I just know that he would have been so mad at us for the attention that was brought to him during this year's event.". “He would have service projects down there where we would rebuild sweat lodges. In all my running of this boat, it's rolled over once as I was testing it's turning limits at speed. You can bet we will be celebrating Matt in the Tushar Mountains for years to come. In 2011, he founded the Zion 100, the first of what would grow to become the Ultra Adventure race series and his full-time job. That sadness, however, was long overshadowed by what he brought to those he came in contact with — and it was the legacy and impact that Gunn left that caused hundreds of people to take to the trails for the recent Zion Ultras event that he created. And exactly why Id like to have it self right . | He cared for others deeply and would literally give the shirt off his back to make others' lives better.". Organizing trail races, Seaford says, was Gunn’s way of sharing the most beautiful places he knew, making sure others could appreciate their splendor, and to share the culture and wisdom of the Indigenous people from the area. “He loved teaching,” says Toby, who noted the Ogden Preparatory Academy, where Gunn taught Spanish, enrolls an underserved population of students. “Intentional” is one word to describe the life of Gunn, of Willard, Utah, who died October 18, 2020, of suicide at the age of 44. “It was 2013, any my partner and I were at the inaugural Bryce Canyon Ultra to help pace and crew a runner,” says Seaford, of Kanab, Utah. This document was researched by Tia Bodington and written with input from Brad Bishop, Susan Farago, Matt Gunn and David Selden. While I was out alone on the trail, night quickly fell on the runners still out on the course. Drive for 50- PJ Donahue running page. ... Others Named Matt Gunn. It also informed his race courses. He sent a photo of Gunn running the Tushars 100K this summer. At the time, it sounded overly ambitious. In interviews with Trail Runner and on social-media posts commemorating Gunn over the last week, those who knew him have described his passion for improving the lives of others through humanitarian work; his deeply reserved personality and reluctance to talk about himself; and his close spiritual connection to nature, as well as his appreciation for the Indigenous communities who first occupied the places he loved to explore. Toby met Gunn in February 2015, when she ran his Monument Valley Ultra. "If you went to any of his events, you knew he was a man of very few words. A hundred, maybe two hundred people were standing around and it appeared there wasn’t anyone in charge, so we started to get nervous.”. According to Brown’s interview with Gunn, he took up running after losing his father to cancer in the early 2000s: he jumped in with both feet, signing up for an IRONMAN triathlon without much background in endurance sports. But they are still coming, Tiger missing in Houston returned to authorities, police say, Have You Seen This? He could just come up with a route and connect these cities together very naturally. “I thought, ‘He needs my help.’”. Matt Gunn is on Facebook. Never an elite runner, he was somewhat faster than average early in his career but now finds himself materially closer to the back of the pack. Stanley says that while some things had to change to keep the series growing, that he wants to stay true to what he believes is a core value both he and Matt Gunn shared. Matt Australia. Emmy-nominated actress Jenna Fischer, known for playing the character of receptionist Pam Beesly in The Office (2005), was born Regina Marie Fischer on March 7, 1974 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was sealed.”. Toby came back from her home in Northern Utah to run Gunn’s next race, Antelope Canyon, in March, where the finish-line scene repeated itself. By The course lays out like a 130 mile staircase (true to its name), so that each day you are moving towards the next plateau looming in front of you. The event this year was somber for many; and going into it, the race series organizers knew that it was important to pay tribute to their friend who had left this earth too soon. and on social-media posts commemorating Gunn over the last week, those who knew him have described his passion for improving the lives of others through humanitarian work; his deeply reserved personality and reluctance to talk about himself; and his close spiritual connection to nature, as well as his appreciation for the Indigenous communities who first occupied the places he loved to explore. Before he left, Toby says, Gunn made sure to create one more positive impact—he voted. Latest blog entry: Will DRACO hover nose down? Matt Liu. He was deeply passionate about the sport, the environment, and ensuring that everyone had a positive time at his events. Lots of changes, all for the