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Woman shares how running changed her life after years of struggle and injuries

Posted By: Tarun Kumar Posted On: Mar 10, 2026Share Article
Woman shares how running changed her life after years of struggle and injuries
From elite swimmer to marathoner: Mati Dubas shares her inspiring comeback story. (Unsplash)

Woman shares how running changed her life after years of struggle and injuries: ‘I thought about giving up many times’

Woman shares how running changed her life after years of struggle and injuries: ‘I thought about giving up many times’

After quitting swimming, Mati Dubas discovered running, which transformed her life, taught her perseverance, and gave her the focus to chase her dreams.

Published on: Mar 10, 2026 1:56 PM IST By Akanksha Agnihotri Share via Copy link Online running coach Mati Dubas shared her journey on Instagram on March 6, revealing how running completely transformed her life. A former full-time swimmer and D1 student-athlete, Mati seemed to have it all on the outside. But internally, she struggled with purpose and self-worth, feelings that began affecting her confidence, relationships, and energy levels. (Also read: Neurosurgeon reveals 1 daily habit that protects your brain the most: 'It’s something most people underestimate' ) From elite swimmer to marathoner: Mati Dubas shares her inspiring comeback story. (Unsplash)

How running transformed Mati Dubas's life

By September 2023, Mati was likely in the best shape of her life, training 20 hours per week in the pool and 4 hours in the gym. Yet, something didn’t feel right. That realisation led her to make a bold decision, she quit swimming in her senior year. Just days later, she laced up running shoes for the first time and visited a friend in Philadelphia, marking the official start of her running journey. Running gave Mati a sense of control she had never experienced. “Not just physically, but mentally. I was responsible for my own schedule, trained how I wanted, and ran whatever I felt like running,” she said. But that freedom also brought challenges. She self-coached her first marathon, running 90+ km weeks while ignoring persistent shin pain, naively believing injuries wouldn’t affect her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mati Dubas | Online Running Coach (@matidubas) By Summer 2024, after working with a coach, Mati set her sights on a sub-3 marathon. Despite a structured plan, she remained trapped in a cycle of overtraining, injuries, and chasing quick fixes. Two weeks before her goal race, the Valencia Marathon, she couldn’t even get out of bed without pain. She still ran, finishing in 3:33, far from her target, leaving her devastated.

How Mati bounce back and keep chasing her goals

Determined to return stronger, Mati developed her own jog/walk protocol, stopped comparing herself to others, and focused on training the right way. Slowly, she returned to full training without pain and began sharing the protocol online, where over 500 runners downloaded it for free. Even then, setbacks continued. A foot injury one month before the Berlin Marathon dashed her sub-3 dream, but with cross-training, rehab, and sheer determination, she managed to start the race, finishing a marathon that challenged her mentally and physically more than any before. After a 10-week break and intensive rehab, Mati returned to her protocol in January 2026. She’s now running 35 km per week without pain and is aiming for personal bests in the 5K and 10K this spring. “I failed the sub-3 marathon twice. I thought of giving up many times… but I know it’s possible. The grind continues,” she reflected. Her next target is a 2:55 marathon on December 6, 2026, in Valencia, Spain. Mati emphasises that she shares her story not to brag but to inspire action. “I know what it’s like to feel stuck and unseen… and I know what it takes to build your way out of it,” she said. Her journey, from elite swimmer to struggling runner, through injury, setbacks, and breakthroughs, is a testament to persistence, smart training, and the power of failing forward. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Akanksha Agnihotri Akanksha Agnihotri is a lifestyle journalist with over 3 years of experience. She is a psychology graduate and holds a postgraduate diploma in Radio and Television Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, where she graduated as a gold medalist. Originally from Bhopal, the beautiful capital of Madhya Pradesh, she draws inspiration from the city’s rich cultural heritage and layered storytelling traditions that subtly shape her narrative voice. She writes extensively about fashion, beauty, health, relationships, culture, and food, exploring everything from trending styles and runway moments to wellness routines and mindful living. Passionate about meaningful and candid conversations, she enjoys interviewing celebrities, doctors, designers, and film personalities, diving into discussions on fitness, beauty, mental health, and everything fun in between. With a keen eye for trends and a thoughtful understanding of human behaviour, she brings depth, sensitivity, and authenticity to her stories, ensuring they resonate with a wide and diverse audience. When she’s not working, you’ll usually find her lost in a book, planning her next mountain trek, or mapping out spontaneous travel escapes. She loves discovering new authors, revisiting old favourites, and spending quiet afternoons in museums soaking in art, history, and culture. An avid bird-watching enthusiast, she finds joy in early morning walks, spotting rare birds, and reconnecting with nature. Whether sipping coffee while journaling her thoughts or exploring hidden corners of a new city, she constantly seeks inspiration in everyday moments that often turn into compelling story ideas.Read More Training Running Shoe Fitness Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!.

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs. News / Lifestyle / Health / Woman Shares How Running Changed Her Life After Years Of Struggle And Injuries: ‘I Thought About Giving Up Many Times’ See Less

Online running coach Mati Dubas shared her journey on Instagram on March 6, revealing how running completely transformed her life. A former full-time swimmer and D1 student-athlete, Mati seemed to have it all on the outside. But internally, she struggled with purpose and self-worth, feelings that began affecting her confidence, relationships, and energy levels. (Also read: Neurosurgeon reveals 1 daily habit that protects your brain the most: 'It’s something most people underestimate' )

Running gave Mati a sense of control she had never experienced. “Not just physically, but mentally. I was responsible for my own schedule, trained how I wanted, and ran whatever I felt like running,” she said. But that freedom also brought challenges. She self-coached her first marathon, running 90+ km weeks while ignoring persistent shin pain, naively believing injuries wouldn’t affect her.

By Summer 2024, after working with a coach, Mati set her sights on a sub-3 marathon. Despite a structured plan, she remained trapped in a cycle of overtraining, injuries, and chasing quick fixes. Two weeks before her goal race, the Valencia Marathon, she couldn’t even get out of bed without pain. She still ran, finishing in 3:33, far from her target, leaving her devastated.

After a 10-week break and intensive rehab, Mati returned to her protocol in January 2026. She’s now running 35 km per week without pain and is aiming for personal bests in the 5K and 10K this spring. “I failed the sub-3 marathon twice. I thought of giving up many times… but I know it’s possible. The grind continues,” she reflected. Her next target is a 2:55 marathon on December 6, 2026, in Valencia, Spain.

Mati emphasises that she shares her story not to brag but to inspire action. “I know what it’s like to feel stuck and unseen… and I know what it takes to build your way out of it,” she said. Her journey, from elite swimmer to struggling runner, through injury, setbacks, and breakthroughs, is a testament to persistence, smart training, and the power of failing forward.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

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