Mike Rutt Hoka One One NJNYTC

(listen to Matt’s full audio below)

“This photo was right after the first round of the eight hundred at the ’16 trials for me..I dunno

you can kind of see it in my face, I think it was a disappointing race. I didn’t make it past the first round.

And for me, at that moment, at least, I was still trying to kind of wrap my head around everything I know going into it, knew going into it that dad would be my my last chance to make an Olympic trials Olympic team excuse me.

And I was still trying to trying to kind of come to terms with it, I think.

I mean, it was right after the race. So, you know, the emotions were still pretty raw. But it was my worst performance at a U.S. championships. So that was kind of frustrating at the time. It was a race I just never really was was able to be in. I felt great going into it. Training was going fantastic. You know, my workouts were all going really well and the season was going well. And I went into it, you know, just trying to get to the next round as I get it at all of the other U.S. championships and trials that I’ve been at.

And it’s just the one that got away from me. You know, it was a it was a good heat that I was in and I just wasn’t able to step up. And so at that point time, I was just kind of trying to come to terms with a little bit. And it didn’t really hit me until about, I don’t know, 10 or 15 minutes after that photo, probably when I was able to meet back up with my family and my coach, Coach Gags.

And that’s kind of when it really hit me. But at that point in time, I think I was still just trying to kind of figure out, you know, what. What happened was a lot of shock and that I wasn’t able to make it through that round. And it was my last race on on U.S. soil. And to do it at Hayward was was nice. Obviously, I would’ve liked to have had three races there and come away with with a spot on the Olympic team.

But to be able to do it there was obviously fantastic. You know, not many people get to get to finish their career there, let alone get there to begin with. So to do that was, you know, was good, I guess. But yeah, I look at the photo and it’s one I’m always going to remember. I’m always gonna remember that moment and I’m always going to remember those those feelings.But yeah, that’s kind of that’s kind of what what I see when I see the photos is disappointment, shock and just kind of kind of trying to come to terms with it and trying to find some answers.

But thanks for the for the photo, David, I appreciate it.

And I love this project that you’re doing.

Keep it up.”