better, if not for the easier. Even so, he said that he felt like Matt was there with him. “He was insistent on having home-made food at his races,” Seaford says. Matt Gunn 3/4/2021. (Matt Gunn KTVO) KIRKSVILLE, Mo. Matt Phillips. "Matt did not like the spotlight and wasn't really suited to be a race director," Stanley said. In interviews with Trail Runner and on social-media posts commemorating Gunn over the last week, those who knew him have described his passion for improving the lives of others through humanitarian work; his deeply reserved personality and reluctance to talk about himself; and his close spiritual connection to nature, as well as his appreciation for the Indigenous communities who first occupied the places he loved to explore. Matt Gunn of Swell MFG describes the surf system featured in the two-acre lagoon as a “natural surfing lineup with a peak wave providing some of the most epic and diverse waves for every level of surfer, ” adding that he hopes that Revel Surf will become a … I wasn't enjoying the course or the beauty around me because I was focused on myself and all my aches and pains. “It was the first time he’s voted in a presidential election.”, The weekend before Gunn died, he was with Coury at the Moab 240 pacing a friend of theirs. we would build a way for people to have running water. "Everyone starts a race feeling optimistic and determined, but at some point, things start to get hard, and you have a voice in your head that tells you to stop. I sat down on a rock and admired the last fading light of the day. He really earned the hashtag given him a long time ago: #mattgunnwantstomakeyoucry.". When that happens, you have to succumb or fight through it. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. “We went on a run, of course,” Toby says. I love the scenery, and the challenge of pushing myself. by Matt Gunn. All eyes are focused on this Utah city, 61-year-old man drowns at Pineview Reservoir, Cicadas hit snooze on their 17-year alarm clock. She is the daughter of Anne (Miller), a teacher, and James E. Fischer, a … “He loved working with kids, and he loved having the summers off to run and crew races, to do work with troubled youth programs, and to do as much good in the world as he can.”, Toby says Matt’s humanitarian efforts, including service projects in communities that hosted his races, opened her eyes to another side of Utah. “He was intentional about everything.”. -Matt Gunn, founder of the GSSR What makes the Grand Staircase Stage Race stand out from other race events? One year later, they returned to Urique, where they were married. He’d take his dog on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail near their home in Ogden … Event organizers created shirts with Matt Gunn's face printed on them, signs were placed on the course in memory of him, and apparel was sold to raise money for his four children he left behind. “He told me I understood the meaning behind the miles.”. “Afterward, he came over to my house and we made food, sat, talked and just existed together. Posting on Instagram after Gunn’s death, Coury wrote, “If there is anything you can do for Matt I hope it’s to honor his legacy. "Matt wanted to save the world," Ben Gunn said. One of those ambitions was a race Gunn was planning for June 2021, about which Seaford says he was talking to her as recently as a month ago. The course was revamped by RD Matt Gunn, who had always demonstrated a commitment to making this race the best possible. “He went through every single piece of trash and anything that could be reused would be …. “Intentional” is one word to describe the life of Gunn, of Willard, Utah, who died October 18, 2020, of suicide at the age of 44. I use running as a way to cope and deal with whats going on in my head. "I wanted to run the race because I have fallen in love with the Zion 100 over the years. “He went through every single piece of trash and anything that could be reused would be. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘Am I in a National Geographic magazine?’”. This year I was fortunate enough to become an ambassador for Ultra Adventures. She says she was taken aback at the difficulty of the Zion course, which included a rope climb—foreign stuff for Brown, who was more accustomed to cross-country and road-marathon courses. The three of us agreed ahead of time that it was each woman for herself and if we ended up together that would be fine but we were “running” our own race. “He looked kind of disheveled, he was looking at a map, and it was clear he was just … all over the place,” Seaford says. Talk to friends and family. In the outpouring of tributes, there is another word that keeps coming up: kindness. He was very sensitive to what’s going on in the world and trying to make it a better place. Review By Matt Gunn | Dec 17, 2015, 01:44 PM A Pair of Affordable, High Performance Race