March 20, 2025
Listen
"A lot of people will look at my training and say, ‘There's nothing impressive here.’ And I agree...For me it’s about being able to get out there every day and continue no matter what."
For the first time in over 30 years, an American man has won the Los Angeles Marathon.
On Sunday, Matt Richtman stamped his name in the history books, breaking the tape in 2:07:56—a massive personal best and a statement win in only his second marathon. The 25-year-old ASICS athlete didn’t just claim victory; he dominated, pulling away from a world-class field with a decisive move that turned the streets of LA into his own personal proving ground.
The performance did have so many people scratching their heads thinking: “Who?” I am here to answer all of those questions.
Today, we sit down with Matt to break it all down:
- The moment he knew he could win—and the fearless move that sealed it
- Why he had no set plan going in but let instinct take over
- What’s next after a 2:07 breakthrough in just his second marathon
- Why his training on Strava doesn’t make sense but maybe after he explains it - it makes a bit more sense
- Why he’s got a traditional and old-school approach to training
- And how it feels to be part of the next generation pushing U.S. marathoning forward
This episode is for anyone who loves the thrill of a bold race and the promise of what’s to come.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Matthew Richtman | @richtman13 on Instagram
Matthew Richtman | Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
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Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and on Feb. 15th, 2025 finally broke five minutes for the mile.
