Instagram/@mattjames919
Matt James is really going all out to prepare for the marathon and is sharing his gigantic pre-run food intake plan with everyone by way of a huge meal from the Italian restaurant Maggiano’s Little Italy. The lead character of the past reality series ‘The Bachelor’ revealed the restaurant’s great deal that enables one to get a full-sized entrée plus an individual salad for only $20 at the beginning and the carb-loading he was going to engage in before the 22-mile run. Besides, he was reaping greater rewards from the partnership with the Italian restaurant which was depicting a sportsperson-friendly approach of mingling strict workout with indulgence through the recuperation meals.
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In the clip, he is so excited about his order that he states, ‘if you are training for two marathons, eating is part of recovery.’ and he also mentions a lot of dishes like chicken fettuccini alfredo, spicy sausage rigatoni, and meatballs spaghetti which are included in Maggiano’s ‘Big Deal.’ In case someone wants to pamper themselves even more, the ever-popular rigatoni ‘D,’ lasagna, or chicken parmesan can be had for just an extra $10. James concludes his culinary journey by stating that the low prices imply you ‘do not feel guilty about pampering yourself,’ and in his case it means ‘a dessert or two.’
The Italian restaurant chain Maggiano’s was also active in this chat, the official account of Maggiano’s Little Italy was ‘We’re here to keep you powered for those 22 miles, Matt! Our team will be cheering you on (and ready with more carbs when you’re done).’ This uplifting message from the brand added a touch of reality to the content of the advertisement.
The last responses showed the craving for good food and practical concerns about marathon training mixed together. One comment was quite enthusiastic about the offered menu and said, ‘It all looks so good!😋’ Not so excited comment was ‘Looks delicious! Haven’t been in a LONG time, but may have to go back.’ It seems the great attraction of the exotic Italian cuisine was still very vivacious among the viewers.
At the same time, some users teased about the giant portions of carbohydrates James was taking in. One comment was, ‘How do you poop after this????’ insinuating that tackling such big meals indeed comes with a problem of digestion. Another informed, ‘There are no sweet potato fries around,’ thus implying the traditional runner’s fuel choices are being neglected.
The living and breathing training aspect even led to recognition from fellow runners. One user made a note, ‘note to self… running 🏃🏻♀️ = >>recovery calories 💥’ which is the math that every hard workout needs lots of nutrients to replenish. Another user just asked, ‘hi Matt. was that you i saw running earlier on the lakefront?’ thus suggesting that James’s training schedule is so rigorous that it is visible to the community.
Dylan Barbour, the former ‘Bachelor’ contestant, also went with a nostalgic comment: ‘I used to run up the bag at Maggianos,’ citing the restaurant’s long-standing custom of providing to-go foods in beautiful paper bags. So this link to the restaurant’s signature service added another dimension to the trade-off.
In fact, James’s method of preparing for the marathon is characterized by the ability to enjoy, which is a rare quality in the hustle and bustle of athletic training. Most of the athletes would probably put aside their own sports nutrition and follow the same path. However, James’s triumph over the discipline dilemma is a classic Italian feast that is both effective and fun. This relatable training journey of his infused with serious athletic commitment and approachable food choices is now accessible to the followers who might aspire to reach their own fitness goals.
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The exchange between James, the restaurant brand, and his followers depicts a very well-rounded picture of athletic preparation in today’s social media era. It is not only the covered miles that matter but also the whole training, recovery, and community support ecosystem. For many runners, marathons are around the corner and the content shared by James can be treated as both a source of motivation and a real-life example of how not to stop enjoying the process while pouring all ones’ energy into the endurance efforts. His collaboration with Maggiano’s not only combines marketing with the athlete’s genuine requirement but also results in a double-perk of crafting promotion that feels authentic and at the same time useful for other runners who are training and navigating their own journeys. His food adventures also include discovering New York’s best five dollar breakfast burrito deal and he recently toured Wake Forest’s legendary cafeteria. He’s also known for his state fair food recommendations, having revealed his top 10 must-eat foods at the Minnesota State Fair and his top 10 must-try foods at the 2025 State Fair of Texas.