Boats The all new Hobbyking Marine series has just debuted with a pair of ABS-hulled electric boats that look great, perform even better, and are quite easy on the wallet - a trifecta rarely seen in our hobby. Matt has 7 jobs listed on their profile. Posted - Apr. He hadn't even put on one race. Matt Gunn, race director giving the briefing. Matt Gunn. Wednesday, July 17th 2019. We are lucky to have each day. The loss of Matt Gunn is devastating. He told me that he wanted to put together the Zion 100, and eventually put together 100 mile races near Bryce Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley. The torture master and beloved running hero Matt Gunn created a masterpiece of a race. He discovered trail running when he moved to Ogden for a teaching job, and soon thereafter learned about ultrarunning. About TrophyPartner.com TrophyPartner.com was founded in 2004 by Matt Gunn, a former Sales & Marketing Executive with Fortune 50 companies. He was born June 10, 1976, to Spencer and Christine Gunn. Remember that you matter to those you love. I was losing track of the reality of what I was trying to accomplish and not allowing myself to cherish the moment. Toby says Gunn’s enduring gift was his desire to share his love of nature in the hope it would be as meaningful to others as it was to him. Each of Matt Gunn's events followed a zero-waste model, where all the garbage collected was recycled or repurposed even down to the composting toilets he fashioned out of 10-gallon buckets, a toilet seat, and some sawdust enclosed in a one-man tent. Here are ATRA’s sustainability guidelines for trail running races. In interviews with. Sometimes running isn’t enough. Originally Posted by Matt Gunn. In fact, Stanley confirmed that Matt Gunn was not what people would classify as a classic race director. Gunn introduced Toby to a style of adventure that would set the tone for their relationship, hitchhiking into Mexico’s Copper Canyon for the Ultra Caballo Blanco just two months after that run. Matt Gunn. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Matt… It would be a return to race directing for Gunn, who returned to teaching after Vacation Races bought Ultra Adventures and he ultimately left the company. “He was a selfless person,” says Jamil Coury, Gunn’s friend who himself directs numerous races through Arizona-based Aravaipa Running, “someone who was always looking for ways to help others and do the right thing for communities and the environment.”. Matt Gunn. He had this vision of creating a running community, not just a race. Be real about whats going on. Matt knew that fight well and wanted to give people the opportunity to have the experience to dig deep.". Ben Gunn said the first year of the event didn't go as planned, but people were forgiving because of the kind of man his brother was. Stanley recalled. See more people named Matt Gunn. But I also hoped to feel some connection with Matt out on those trails, and I think I did.". “His goal was to see everything he possibly could in the time he was there. Matt Gunn. “It was one of his favorite events he created,” Coury wrote in a note accompanying the picture. Toby describes being brought to a halt by the vista of Horseshoe Bend on the Antelope Canyon course. Looking back, it was probably too much too quick — especially because he was still a full-time teacher at this time with four young kids — but he felt determined to share the beauty of these regions with everyone he possibly could.". "Usually I'm the type that wants to finish strong, but this time was different. © 2021 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Experiences that included building a sustainable school in Haiti, studying in Nepal and hitchhiking across South America, Matt came back to the United States with a unique perspective of his childhood home. Matt Gunn. “And this summer, he got to run it.”. All of his races occur in an area referred to as the Grand Circle, a vast region located… He created races in incredible places, and he created a unique community of runners who fell in love with the trails just like Matt had.". Tana Seaford remembers well the first time she met Matt Gunn. After the race, which Seaford noted was well-organized if chaotic, she reached out to Gunn. Coury recalls the 2015 Tushars Mountain Runs, when Gunn got lost marking his own course. And while Matt's vision was coming to life, there was something friends and family say was conflicting about his chosen life path: he didn't like attention. June 10, 1976 — October 18, 2020 With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Matthew Stephen Gunn on Oct. 18, 2020. