Matt Olson isn’t just one of the best first basemen in baseball—he’s also the most durable. As of mid-August 2025, Olson has appeared in 746 consecutive regular-season games, the longest active streak in MLB and the new Braves franchise record, surpassing Dale Murphy’s mark of 740. His run, which began on May 2, 2021, now ranks 12th all-time in baseball history—putting Olson within striking distance of the top ten iron-man streaks. But Cal Ripken Jr. still stands atop the Ironman hall of fame—2,632 consecutive games over 16 years, no days off, no load management. Just perseverance.

So what made Ripken so durable? Here are a few recovery habits he leaned on:

• Ice and stretch diligently after every game—he credited post-game icing and full-body stretching routines for maintaining his body.

• Smart effort, not max effort—Ripken managed his energy, knowing when to push and when to conserve.

• Consistent sleep and meals—no fancy tech, just real food and regular rest routines.

• Mental resilience—Ripken believed “if he could move, he could play.”

One of my goals as a runner isn’t just to get faster—it’s to keep going. Longevity is a goal. That means fewer injuries, more consistency, and showing up for your run day after day, year after year. You don’t need to break a record. But you do want to stay in the game.

Best wishes on chasing your running goals!

—George
Founder, Peregrune