good luck whatever but then you get another another percentage that don't do it and they're always the ones that don't make it because >> they already starting their foots in exit >> because they're like they want anyone to know because they're already not confident they're going to f to do it, but they can sign up and tell everyone they're doing it. I'm going to do it and then there's and there's an excuse or I I tried getting my shopping list on and it won't come on and it were their error and all they needed to do was message. >> I've not been able to get on mine for three days. Well, messages >> they don't want to do it >> in their head. They're telling theel that to make themselves feel better and that is a bad very very bad trait. >> But um again mate, we've come to talk about you.

So what is it that you're specializing in point fat running coach? >> So um what I want what what I want to go down the route of the is strength and condition for runners. So as I said like with many people around here and then I've got my coaching as well. So it like ties in with each other and that's why basically I've done my PT for long to and I like helping people. If anyone didn't know as well, Matt did PT uh with Ultimate Shred Academy. Um obviously that's based around all of this.

Like we're trying to get people. It just so happened that you done the course with us. Uh so perfect person to get on cuz you're doing so well. Uh so we just thought couldn't couldn't have dropped in any better. Obviously there's other people that we're going to be getting on who've done it from other places. cuz we want to try what we're trying to do now is trying to get a library of loads of different people, loads of different like we've only done same qual but we couldn't be any further apart from what we're teaching.

Do you know what I mean? So I just that's what I love. You've got people going into massage. You got people going into SNC for the running, SNC for boxing. There might be onetoone coaching like myself or on floor gym PTS, bodybuilders.

And I just think there's that many people and anyone watching it then especially like stories like yourself can come back from uh recovery just I I just think that means more to the story as well and uh trying to >> but I appreciate that you're trying to have to separate your brain from that. Yeah. knowing how how strong you had to be to get out of it. >> Get out of it and and know where other people are. >> Yeah. >> Like it's not easy. >> Yeah. And I feel like obviously it feels like sometimes you've lived it and you can tell them and you're proof in pudding. Do you know what I mean? Like they can actually see that from you cuz they know it's all it's all real.

It's done. Yeah. So you can do the blueprint for them but you you can only hold their hand so much, can't you? You can only you got to and then but what I used to find is I used to take it to like oh god I'm not >> I've got to let it go and just say look I've given the information that I can do >> and I I'll leave it on this on this last question to be fair mate. So how was the first bit been going like getting your first clients?

I know you've been quite a lot of messages but >> yeah so like I first first put the post on it >> crazy like but cuz I built like a bit with me running club >> everyone knows you running you're running man you know >> yeah so like it it move up like that um I getting quite a lot of messages and >> but yeah it's challenging challenging like cuz I want to please everybody I'm I want this to be right. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You can't always give them enough time. And like I said, and the thing is as well, you've got to be like a chameleon. Like every single person's different. >> Every single person like one you'll ask him to do something and he'll be like, "Yep. How many more?" Like I told one of lads he needed to I didn't add a run a week, right?

He just done boxing with me and he went and sent me u straa not today. You just you've just tra but some they just they want to do well. They want to impress you. They want a coach so they can send a message saying, "I've done it." >> And then you'll get someone who you're like, "Mate, have you done it?" You won't get a message back for two days. No, I'm doing it.

I'll start next week. And you're like, >> excuse, >> mate. Do you know what I mean? But um but yeah, we'll uh we'll leave it at that, Matt. So, if you could tell everybody uh where they can find you on Instagram. >> So on Instagram, it's Pontifrat_unn. >> Is it Have you got Facebook? >> And the Facebook page is Pondiff Running Co. >> Yeah.

And if not, just find him, message you direct. He's all over Facebook. Thank you everybody for watching. Like and subscribe and make sure that you go on to Pontifact running coach on Instagram like Matty just said and give him a follow. Thank you.