I am a big believer in spending your time on activities that bring value in many different areas. For example, writing is an activity that can bring a whole bunch of different benefits to your life. That’s why it’s a great investment.

Another one of those areas is running. I confess I don’t know a lot about running, but as I’ve gotten into it the last couple of years, it has brought amazing benefits to my life. It gives me energy, helps me be more creative, extends my life, and so much more.

I’m thrilled to feature a guest today who is an expert on this subject. His name is Matthew Huff, and he is a writer, runner, and published author of Marathoner: What to Expect When You’re Training for and Running a Marathon. His writing has appeared in Runner’s World and BuzzFeed, among other places.

Matthew also hosts a weekly pop culture podcast called P.S. You’re Wrong and regularly performs improv comedy. Previously, he was a literary agent, writing tutor, and McDonald’s employee. His first race was the Dairy Dash 5K in Elsie, Michigan, which he slowly shuffled through for the bagels.

In this conversation, I asked Matthew all of my burning questions about running such as: What are some of the benefits of running, especially for writers who tend to be sedentary? How can running help you become a better writer? What is the benefit of doing a marathon vs. a half marathon or shorter races? … and much more.

Make sure to check out Matthew’s new book, Marathoner, and connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.