Matt Fitzgerald Publishes Dying to Run, a Stoic Story of Running the Javelina Jundred Ultramarathon with Long COVID

September 17, 2026

Fitzgerald Risks Everything for One Last Race

September 17, 2026 — Flagstaff, Arizona, USA /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – 80/20 Publishing has announced the release of Dying to Run: An Athlete’s Quest for One More Finish by Matt Fitzgerald. In this powerful literary memoir, Fitzgerald shares a deeply personal story of his struggle with long COVID and related heart trouble. Struck down in 2020 by this mysterious disease, Fitzgerald is desperate to reclaim his lifelong passion for running, committing to race the Javelina Jundred ultramarathon despite the very real possibility that the race might kill him. Fitzgerald reveals his gripping story through flashbacks, weaving in elements of Stoic philosophy and principles of sports performance and unfolding a lap-by-lap meditation on how each of us can overcome adversity and find new meaning in life. Learn more and read previews at 8020books.com.

Fitzgerald’s story has earned advance critical acclaim from Booklist, coverage in the New York Times, and an endorsement from ultrarunning icon Dean Karnazes.

“Suffering and how we cope with it are center stage and effectively explored in Dying to Run… Confronting challenges, endurance (physical and mental), and the bliss of running combine to make this memoir a winner.” —ALA Booklist, Noteworthy Memoir, August 2026

“The greatness of Matt Fitzgerald isn’t just that he fights, but that he battles an unknown enemy, an insidious interloper that evades all detection. In Dying to Run he reveals the incapacitating condition that rendered him unable to get out of bed on some days, and with little hope for recovery. To an endurance athlete, nothing is more unthinkable. Yet even with such a grim outlook, Matt was determined to forge onward. So he signed up for a grueling ultramarathon. Would the finish line be a pine box? The story that unfolds is something every runner must read. It’s just that good.” —Dean Karnazes, ultrarunner and New York Times bestselling author

More than 21 million Americans have experienced long COVID with 8 million still experiencing symptoms, forming the largest digitally active health community in history with over 400 million impressions on social media.

Runners, endurance athletes, and those facing deep personal challenges will recognize themselves in Dying to Run, a comeback story about self-identity and lifelong passions that’s as messy and heart-rending as real life can be.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matt Fitzgerald is the best-selling author of more than 30 books including Chasing Mastery, How Bad Do You Want It?, Diet Cults, The Comeback Quotient, Racing Weight, Iron War, 80/20 Running, and Pain & Performance. He writes regularly for top media outlets including Outside, Runner’s World, and Triathlete. Fitzgerald is a founder of 80/20 Endurance, Dream Run Camp, and the Coaches of Color Initiative. A lifelong endurance athlete, Fitzgerald speaks frequently at events around the world. Learn more at 8020books.com.

MEDIA RESOURCES

Fitzgerald is available for interviews in print, podcast, and video and for events in selected locations. Media review copies are available for a limited time. Excerpts from the book are available for republication in print and online with advance, written permission of the publisher. Contact the publisher for excerpt permissions, photographs, and social-friendly imagery.

Renee Jardine

Publisher

80/20 Publishing

renee@8020books.com

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
80/20 Publishing is an independent publisher specializing in works that explore the world of endurance sports–from the science of training to inspiring stories. Built on the success of best-selling author and coach Matt Fitzgerald and his partnership with 80/20 Endurance, our catalog of titles for enthusiasts and hardcore athletes taps world-leading experts, coaches, and writers to chart a course toward better performance, deeper passion, and a richer understanding of the human spirit. Learn more at 8020books.com.