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Matt… “I remember thinking to myself, ‘Am I in a. “I think he was more comfortable sorting the trash than speaking in front of everyone,” Seaford says, recalling the steps Gunn would take—including using composting toilets—to ensure his races created as little waste as possible. He had a knack for picking beautiful locations to hold events and putting them on event if it was prohibitively difficult or extra work just because he wanted people to see and experience the beauty and toughness of the area,” Coury says. He really was the ultimate humanitarian. Matt Koenig. “We were at the runner’s briefing the night before the race. “The chemistry was crazy,” Toby says. He discovered trail running when he moved to Ogden for a teaching job, and soon thereafter learned about ultrarunning. I didn’t get the full story on how the Grand Circle Trail Fest developed, but from what I gather, the idea originated with race director Matt Gunn of Ultra Adventures, and he partnered with Trail And Ultra Running to make it happen. Maybe you don't want your baby's first words to be 'mama', 'Where heaven and earth intersect': Tooele Valley Latter-day Saints break ground for Deseret Peak Utah Temple, Delayed 2nd Pfizer/BioNTech shot boosts antibodies in elderly; COVID-19 obesity risk higher for men, COVID-19 pet boom has veterinarians backlogged, burned out, 'It's an honor': The Hall of Fame's class of 2020 enshrined. (Bryce Canyon) and was a hell of a nice guy. Tags: Antelope Canyon , trail running , Ultra Adventures , ultra running | Permalink . Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest's Matt Gunn throws a pitch in the seventh inning of Tuesday's 3-1 win over Auburn Hills Oakland Christian. “He could see trails and how to connect them better than other people.”, Toby says Gunn’s enduring gift was his desire to share his love of nature in the hope it would be as meaningful to others as it was to him. One runner was Gunn's longtime friend Corry Reese, who met Gunn in 2011 not long before the first Zion 100 event. "Honestly, the inaugural Zion race was pretty disastrous," Ben Gunn said. With temperatures skyrocketing it is that time of year to make sure your cars air conditioning is running properly. Matt Gunn Death – Dead : A great loss was made known to InsideEko. I was introduced to him through a message board about running the Wonderland Trail pre social media days. And while the fight is over for Matt Gunn, hundreds — perhaps even thousands — of runners will continue to have the chance to dig a little deeper and fight to the finish line of the races he created. “I didn’t know if he was married or not, he didn’t know if I was married or not.” But Toby described being brought to tears by the beauty of Gunn’s course, and being emotional at the finish. And yet, as the years went on, he was able to create everything he talked about during our first meeting. “Kindness was his fundamental belief,” says Toby Ann Gunn, Matt’s wife. Matt Gunn who KSL.com connected with in 2015 for an article on his Ultra Adventures race series, died by suicide after what those closest to him describe as some very deep sadness. Others With a Similar Name. He was one of the kindest and most generous humans I’ve ever met. That's when I felt peace in my heart that I was trying to find since the day he died. “Before anything else, be kind.”. You would come down for the race but that experience, those projects, is where your life would change.”, Toby says Gunn’s deep sense of caring for others made it difficult for him to see the glass as half-full. Logan Middle School, sold his home and moved to Leogane, a province of earthquake-shattered Haiti, to develop a … That's when I cried the most. As a parent and coach in youth sports, Matt was frustrated with the traditional methods of buying and selling trophies and wanted to bring new and exciting items to the marketplace. “He had a knack for picking beautiful locations to hold events and putting them on event if it was prohibitively difficult or extra work just because he wanted people to see and experience the beauty and toughness of the area,” Coury says. A A. If anyone ever accidentally threw away their glasses at one of his races, I’m sure he found them and gave them back.”, I think he was more comfortable sorting the trash than speaking in front of everyone,” Seaford says, recalling the steps Gunn would take—including using composting toilets—to ensure his races created as little waste as possible. According to Brown’s interview with Gunn, he took up running after losing his father to cancer in the early 2000s: he jumped in with both feet, signing up for an IRONMAN triathlon without much background in endurance sports. "Runners got lost and off course for miles, aid stations ran out of food and water, and our family and volunteers were running on over 24 hours straight without sleep. “Coming from Northern Utah, I didn’t even know [Southern Utah] was where the Navajo lived, much less that they didn’t have running water, no flush toilets, and so on,” she says. 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